The Dyson is a perfect example of why wind tunnel airflow tests are not enough to gauge a fan’s overall power, because it actually circulated air through a room slightly better than the Vornado 630. Either the Seville began to make clicking sounds while oscillating, or the motor died completely. It has a nighttime mode that runs super quietly without any bright lights, and you can also set it to purify the air without running the fan (meaning you can use it year-round). Despite its tiny footprint, the deceptively powerful 460 can move almost as much air as the 630 and has a steadier hum. Pelonis 36-Inch Oscillating Tower Fan. Users understand that Utilitech Lighting has been produced to a high standard and has always been the choice for … Wipe the blades with a towel and some soapy water, and pop the grille back on. Sku # 6211461. “Love this fan! The Lil’ Blizzard produced a breeze that we could still feel at 10 feet, which is a more than respectable amount of circulation for such a small, inexpensive device. Bionaire Twin Reversible Airflow Window Fan. Photo: Michael Hession, Like the other Vornados we recommend, the 610DC has 90 degrees of motion that allow you to point the fan’s face toward anywhere you’d like. Although these sporadic gusts can feel nice on especially hot days, we found them distracting when we weren’t entirely overwhelmed with heat. Unlike any tower fan, the 630 is also easy to maintain and clean. Overall, it’s fine, as far as tower fans are concerned. Photo: Michael Hession. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. 3-Speed Indoor Window Fan 9 inch with 2 Expandable Panels . “I slept like a baby since the room temperature was perfect!”, Bladeless models are great for those with small childrens or pets because you don’t have to worry about anyone getting hurt by sticking their fingers inside the fan. Tipping etiquette for all the important people who take care of you, Expert tips to improve your skin complexion and texture. As long as a fan is strong enough to be felt throughout a room, factors like reliability, ease of cleaning, and perceived noise are more important than wind speed and decibel-level measurements. In our whole-room tests, the AM06 was able to circulate as much air as the best fans we tested, even though its overall velocity score proved middling. With an average 4.3-star rating from over 7,400 reviews, this tower fan by Lasko has clearly earned its spot as the number one best-selling tower fan on Amazon. Unlike Seville, Vornado sends you a prepaid label if it needs to repair your fan, meaning repairs are actually free. The fan currently has 3.5 stars (out of five) on Amazon with over a thousand customer reviews. If you’re looking for a bedroom fan, choose an option with a remote controller and a sleep timer. In comparison, cleaning tower fans like the Seville is a much more complicated process that involves disassembling the base and removing a number of different screws and panels. Finally, we used an electricity usage monitor to measure each fan’s wattage and fact-check “energy-efficient” claims. We read reviews on Amazon, Lowe’s, and Bed Bath & Beyond, scanning for any patterns of failure over the short or long term. We think the glossy black body of the 460 also looks sleeker than the 630, which is made of a drearier matte black plastic. 1. Watch. Design, Materials, and Size. The UltraSlimline is affordable, powerful and capable of cooling a significant portion of your room. Use these items to beat the summer heat and minimize cooling bills. It’s also compact—not much bigger than a basketball. And it’s backed by a five-year warranty. Like the 660, the 560’s most powerful speed is quite loud, and its least powerful speed is still rather loud. These features aren’t unique to the Lil’ Blizzard, but the combination gives you more than you get with any other fan at this size and price. These useful fans generally stand between two and four feet high on the floor, and depending on where … In our testing, we found the Honeywell quite disappointing. In an attempt to find a replacement for the Seville, we tested two new tower fans in our 2018 update: the Honeywell HYF290B and the Vornado NGT335. We began by thoroughly researching the fans for sale at Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Target, and Costco. One change for the 2018 update to this guide: We moved a former pick, the Seville Classics UltraSlimline 40″ Tower Fan, to the Competition section. You can set it to turn the fan off in a range anywhere from 15 minutes to nine hours. Most of the complaints about the Lil’ Blizzard concern the build quality of the fan. It’s price is a lot of money to spend when you consider that our top pick can keep a larger room more comfortable at a fraction of the cost. This fan is particularly popular because it’s super versatile in terms of placement. It’ll keep you feeling cool and comfortable all day and night, according to the many shoppers who rave about it. Plus, the heater and fan duo will automatically shut off if it accidentally falls over, which is an important (but often overlooked) safety feature for space heaters. We haven’t tested this model ourselves, but feel confident dismissing it for the reasons outlined in Why we no longer recommend tower fans. By comparison, standard fans simply disperse air throughout the room, without creating continuous circulation. The Vornado 733 Large Air Circulator was the second-most-powerful fan we tested in our first round of tests. One shopper said it’s so compact they “have been moving it all over the house.”  