When the thermometer starts to rise, and offices begin to swelter, there's nothing like having a fan or two to keep things cool and fresh. And the same applies back home, where mid-summer heat-waves can turn living rooms into furnaces. But what is the best fan to buy, and how can you find the right models at the cheapest prices? There are some pretty advanced designs on the fan market these days, and a wide range of options, whether you're looking to chill out in your bedroom, or maintain productivity at work. This buyer's guide will lay out all of the options, and guide you to the very best fan deals.
Ever since mankind felt the searing heat of mid-summer heatf-waves, keeping cool has been a priority. In ancient Rome, baking citizens would head to the frigidarium, a purpose-built pool filled with cool water. The ancient Egyptians had an interesting tactic for surviving hot summer nights. Instead of sleeping under dry sheets, they would wet and wring a cotton sheet, and lie under that, allowing them to rise refreshed for the next day's tasks.
However, the story of the fan can only begin in one place: China and Japan. These countries are famous for their traditions of manufacturing ornate hand fans – a testament to how hot the weather can get in Tokyo and Beijing. Alongside ice houses and bronze “refrigerators”, the Chinese went further. During the Han Dynasty (around 100AD), craftsmen even created a recognisable mechanical fan, using a hand crank to turn blades.
That was as far as fan development went for thousands of years, until the Industrial Revolution intervened. In 1837, a British technician pioneered a steam-driven mechanical fan. This was joined in the 1880s by an electrical fan, created by the American firm Schuyler Wheeler. By the 1900s, Japanese companies had perfected the compact home fan, and thanks to firms like Compton Greaves, ceiling fans became a common sight in countries like India.
Since then, ceiling fans have undergone refinement (and expansion), while some of the most advanced fans are now the smallest – slotting into laptops and smartphones to keep their processors cool. One thing's for sure, as climate change hits and summers aren't getting any cooler, this is a device that's going to be in demand for some time yet.
So, what makes a good fan for home or office use? We're not talking about deluxe industrial fans or computer fans here, just the type of fan you might buy for a school classroom, bedside table, or office desk.
When purchasing a fan, several factors could come into play, and you should take all of them into consideration when browsing the hotukdeals listings:
Noise – While a noisy fan can keep you cool, its constant hum can be an intolerable distraction, whether you are concentrating on an essay or watching TV. Traditional blade fans will generally be among the louder options, especially if they are contained within a metal casing. More advanced “vortex”-style fans can deliver the same cooling effect at much lower noise levels. When browsing listings, check for decibels – and avoid anything about 60db.
Air Flow – The key power rating of a fan is its CFM (cubic feet per minute), which gives an idea of how much air it can pump every minute. CFM varies widely, from as little as 200-300 for budget models, to well over 1,500, and you will notice the difference on very warm days. However, there may be a catch. Not all high CFM models distribute air long distances from their blades. So take that into account. A high CFM is a good, but not infallible indicator of fan power.
Electricity Consumption – If you're wondering do fans use a lot of electricity, wonder no longer. By and large, an electric fan will be a significant power consumer wherever it is used, but there's a lot of variation between different models. Power consumption is best assessed on a watt or hour/CFM basis, which gives an idea of how much air is moved per unit of energy consumed. So look for fans with a high CFM and low wattage (or at least as low as possible given the class of device you are looking at). The cheapest fans won't score well on either metric, consuming a lot of power, while cooling rooms inefficiently. That's a very good reason to invest in more advanced models. Buying cheap fans is usually a false economy.
Control – Ideally, a fan should be easy to control without having to go over to the device and manually turn it on or off, or modulate its power settings. The most modern fans come with remote controls, or even smartphone apps to control them easily, so those ones are probably the best options from an ease-of-use perspective.
Cord Length – It might seem like a minor consideration, but cord length really matters when it comes to fans. Placing a fan can make a critical difference to its effectiveness, and you don't want to be limited to inappropriate positions. Go for longer cords if possible, or think about adding an extension cord to your purchase. That way, you can enjoy maximum flexibility.
Positioning – Do you want a free-standing fan or one that's fixed in position? With more powerful fans, using a wall mount can make sense, as it reduces vibrations, and these vibrations can create excessive noise. With smaller fans, clips could let you hold them in place securely (and remember, fans can sometimes have a tendency to move across tabletops). Some models come mounted on wheels as well, which could be the best style if mobility is a core concern.
Focus – Not all fans move air in the same manner, and this can affect how well they work in certain situations. Broadly speaking, fans can either be tightly focused, or suited to wide dispersal of chilled air (or both, in some cases). If you are looking for a focused solution for a work desk, pick a fan that creates a tightly aimed “beam” of cool air. For cooling entire rooms, oscillating fan models that spread air far and wide will probably make sense.
Those buying factors can be applied to any hotukdeals fan listings, but they don't get us closer to finding the perfect fan for your unique situation. There are plenty of different styles of fan on the market, and each buyer needs to pick a form that suits their needs. So here's a quick break down of what to expect:
Tower Fans – A tower fan is, unsurprisingly, shaped like a tower, with a slender design which usually stands on the floor or desktop. These fans typically measure around 40 inches in height and come with bases measuring about 10-inches in diameter. So they are a space-efficient alternative to air-con for smaller rooms. They aren't the most powerful option, but with a high CFM and oscillating functions, towers can disperse cool air efficiently enough for most purposes. Ideally, look for models with various oscillation settings, a remote control, and extras like filtration. And go for the most energy efficient models around. Honeywell, Bionaire and Dimplex are all good brands to check out.
