Fans of all types – ceiling, personal, table, exhaust, and many more.
Be it a hot summer day, a humid rainy day, or a mild winter, it is important that we always maintain the right temperature, ventilation and humidity of our rooms and indoor environments. Fans prove to be indispensable in this regard; simple pleasures of life from simple devices. But one of the tasks that can sometimes appear complicated, is choosing the right fan for your need from the large variety of different types of fans available today. Ceiling fans, pedestal fans, table fans, wall mount fans, and the list goes on. The types of fan that you require can be better paired by understanding the features and usage of the wide options of fans available.
To help you make a better buying decision, we’ve compiled a list of the different types of fans available, and explained why you should select from these options.
1. Ceiling Fans
A ceiling fan is the most common appliance you will find in any home or office. Ceiling fans are mounted on the ceiling of a room or space, and powered by hub-mounted rotating blades, which circulate the air.
Modern ceiling fans come in a wide variety styles, shapes and colors, to match the overall theme and interiors of the room. The blade size should be selected based on the size of the room. These fans are paired with a speed regulator, to control the amount of air flow. Some antique fans have a decorative bulb in the center, while modern ones are equipped with a remote control.
The use of ceiling fans is not limited to homes and offices. Some ceiling fans are designed for large spaces, with a bigger size, higher wattage and large blades which reach across the space. They can be bought off the shelves, or you could also buy your ceiling fan online.
Fun Fact: A ceiling fan does not change the overall temperature of the room. It simply displaces air, and increases the air-flow. This leads to better heat dissipation from our bodies, and reduces our body temperature, so we feel a cooling effect.
Ceiling fans also come in two different options:
AC Motor Ceiling Fans
AC motor ceiling fans are most commonly used, and are highly cost effective. They can have a slightly bulky design and are less energy efficient.
DC Motor Ceiling Fans
DC motor ceiling fans are more sophisticated, compact and energy efficient. One of the salient features is, they can be made to work in reverse, so they can also provide a warming effect during winters.
2. Exhaust Fans
Exhaust Fans suck the moist, hot or bad air from an area, and replace it with fresh and cool air. The purpose of using these fans is to avoid build-up of excessive heat and moisture. Exhaust Fans are vital in removing bad odors, impurities and unsafe gases. They help in maintaining good air quality in the bathrooms and kitchens where they are often used.
Exhaust fans can be installed either on the wall or window, or mounted on the ceiling.
3. Tower Fans
Tower fans are tall and narrow in shape. Tower fans provide a cost effective boost in airflow to the rooms of your home. They improve the air circulation in rooms where the air conditioning isn’t effective. They usually have swing options to throw air in different parts of the room, and also fan speed controls.
Since they are compact and have a space-saving design, you can place them in corners or narrow spaces. They are ideal for use in small rooms. They come with added features like built-in ionizers that help in purifying the air.
4. Pedestal Fans
Pedestal fans are powerful fans, capable of cooling large rooms. They are also called stand fans, because they are tall in design. Pedestal fans are lightweight and portable. They are commonly capable of swing options, which can push the air evenly to different parts of the room.
They are ideal for use in large halls and spaces, when the cooling requirements are for a large number of people.
5. Floor Fans
Floor fans or box fans cater to cooling requirements at the ground or the floor level. They are known for their portability, since they can be placed at multiple locations.
Such fans are ideal for outdoor use, like balconies, terraces, lawns and patios.
6. Table Fans
Table fans or desk fans are considered ideal for a moderate climate, and an inexpensive way of personalized cooling comfort. They are not meant to ventilate the entire room, but instead a targeted portion of it’s range. Table fans are often lightweight and small in size.
Since they are to be used in close proximity, they are not ideal for outdoor use. They can be powered by a regular two pin / three pin plug, or by USB cord.
Air Circulators are a more powerful version of table fans, and are capable of providing cooling to small or medium sized rooms.
7. Wall Mount Fans
Wall mounted fans are mounted at a strategic location on the wall, to provide air circulation to a range of area within the room. The design usually includes options to control fan speed and swing control.
Since they are mounted, they save floor space, and ideal for use in small rooms, offices and warehouses.
8. Bladeless Fans
Bladeless fans come with an elongated, hollow loop that sticks out at the top. The air flows around the unit and gets pushed out through tiny openings in the curved circumference of the fan. It is based on the air-multiplier technology and can generate an impressive airflow within the room.
Fun Fact: Bladeless fans are not exactly bladeless, but are called bladeless because the moving parts cannot be seen during operation. Hidden inside these products are little fans that suck in air.
Though they can be expensive, they are considered the safest for home use, since there are no visible moving parts. This is ideal when there are children or pets in the house.
9. Misting Fans
Misting fans combine a powerful air current with a thin spray of water droplets, which creates a fresh mist around it. They need a continuous supply of electricity and running water.
They are an inexpensive alternative to air conditioners, and are ideal for use outdoors, in dry regions and summer seasons. There are variants which are also designed for indoor use which have their own water tank.
10. Industrial Fans
Industrial fans or industrial blowers are special purpose fans, which achieve the goal of ventilating, drying, exhaust, and aeration. Based on their types and applications, they can be used in a wide variety of plants, facilities, warehouses and workshops.
The following are some commonly used industrial fans:
- Propeller Fans
- Axial Fans
- Centrifugal Fans
- Mixed Flow Fans
- Cross Flow Fans
- Induced Jet Fans
11. Cabinet Fans
Cabinet fans are small fans used in compact spaces for ventilation of a very small space, for removal of excess heat. They are usually compact in size for easy installation in narrow spaces.
They can be ideally used in CPUs, server rooms, chimneys and as an auxiliary to the primary HVAC system.
As we can see, the types of fans are numerous, and each of them come in a variety of options. Remote controlled operations and better energy efficiency are gradually becoming the norm, in terms of offered features. The latest trend in terms of technology and sophistication, is installation of IoT (Internet of Things) enabled fans which can be connected to WiFi, remotely operated and also auto-triggered on reaching certain thresholds. In the end, the choice boils down to your purpose of buying the fan, style and design preferences, and also budget considerations.