But just because it’s slim doesn’t mean it lacks power. Utilitech 36-in 2-Speed Indoor Black/Powder Painting Industrial Fan. The compact Vornado 630 can send breezes to the far corners of a large room, is easy to control and clean, and has a long-established record for reliability. Despite its compact footprint—it’s just 12 inches in diameter, versus a standard box fan’s 16-inch square—the 630 is powerful enough to fully circulate the air in most rooms. 3 speed tower fan with remote control fits perfectly in any space with the slim design. The 610DC is marketed as an energy-efficient fan, but our favorite thing about it is the less-hyped variable speed dial. It effectively circulates air in a medium- to large-size room without having to oscillate, is easy to place and control, and has a long track record of reliability, backed by a five-year warranty. Reading through most of the one-, two-, and three-star ratings of the fan, we identified two very common complaints about the fan breaking before its one-year warranty. If you’re looking for a tower fan specifically for your bedroom, this TaoTronics model is a great option. Its design is striking, and it’s worth considering if money’s no object. The remote is compact, simple, and attractive, and it magnetically clips to the top of the fan’s circular exterior (which is good, because it’s small enough to easily lose). Beyond the power, the big distinguishing detail is that the Lil’ Blizzard can oscillate in a 40-degree arc, or can pivot and be locked into place to blow in only one direction. The AM06 also comes in more colors than any other fan we tested, in variations of black, chrome, blue, and even a lustrous bone that Dyson calls Whitesilver. As it doesn’t have a grille or external fan blades to clean, you can wipe all of it with a damp cloth or dust it. The 460 comes backed by the same five-year warranty as the 630, and boasts a glossy black finish like a Darth Vader helmet. You can find the specific cleaning instructions (PDF) in the manual, but cleaning the 630 should become second nature after a few times. We called in a new model to test this year and it seemed okay, and several other staff members have used the Seville for well over a year without these issues, but the fan’s toxic track record seems too volatile for us to feel comfortable recommending the Seville again. “It is so quiet, I often don’t know it’s on.”, Even though all fans technically circulate air, this one is specially designed to move the air around it up to 100 feet without using too much energy. And even if some fans sounded quieter overall than the Vornado, many, like the Lasko 20″ Wind Machine Fan 3300 and the Lasko Oscillating High Velocity Fan with Remote Control 4930, made inconsistent, revving sounds that were far more intrusive than the Vornado’s white noise. Often sold for less than $20, it’s a steal. The Vornado 610DC , our upgrade pick, has a speed dial that allows for very flexible speed adjustment, and the Dyson fan, our also-great pick, has 10 speed settings. Appliance manuals and free pdf instructions. But the Vornado beat the Seville both in range of power and number of speed settings, which we found far more helpful than oscillation or a remote. A Vornado may be a higher cost up front, but it’s a better performer and a better long-term value. We found ourselves luxuriating in the speeds in between, turning a whisper into a hum, and then again into a breeze—matching the fan’s air and noise output perfectly to what felt best. And as we’ve realized over years of testing tower fans and other appliances, if something is difficult to clean, you likely won’t end up cleaning it all. But oscillation simply directs a breeze toward you occasionally, as opposed to moving air throughout the whole room, which is the more effective and powerful way to make a room feel cooler. Another customer said: “It doesn't take up a lot of space, looks sleek, gives off good air, and is super quiet.” The fan has a super sleek design, and people love that it fits into small spaces but is still powerful enough to cool down an entire room. The Dyson’s sleep timer, like its speed settings, is among the most