I think this year's number one note to self is -
*Buy new fans in November". The likelihood of me being the only person trying to buy a new fan in the middle of a heatwave is slim to "don't be so stupid".
I have various fans. To be honest, the cheap Argos one is probably the best - it's a stand fan and I think it was £28. Also the large desk fan (also Argos I believe) is pretty good.
The tower fan is ok when it first starts up but it very noticeably just shifts the hot air around after a few hours. More so than any other.
I don't particularly like the rechargeable fans. With 3 settings, I find the lowest setting pretty ineffective in the current temperatures - turn it up and it doesn't hold it's charge for that long. And what's the use of a fan that gives up the ghost at the hottest time of the day and you then have to charge it for 3+ hours?
Also, when I took the charger out of it yesterday, the metal part of the usb cable stayed in the fan and the rest came out in my hand. I had to resort to a pair of tweezer to remove it and then turn the place upside down to find a charger the same size. And like a lot of people, I'm sure, I've got a gazillion unidentifiable charging leads in a million different places.
And if the fan needs assembling and you have arthritis in your hands and fingers, make sure there is someone who can do it for you before you throw the whole thing across the room in frustration.
And for me, ignore anyone who wants to tell you how good their fitted or portable air con is - can't afford either!
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Fans - tips, tricks, do's and dont's
(25 Posts)I have heard that A/C units are very loud, so wouldn't want one.
I keep my USB rechargeable fans on permanent charge with long leads (cheap on Ebay), so it is just like using an ordinary plug-in. I have one, set to low, trained all day on the spot where my cat sleeps, which is under the table at the moment, obviously cooler than his bed.
I’ve tried various fans and chiller units but in the winter I’m going to explore proper air con units, apparently they are reasonable quiet now, not too expensive to run and have come right down in price.
We have a tower fan in our living room that you fill with water at the base and add a funny frozen thing and tbh it’s pretty good.
Cossy
I’ve tried various fans and chiller units but in the winter I’m going to explore proper air con units, apparently they are reasonable quiet now, not too expensive to run and have come right down in price.
We have a tower fan in our living room that you fill with water at the base and add a funny frozen thing and tbh it’s pretty good.
Having to fill something with water is not very disabled friendly unfortunately.
I bought two air con portable units last year and I have been so thankful. But they are VERY noisy.
Meaco fans are whisper quiet, just like a summer breeze, three different sizes.
We have a portable air conditioner. I put it on for an hour or so before bed to cool our bedroom. At bedtime I with on our super quiet Meacon fan. Otherwise it would simply be blowing hot air around the room.
We have ceiling fans in the bedrooms. Absolutely wouldnt be without them. Nothing downstairs though.🥵
Nanny27
We have ceiling fans in the bedrooms. Absolutely wouldnt be without them. Nothing downstairs though.🥵
Yes, for some years now we have ceiling fans in all the bedrooms and one in the living room .Like you, I don't know what we would do without them.
Next springtime I'll be getting a quote from a reputable installer.
I think we'll be having more summers like this.
Got two really nice ones from QVC one’s on or off a pedestal and it charges when using charge then lasts for upto 12 hours, ideal for holiday or power cuts etc the other a standing one can’t think of the make just now and it’s upstairs, Both amazing and silent do all sorts of things via remote , saved us through this heatwave. One was £149 on special value the other £79 and worth every penny.
We have managed OK so far for the past 9 years since 2018 when we got our first fan, a status pedestal and still quietly going strong in our bedroom. We also have been OK in lounge with 2 more similar fans.
Our game changer this year was a Meaco portable air conditioner unit for our bedroom - the hottest room in the house. We got it in June ahead of the first heatwave and its been a life saver. We only seem need it when temp goes above 30°. Needed son in law to carry it upstairs as its heavy. 54 decibels - noiser than fan of course but when push comes to shove we prefer a bit more noise - which we soon got used to. It cost £270 which was cheaper even than some of the all singing and dancing Dyson fans!!
