How to Choose the Best Portable Fan?
Table of Contents
Top Best Portable Fans Based on Reviews and Price
Why You Need a Portable Fan?
Your summer days at home and office can be less uncomfortable just by acquiring a table or floor fan. Inexpensive and simple to use, these portable fans can be taken with you anywhere. They are light, small and compact. Hence, they can be tossed in your bag for use anywhere – in homes, offices, camps, hospitals, libraries, etc.
How to Choose a Portable Fan?
However, since there are hundreds (if not thousands) of models, buying a high-performing and long-lasting portable fan may not come in a breeze. To assist you in your purchase experience, this guidepost introduces you to 8 criteria to watch out for.
Top 9 Factors to Consider When Buying a Portable Fan
9. Types of Table Fan
Table fans can be classified into two categories; one based on the rotation and the second based on their designs.
Rotation and Inclination Table Fan
Oscillating fans can horizontally form an angle. Therefore, they have a larger coverage area. Fans with a rotating front grill have angled slats that help circulate the air in a wide cone. In these fans, there is no direct wind at the front of the fan, as the angled slats deflect up or down.
Fixed-head Table Fan
This thin table fan is great for window frames. It helps to bring fresh air from outside. The classic desk fans (old table fans) are very elegant, but they can be bulky and impart a nice vintage look to your room.
The fans that come with a frame have a greater inclination range to direct the airflow to their target in the room, but it does not have the oscillation movement.
They are called fixed-head fans. This simply means that they only send the air in just a direction. Hence, it depends on where and how it’s positioned.
8. Airflow
Our advice for buying a high-quality portable fan starts with taking into account the airflow of the device.
The airflow is generally measured in cubic meters per minute or cubic meters per hour. The ideal is to opt for a fan that has a considerable airflow to guarantee that the cooling is effective and reaches the whole confined space.
Generally, this airflow is between 15 m³/min and 150 m³/min, considering the least efficient and most efficient model. However, it is, above all, the size of the room or space where you will use the appliance that will determine the airflow that suits you best. The more confined space, the better.
Some professional fans have an airflow rate of up to 300 m³/min. This kind of device is suitable if you plan to cool the entire room or if the heat level is too high.
7. The Sound Emitted
Before comparing the prices of available models, find out details about the sound emitted by the device. Remember that table fans always maintain more proximity to the user than the ceiling or standing fans. This feature allows you to know in advance comfort level you will benefit from using one model compared to another.
The sound emitted by a fan is generally expressed in decibels(dB). This unit of measurement indicates the noise level you will hear when the device is operating. The larger the device, the more noise you will hear. As this device cannot operate at zero sound levels, the ideal is to choose a fan emitting sound of not more than the 25-35 dB range. While smaller fans can become noisy, larger fans are quieter and more efficient.
Some manufacturers provide the sound level in the product package. But you can’t always trust them. So you have to test a fan to know if it really makes noise or not.
6. The Power
Unlike bigger fans and air conditioning systems, these devices operate in a simple way. The performance of the equipment depends in particular on its power. It is indicated in watts, and it will depend on the diameter of the blades. On average, manufacturers offer 10 watts for 10 cm in diameter. So a 30 cm fan with 40 watts will already offer significant power.
However, the power can vary depending on the chosen model, from 4 watts to a few tens or hundreds of watts. Of course, the power capacity is part of the criterion which will determine the airflow strength.
For a portable fan, the average index is normally 30 min 3s. This value is ideal for an office. Naturally, it would be better to opt for a larger capacity if you want to cover a larger area. For example, a room longer than 20 min 2s requires at least a model with a power of 100W. Logically this fan data must be increased by 50W per 10 min 2 s.
In reality, power doesn’t matter too much. You can find a fairly weak engine, but perfectly inclined blades that will ventilate effectively.
5. Size
The size of the portable fan should mainly be considered for practical reasons. In addition to being easy to move, a small model has the advantage of not occupying too much space.
However, the power of small models is quite limited. On the other hand, large-diameter fans can be quite bulky because of their dimensions. This is why it is advisable to use them in a bedroom or living room rather than in the office.
But in general, the diameter of an average portable fan is always around 30 cm. But with larger propellers, you can get more cool and fresh air, because the airflow can thus go further.
4. Appearance
If previously the aesthetic was not really at the center of the concerns of the manufacturers, it is not the case now. Today, the fan can be a real object of decoration. The importance of this feature is explained by the fact that you could quickly get tired of a device that you find neither elegant nor in harmony with the interior decoration of your office or home.
To see if it’s aesthetically pleasing, you just need to see the photo of the fan or its description. Then check if the material from which it is made suits you. You could choose between chromed metal, wood or plastic.
Besides the question of design, safety is also an essential criterion in the choice of these devices, especially when you have children at home. In practice, the bars of the grids must be tight enough to prevent the little ones from putting their fingers inside. The space of these components must not exceed 10 mm. It is also important to check the stability of the fan once it is running.
If you want to ventilate a fixed and limited space, you can opt for a table fan that does not rotate. And if you want more area coverage, the best option is a large and oscillating table fan.
Although the coverage area is more extensive, the airflow is periodic. The advantage of the latter type is that it comes with a choice of both modes (turn the oscillation on or off).
3. Ease of Use
This is one of the most important criteria for this kind of material. If the main role of a standard device is to provide fresh air throughout the day, some models with more advanced technologies may have a mist or humidifier mode. This last function is very useful when the air is a little dry.
Apart from these options, choose a programmable model with remote control such as the TRUSTECH Remote Table Fan.
2. Manufacturing Quality
The better the materials, the easier the assembly will be, and the more robust the fan will be. The quality of manufacturing is essential because it can influence the performance of the device, and also on its sound level. A table fan may be silent for 1 month, then start to crack or produce disturbing sounds.
Although metal fans are resistant, they eventually oxidize and need to be polished from time to time. Most modern table fan models come with a removable front grill for easy cleaning.
Unfortunately, to judge the quality of manufacturing, you need to have the fan for several weeks or months at home. This is why you should choose models with return-back, money-back, and long-term warranty policies.
1. Important Functions
Some smaller fans designed for a single person don’t always have an oscillating system. Definitely, individual users don’t necessarily need it to rotate from right to left. However, you can have this feature in large-diameter models (30 centimeters and above).
The premium-quality fans, however, will offer a few more additional options. For instance, you can have the “Turbo” mode. This allows the fan to ventilate at maximum power. They’re very noisy, but they can quickly cool a room, and remove the odors from the kitchen. They are pretty practical.
Models with night mode features will come with lower speed levels. However, the engine positioning ensures quietness.
Wrapping It Up
The criteria to consider if you need to buy a portable fan of a better value for money are in particular: the power, the size, the design. And also, there is the ease of use of the device, manufacturing quality, airflow, and the sound level.
Remember, the more powerful the fan is, the more likely it is to provide a large airflow. Table fans aren’t always aesthetically pleasing, but there are still some exceptions. In any case, the design should not be the sole criterion of choice.