versatile we found. June 2, 2019 This vertical fan is light and easy to move around. But as we learned from reader comments, Seville makes you pay to ship your defective fan back, which can cost nearly $50. Photo: Michael Hession, The 630 Air Circulator’s spiral grille helps direct air in a tight column that can move air across a large room. One other flaw: The Lil’ Blizzard was the loudest fan in its category. Ry Crist, Dyson AM06 Review, CNET, March 5, 2014. $19.99 +$94.60 shipping. However, the only smart capability it has to offer is an app that works in lieu of a remote control, and includes the same controls as the tower itself, with no additional functionality. “We bought this to replace the separate fan and heater we have for our third floor. The less expensive Vornado 630 has a similar performance and a smaller footprint, all of which make it our top pick. Control the fan speed from across the room with the remote control. User manuals, Utilitech Fan Operating guides and Service manuals. Another common spec you’ll see in tower fans is oscillation, which means the fan rotates back and forth to help cool more parts of the room instead of blowing air in one direction—that’s one reason why shoppers love this oscillating tower fan by Lasko. Adjustable-Height 30 in.Industrial Pedestal Floor Fan with 7261 CFM This iLIVING 30 in. Unlike tabletop and box fans, a tower fan is typically taller and slimmer. Like most room fans, the 630 has just three speeds, which can feel limiting after using fans that allow more variable speed control. Flood Light, Timer user manuals, operating guides & specifications Dyson Cool AM06 Review: Is this the world’s most luxurious desk fan? Find the user manual you need for your home appliance products and more at ManualsOnline. While the fans blew, we took careful notes on how easy they were to use—if the power buttons were accessible, how easy it was to change the speeds, and how smoothly we could reposition the direction of the airflow. We don’t think most people need this much power, especially when it comes in such an unappealing package. The Wirecutter kitchen team knows how to throw a party, and we’ve spent hundreds of hours finding the best gear for any occasion, even game day. And because the 460 moves air through a smaller grille (10 inches vs. 12 inches in diameter), the airflow velocity feels significantly stronger from close up. Special Honors. We found ourselves luxuriating in the speeds in between, turning a whisper into a hum, and then again into a breeze—matching the fan’s air and noise output perfectly to what felt best. But after using fans that do come with remotes for just a few weeks, we found that the remotes are remarkably easy to misplace or lose entirely. The 630 also comes backed by a five-year warranty (PDF) that covers any defects in material or workmanship; if those are the issue, Vornado will repair or replace your fan free of charge. Vornado recommends the 630 for midsize rooms, such as bedrooms, kitchens, and offices, but we found the fan powerful enough at its highest setting to effectively cool a larger living or dining room. And though I became accustomed to this setup, I watched several of my nonplussed coworkers pick up the 460, turn it around, and examine it like a presenter on Antiques Roadshow—all just to adjust the speed. Free shipping. Vornado designer Brian Cartwright told us that Vornado created the basic design in 1945, basing it on a propeller that channeled air through the center of an early jet engine. Photo: Michael Hession. Keep reading to discover the best tower fans for cooling your home. In any case, the Air Multiplier is certainly versatile enough to function whether it’s three feet from your head or perched across the room, because its 10 power settings give you more options for wind speed than almost any other fan we tested (the exceptions are the larger Dyson AM07, the Vornado 6303DC, and our upgrade pick the Vornado 610DC). It has some easy-to-use controls, a robust build quality, and a reassuring five-year warranty. But if you love the idea of a fan that looks a little like a portal into another world, the Dyson AM06 can’t be beat. The Lasko 2265QM is one of the highest-rated high-velocity fans on Amazon. It’s one of the most affordable fans we tested that packs enough power to send breezes throughout a large space. But if you want more control and less power consumption, we think the 610DC may be worth the higher price. In our last update, we recommended the Seville Classics UltraSlimline 40″ Tower Fan as our top pick. Reviews And Information On Utilitech Lighting. Made with products you probably have on hand. Lasko Oscillating Tower Fan 2510. While the 610DC used 60 percent of the power of the 630 when both fans ran on full power, it used only 12 percent as much power as the 630 when both fans ran on medium, and 6 percent when