We also find having a couple of smaller rechargeable fans useful for easily moving from room to room and could be useful in a power cut.
mernice
Meaco fans are whisper quiet, just like a summer breeze, three different sizes.
I bought one of these (£200) after reading recommendations on GN. I’m on holiday so a kindly neighbour has taken delivery. Looking forward to trying it out next Wednesday when I’m home!
John Lewis has this Meaco fan in stock at the time of writing, it's not big but very quiet and efficient, and can be mains or battery operated so you can easily carry it around with you without the faff of having to keep unplugging it and plugging it in again www.johnlewis.com/meaco-sefte-6-inch-desk-fan-white-charcoal/p115472620
I really recommend DUUX whisper - pedestal fans are silent and great quality.! Plug in wall - long flex.
Manual /Remote control for a number of speed /multi directional choice settings.
Changes of height just by press of button (no twisting of stem!)
Extremely Sturdy yet lightweight to move from room to as needed.
Well worth £149 - quality pays.
We bought one last year and another 2 few weeks ago. Amazon have in stock.
Forgot to link … here it it
Duux Whisper Flex 2 Smart Fan, 13dB, Remote Control, Alexa & Smart App, 30 Cooling Speeds, Adjustable from Desk to Standing Fan, Up-Down, Left-Right Oscillation, Powerful & Quiet, Night Mode, Black
amzn.eu/d/02Rslo92
Duux Whisper Flex 2 Smart Fan, 13dB, Remote Control, Alexa & Smart App, 30 Cooling Speeds, Adjustable from Desk to Standing Fan, Up-Down, Left-Right Oscillation, Powerful & Quiet, Night Mode, Black
amzn.eu/d/0fbT8Znw
My neighbour sits on a chair in the kitchen near to her freezer,, with her freezer door open for a few minutes a couple of times a day. When it is really hot
Probably reduces the life of the freezer. But she swears by it.
It takes all sorts to make a World.
Lip56
Duux Whisper Flex 2 Smart Fan, 13dB, Remote Control, Alexa & Smart App, 30 Cooling Speeds, Adjustable from Desk to Standing Fan, Up-Down, Left-Right Oscillation, Powerful & Quiet, Night Mode, Black
amzn.eu/d/0fbT8Znw
Unfortunately the price has gone up to £179.99 now, and although you can order it, it's not in stock - delivery is stated to be between 20th August and 19th January next year!!!
Oh wow!!!!
Last summer, our dance teacher turned up with a high powered fan, and proceeded to put two big bags of ice on the table in front of the blades - bliss.
I do not use a fan, but sit with a picnic ice pack on my lap. Wrapped in a towel cools the bed before I get in. Has anyone tried filling a hot water bottle with ice?
It's over in 4 days, use a newspaper, don't panic
I got back from France this weekend. I was pleasantly surprised they had so many room fans for Sale in Supermarkets all types but majority around the same price €20.99 they had them stacked high.
Can we see in the future our supermarkets selling in the hight of summer room fans for around £20. Doubt they were made in the EU... Imports from China?
Good forward thinking by the buyers.
I bought a Meaco when homebase was closing down and I have just bought a new Meaco one as family are visiting and the sun rises where these bedrooms face, they are excellent, I am more pleased with this new one I can have it on at night with no sleep disturbance, extremely quiet.
Not cheap but well worth the investment.
Last year our quite large fan suddenly exploded. The blades shattered into thousands of tiny sharp shard which exploded through the front grill, together with vast quantities of white dust. Luckily the front grill stayed in place otherwise I think we could have been injured. Took me hours to hoover up. I have since seen several videos on YouTube of this happening. It hasn't stopped us buying 2 more.
I could not have survived this summer’s heatwaves without a fan on, day and night. I bought a second one for my bedroom as it’s hard to carry a fan upstairs now. My old one promptly died and everywhere has sold out so I still have only one. It cost about £17 and is priceless.
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