Pedestal Fans – A pedestal fan will usually come with a set of blades encase within a round metal frame, which is then mounted on a pedestal – hence the name. Compact and generally energy efficient, these fans are ideal for placing on work desks, as they are cheap to run and easy to customise. They may also come with adjustable stands, letting you raise them for desks and lower them for sofas or beds. The disadvantage tends to be power. If you want ultra-powerful cooling performance, pedestal fans won't be the best way to go. Meaco and Honeywell are good brands to look for here.
Cooling Fans – The cooling fan category tends to include more advanced fan varieties from brands like Dyson, which don't fit into the traditional pedestal type. For instance, the Dyson Pure Cool comes with a rounded semi-rectangular frame, which generates a powerful beam of cool air. And it also purifies domestic air, removing dust particles – a very handy double function. Add in real-time pollution sensing and smartphone controls, and it's easy to see why models like this come with a hefty price tag. But they could be great for families who are concerned about air quality and want super-efficient summertime cooling.
Desk Fans – Often resembling standard pedestal fans, a good desk fan will have been designed purely for work purposes. We've given them their own category because high-end desk fans come with additional features which make them appealing to professionals, and you won't find with standard models. They also come in some innovative designs that set them apart. For instance, Aikoper's USB desk fan looks like a section of curved pipe and can be powered up using a standard USB – a big help for office environments. The Lil' Blizzard from Holmes is more familiar, and its super-light construction is perfect for taking to the office when required. And Fancii's USB Personal model can be tilted through 180 degrees, providing focused coolness just when you need it. If you value comfort at work, these specialist desk-based models will do the trick.
Bladeless Fans – We've covered a few of these models in passing (like the Aikoper USB or the Dyson Pure Cool). However, in recent years bladeless fan technology has moved on rapidly, and plenty of cheaper models are available. Generally, they use air compressors located in the fan's base to distribute cooled air into a ring, which has a narrow slit. When it's pushed at high speed through the ring, cool air disperses throughout the nearby area, often using much less electricity than standard blade fans. They can often be controlled via remotes, and tend to be easier to customise as well. So it's no surprise to see them appearing across UK homes. But watch out for cheap imitations, as poor-quality bladeless models can actually be much less efficient and effective than good blade versions.
Air Purifier Fans – The Dyson Pure Cool isn't the only air purifier fan around, but it's probably the best air purifier and fan hybrid. Typically, air purifiers will function as fans, as they take in air, clean it, then disperse it again. But not all have efficient cooling abilities, so be aware of this when making a purchase. Envion and Lasko tend to be reliable Dyson fan alternatives, which mix up air purification with chilling.
Before you dive into the hotukdeals fans listings, it might help to list a few leading fan manufacturers quickly. These brands won't let you down – or if problems arise, their support and warranty services should be able to help out:
Dyson – The UK's innovation powerhouse, Dyson has moved from vacuums and hand cleaners to fans and air purifiers. Products like the Pure Hot + Cool can heat in the winter and cool in the summer, so represent trailblazing climate control devices. And they are some of the quietest fans on the market as well. But the price tag may put some people off.
Meaco – A go-to brand for office suppliers, Meaco is a global climate control giant, offering everything from dehumidifiers to air conditioning units. Its fans are among the most reliable available, including the MC series of tower fans and the compact 1056 Air Circulator – possibly the best desk model around.
Honeywell – American manufacturer Honeywell produces mid-range oscillating and tower fans for home use. It's QuietSet Tower Fans are incredibly quiet, so won't disturb summer reading, while the table fans from the same range are great for study periods.
Blauberg – German firm Blauberg has come up with some of the most interesting “smart” fan models yet introduced. If you need an exhaust fan for your bathroom or an office fan that can be controlled with a smartphone app, it's a brand that's well worth exploring.
So far, we've been focusing on towers, table fans, desk fans, and oscillating models, but they aren't the only options available when you need to stay cool. For instance, hotukdeals is also a good place to look for air conditioning products, and they could represent a more effective alternative. Air con is a good solution for cooling large offices and homes over sustained periods. It's not usually needed in the UK, but can come into its own during extended heat-waves or places where things like ovens or IT equipment raise local temperatures. You can pick up smaller air con units from merchants like Screwfix for a few hundred pounds, so it's an option that almost everyone should think about.
And what about people who need to cool themselves on the move? In that case, tower fans aren't going to be much use. Instead, handheld models will be invaluable. Fortunately, there are quite a few mini fan brands around. For example, Welltop make USB-powered handheld devices that are great for taking on the train or into the office. Even better, fans from D-FantiX come with a misting function which sprays water as it runs, adding a refreshing dose of additional cooling. If you commute in the summertime, these are devices that you can't afford to be without.
Don't be caught out when the heat starts to rise. Be prepared for sweltering summer months or baking trips to work with the right cooling products. As we've seen, there's a fan style for every situation, and plenty of exciting brands to look for. But how can you afford that deluxe air purifying, super-powered model you've got your eyes on?
The answer is simple. As summer approaches, the hotukdeals fans listings become filled with offers. You'll find fans for sale from leading brands like Honeywell and Dyson, with big reductions from an array of merchants. From John Lewis and Argos, to Screwfix, Tesco and Amazon, plenty of the UK's favourite retailers make it cheaper to chill out when the need arises.
Don't buy a fan that's too powerful for your needs. Pay attention to power consumption, noise, and flow rate, and choose one that suits the space you need to cool. If you really want to save on high-end models, check out Amazon Prime Day (which falls conveniently in mid-summer), or hold out to stock up for next year in the Black Friday sales. Either way, be sure to keep things cool this summer at the hotukdeals fan listings.
If you can't stand the intensity of mid-summer heat and need to stay focused on work or relaxation, buying a reliable fan is a no-brainer. Fans come in all shapes and sizes, with some extremely advanced models, alongside great value traditional designs. Whether you need a cutting edge Dyson or a compact handheld model, head to the hotukdeals fans listings for the best prices around.