both fans ran on low. We estimate that if you use the fans 24/7 on full power and pay 15¢ per kWh, the Vornado 630 will cost $5.72 per month and the Vornado 610DC will cost $3.43 per month. Perhaps most important, the Vornado 630 is backed up with tons of positive online reports from owners who’ve used the fan for years, racking up 4.5 stars (out of five) on Amazon across more than a thousand reviews. We recognized that just a few weeks of testing wouldn’t tell us how these fans would hold up over time, and considering the common reports of failure from our former top pick from Seville, we wanted to do as much research into these fans’ long-term performance as possible. The Seville Classics UltraSlimline Tower Fan with Tilt Feature is billed as an upgrade from the Seville Classics UltraSlimline, our former top pick. $20.00 Photo: Michael Hession. Shop Utilitech Pro 36-in 2-Speed Indoor High Velocity Fan at Lowe's Canada online store. We have seen the Cascade 40-inch Tower Fan on shelves at Costco for about $30 (and also on Amazon for about $40). And in our tests we found that we could still watch TV with the 630 blowing at full force—as long as it was on the opposite end of the room. Photo: Michael Hession, Like our main pick, the Vornado 610DC has a spiraling grille that directs a column of air across even a large room. We don’t know Vornado’s exact methodology, and the equipment we used falls short of a genuine lab test, but based on our observations it’s fair to say the company’s claims of the 610DC model’s energy savings seem accurate. Make Offer - Utilitech 36-in 3-Speed Indoor Tower Fan. If you’re looking for a fan to cover smaller areas that you can take with you on the go (whether that’s to the living room or the office), opt for this portable tower fan. “My office normally gets super hot. We measured the 610DC model’s wattage against that of other fans we recommend and found that, at full power, the 610DC uses 31.8 watts. This bladeless tower fan from Lasko even has a permanent filter that can easily be cleaned with a vacuum or in the sink. But it’s significantly more expensive than any other fan, and even with all the Dyson has going for it, the price is hard to justify. In addition to its regular fan speeds, it has a designated sleep setting that adjusts the airflow and turns off the LED lights. They’re only a perk if you remember where you last put them. But these perks come at a cost, as the 6303DC is around $65 more expensive than the just-as-powerful 610DC. For the most recent update, we reevaluated some of the top qualities we look for in a fan in response to a number of complaints that our former top pick, the Seville Classics UltraSlimline 40″ Tower Fan, failed within a year of use. Even though many tower fans have an oscillation feature, shoppers especially love how this one rotates. From 5 feet away, we were able to register a reading of 70 decibels on the fan’s high setting (it has only two settings). It’s also ever-so-slightly quieter, and it tilts, allowing you to angle the airflow upward in a room. The glossy Vornado 660 Large Air Circulator was the runner-up pick in a previous version of this guide, but in side-by-side testing with the 630, we think the 660 is a little too powerful for most people’s needs. This difference is almost imperceptible, but is definitely a bonus for light sleepers or the noise-sensitive. The Vornado 6303DC Energy Smart Medium Air Circulator is basically an enhanced version of the 610DC, featuring an energy-efficient DC motor and variable speed options. This is why many of them offer oscillation as an option—anyone will feel cooler for a few moments when a fan is blowing directly on them, Cartwright said. Its variable speed control dial, an energy-efficient DC motor, and a whopping 10-year warranty don’t make it any better at moving air, but they do make it nicer to use if you’re willing to pay a premium for those features. Unlike its cousin, the Vornado 660, the 733 can’t pivot. At around the size of a volleyball, the 460 comes in a conveniently small package. We don’t think oscillation is super helpful in fans designed to cover the whole room, as oscillators just don’t move air as effectively as circulators, but the small, occasional breeze feels nice wafting across the room. The constant hum from the 460 had no distracting breaks, whereas the 630 made very slight hills and valleys of whirr. As far as cooling capabilities were concerned, the fan was fantastic at first—but, like most tower fans, the oscillation only offers a fleeting relief from the heat, which got progressively weaker over time. Considering the UltraSlimline’s history of failing within the first year, this five-year coverage is certainly more attractive. These types of fans are great because they help circulate the air so it feels less hot and stuffy in the room. (And depending on the fan’s