Floor Fans

If you have an area you need to cool or where you need to circulate air, floor fans can be a good choice. Most floor fans are larger and higher velocity than the average table fan and therefore, can handle larger rooms and spaces; even a garage or workshop.

These fans can allow you to avoid using air conditioning or to at least avoid lowering your thermostat during the summer months. In the winter, they can help circulate air for better heat distribution, especially if you have high ceilings. While a ceiling fan is ideal for air circulation, a floor fan can save you the expensive of adding the wiring necessary for a ceiling fan and the hassle of installing one. A floor fan requires no set up, just plug it in and set it on the floor. It can be moved around as needed with little effort.

The only draw back to floor fans is that they do take up a bit of floor space.

Some floor fans are on a pedestal. These models circulate air aimed at your upper body and higher. Others are lower to the floor and operate more like a box fan. However, unlike most box fans, many of them can pivot giving users more directional control and the ability to move air that is higher in the room. These fans tend to have a wide base of support and are less likely to tip over.

Before you select a floor fan there are a few things to consider to determine which is right for your situation:

Pedestal versus traditional floor fans
Pedestal fans are good in both home and industrial applications. However, remember that the air movement tends to be higher so they aren't as good at drying a floor. They are also a bit more likely to tip over, so they can be problematic when there are pets or small children in the home.

Air flow
While a traditional floor fan circulates air closer to the floor, some do pivot and allow more control of the air flow. Whether you choose a traditional or a pedestal floor fan, having one that either oscillates (rotates side to side) or pivots, provides greater flexibility. Some pedestal fans will even allow the user to adjust the height of the fan head.

Air movement
Some floor fans are high velocity models, simply put, they have the capacity to move more air or create more of a cooling effect. A couple of things can be examined when comparing fans related to this capacity. One is fan size. A larger propeller generally means more air movement. Thus, a 16" fan generally won't be able to cool or circulate air in an 20' x 24' room as well as a 20" fan.

Fan manufacturers may also report air movement in cubic feet per minute (or CFM) allowing you to compare various models. The larger this number, the more air movement a given fan can produce. Unfortunately, this information can be hard to find.

Of course, a fan needs a good motor to spin and produce the air movement needed. In general, a ball bearing motor is one of the more robust options and can provide a long life.

Controls
The controls on a fan are generally pretty simple, but a fan that offers a variety of speed settings gives the user the most flexibility. In addition, having a remote control can be handy as well.

Some floor fans also offer a timer that allows the fan to automatically shut off after a set amount of time has passed.

Construction
If a fan will be used in the home, the way that it looks may matter. The finish and style may need to be taken into consideration in these instances. Beyond this however, is the importance of durability and steadiness. Some floor fans will be made with many plastic parts. This makes them lightweight, more portable, and easy to clean. On the other hand, they are sometimes less stable and durable. Metal can be more durable, and if the base is metal and properly weighted, they will be less likely to tip over as well.

Noise
Fan noise can be desirable in some instance, and not in others. Some manufacturers may indicate noise level during operation in dB allowing you to compare various models. Once again however, this information can be hard to find. Thus, looking at current customer reviews can be useful.