Fans

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I need help. I need to buy new fans, do you know what fans are good? Is a floor fan or a box fan better for a living room? It's going be in the 100 F starting Saturday.

I'm no expert on fans but I'm not keen on the osculating ones.

you are best doing it two ways- a large area fan to get the air circulating in the room, and a smaller fan to be kept next to where you are sitting at. if your room as windows on opposite sides or corners, you can accomplish a flow-through ventilation when it is cool in the nights and mornings, by opening all windows and putting a large box fan in one or the other window, preferably both, have one fan blowing hot air out one window, and on the opposite side of the room have another box fan in the window sucking cooler outdoors inside. if you shop around you can find 20" box fans for $20 each. if you live in a dry area [not humid] you can benefit from a portable swamp cooler, just put distilled water in it [to keep it clean] and run it during the day when the sun is shining, the added cool dampness they add will make you feel cooler during the day.

forgot to add, if you live in a humid area, there is no substitute for an a/c unit, you can find a couple of window units for $100 each, assuming you have vertical sash [sliding] windows. if you have horizontal sash windows you need a rolling unit, those start at about $200.

I would agree with auntblabby's advice about flow-through ventilation window to opposite window (cross ventilation), and also that you might want to just get an AC unit as described, because if it's going to be 100 F, even the air passed over you by a fan is going to feel like hot air.

Also don't oscillate an oscillating fan -- point that kind right at your body, as there's a wise trope that says fans don't cool the room, they cool your skin by way of the forced air evaporating your sweat and giving the feeling of cooling you. In that sense fans only give you relief when aimed at you or if you are sitting in the flow at least.

I didn't understand what you said auntblubbly, are you saying box fan is better? It will probably be hard to clean.


What fan is better Circulator or Oscillating?

I think I found some fans on Walmart website, I read the reviews. It can be hard to make decisions.

you are better off with a large 20" box fan for the windows, to either blow out hot air outside or suck in cooler air from outside, AND a smaller fan for up close, a table fan that can oscillate or just aim in one direction. but a/c is better still.

I use an evaporative cooler (swamp cooler) and it is good and cheap to run. As I'm in a damp area, I run a dehumidifier at the same time to help it along, swamp coolers run better in a dry atmosphere.

For cleanliness I make sure the tank gets a regular cleaning with bleach - wouldn't buy one without a detachable tank for this reason.

AC is very good, but about 4 times the cost of running a swamp cooler.

because I hate de-scaling the swamp cooler, I only used distilled water with them.

Fans are one of those items that paying more usually means your getting something better.

The cheapo box fans usually do little unless they are pointed directly at you. The oscillating ones usually have a weaker motor.

If at all possible spend the extra and get the most inexpensive air conditioner you can find. Fans do nothing to aid with humidity. Air conditioners do. And they only require an easily removable filter to be cleaned in order to be clean since that seems to be a concern of yours.

I cannot live in the summer without air conditioning personally. It's miserable for me. I'll usually have a fan I put in the window during the spring and fall on the mild/slightly warmer times, and use the ac the rest of the time. I like my home/room on the colder side.

I hope the OP finds something that works well enough to keep her cool.

I brought a fan last night.

how's it workin' for ya?

I ordered it online, it's a wind machine fan, I got it from Walmart.

I've had that same one for years. It works really well. It is quite loud though. I find that soothing personally. Which is why I liked it.

"wind machine fan" - can you show me a link?