angle, it can also result in a faceful of gale.) The normal guideline tends to be that 4-inch lighting fixtures need to normally be located at the least 3 foot away from each other and 6-inch fittings about 5 foot away from each other. The 610DC also draws power exponentially, so you’ll see the most savings if you use it on medium or low settings. After eight years of testing room fans, we’re sure the Vornado 630 Medium Air Circulator is the best choice for most people. It’s not the most elegant look, and needs to rest on a surface (as opposed to simply dangling in the air) but we found it easy to tuck away behind a sofa or stack of books. Bundle up and head outside (or stay toasty inside)—either way, everyone in the family will love these snow day ideas. But we think the 630 does a capable job in most parts of the house. Over the years, we’ve interviewed a slew of experts with intimate knowledge of fans, including Vornado designer Brian Cartwright and engineer Greg Pease; Rob Green, senior design engineer at Dyson; Bill Kahale, a product manager at Seville; Jim Kline, an engineer and quality supervisor at Intertek; and Brian Cyr, an acoustical engineer also at Intertek. At the highest setting it matches the 630 model’s maximum output, and at the lowest setting it produces barely a whisper. Unlike most room circulators, tower fans can oscillate. And the oscillating feature is nice as well—it turns over a roughly 90-degree angle and you can stop it at any point along the way to focus its stream in a single direction. Learn more. Since fans move around the cool air and help it circulate, you can use your air conditioner much less—and fans typically use less energy than an air conditioner, so with proper use, you’ll reduce your electricity bill, too. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Photo: Michael Hession, We loved the 610DC model’s controls, which allowed us to set the fan to any speed we wanted instead of having to choose between specific settings. At its middle and lower settings, it makes a pleasant white noise that is easy to talk or watch TV over. W e tested the top-rated tower fans for 60+ hours and selected the Seville Classics – UltraSlimline as the best tower fan overall. *At the time of publishing, the price was $25. To maximize the amount of air your circulator moves during the summer, Vornado recommends you aim it halfway up a wall on the opposite side of the room. In-Store Only + Add to My List. Though fans don’t use much energy compared with many appliances, including air conditioners, Vornado claims that DC fans use up to 80 percent less energy than regular AC-powered fans. There are so many different tower fans on the market, it can be hard to tell which ones are truly the best. Aside from the higher price, the 610DC model’s most notable shortcoming is that its motor requires a transformer, which is housed in a bulky box on the power cord. With that in mind, here’s the list of criteria we used to select the best fan for most people: We also noted certain things that we overvalued in the past, though we still think they are nice to have: In the past, we’ve attempted to re-create more formal lab-like tests, but found that the resulting data wasn’t as useful as we’d hoped it would be. This powerful, feature-packed fan was the quietest and easiest to clean of all we tested, but it’s very expensive. “It has all the best features, including quiet operation and plenty of air volume and fan power,” wrote one customer. Still going strong after much use,” raved one shopper. RELATED: The 6 Best Window Air Conditioners to Cool Your Home, According to Reviews. If you have an especially large living room or appreciate gusts, the larger Vornado 660 Large Air Circulator, a former runner-up in this guide, is a better option. It can also work as a whole-room circulator in a pinch, for example, in a stuffy hostel or muggy office without AC. 1. The Vornado’s remote has less functionality than the Seville’s, as it can only increase power and set a timer, and the fan also can’t oscillate. All the other fans in this category failed that test (with the exception of the Dyson AM06, which doesn’t have any blades). Say see-ya to 2020 and hello to a lucky new year! Real Simple is part of the Meredith Home Group. This is not a fancy fan, but sometimes you just don’t need one. © 2021 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company, Vornado 610DC Energy Smart Medium Air Circulator, Holmes Lil’ Blizzard Performance Table Fan, Seville Classics UltraSlimline 40″ Tower Fan, The best room fan: Vornado 630 Medium Air Circulator, Runner-up: Vornado 460 Small Air Circulator, Upgrade: Vornado 610DC Energy Smart Medium Air Circulator, Budget pick: Holmes Lil’ Blizzard Performance Table Fan, Lasko Oscillating High Velocity Fan with Remote Control 4930. such as accidentally dropping the fan a day after buying it.