Buying guide for best wall fans
In warm weather, a quality fan can circulate the air in your home so your environment doesn’t feel so warm and stuffy. If you’re looking to conserve space, a wall fan may be the perfect solution.
Unlike a ceiling fan, the blades of a wall fan aren’t exposed. Instead, they’re enclosed in a casing for safer operation. Typically placed at eye level for ease of use, wall fans are quite easy to install. Many are also adjustable, allowing you to direct the airflow precisely where you want it.
When choosing a wall fan, you’ll need to decide which size is right for your home. Motor power and blade configuration are also important considerations. In this buying guide, we explain the most important features to look for when shopping. For those who want a fast shopping experience, we also provide a list of the top wall fans on our shortlist.
Key considerations
Location
Where will you install your wall fan? It could work in practically any room with limited space, but certain areas may be more prone to stuffiness, such as a basement, home gym, kitchen, or child’s playroom.
Some homeowners also install wall fans in areas outside the home, such as a garage, shed, or greenhouse. In fact, it’s not unheard of to install a wall fan on an outdoor patio for use on particularly hot days.
Size
Once you’ve decided where to install the fan, measure the space. This will give you a better idea what size fan you need for effective circulation. To figure out how many cubic feet per minute (CFM) you need the fan to move, here’s what to do.
- Determine the room’s volume by multiplying length by width by height. For example, a room that’s 12 x 12 feet with 8-foot ceilings has a volume of 1,152 cubic feet.
- Decide how often you want to exchange the air in the room. For a house, it’s usually recommended that you exchange the air every 6 to 15 minutes, which amounts to 4 to 10 air exchanges per hour.
- Multiply the room’s volume by the number of air changes you want per hour. Divide that number by 60. For example, for a room with a volume of 1,152 cubic feet to have six air exchanges per hour, you’d need a wall fan with a CFM of about 115 to effectively move the air.
Blade size
Blade size affects how well a wall fan moves air in a room. In a small space, 12-inch blades are usually sufficient. In a medium to large space, you’d want a fan that has 16- to 30-inch blades.
"Unlike an air conditioner, wall fan maintenance is easy. Just wipe away any dust that builds up on the blades and housing from time to time. "
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Features
Speeds
As with any fan, it’s a good idea to choose one with multiple speeds. That allows you to select a speed that’s powerful enough to effectively circulate the air in your room but not so fast that it blows things around or makes too much noise. Some wall fans offer just two speeds while others offer up to three.
It’s usually best to choose a larger fan that you can run at a low or medium speed to move the air around your room. Lower speeds typically don’t make as much noise as higher speeds.
Angle adjustability
Many wall fans have an adjustable head that allows you to direct the airflow from the fan. Because most wall fans are installed at eye or head level, it should be fairly easy to reach up and tilt the fan head.
Oscillation
Wall fans often have an oscillation feature that moves the head back and forth. This helps move the air over a wider area. It’s nice to have options, though. We tend to support wall fans with an oscillation feature that can be turned on and off at will.
Timer
Some wall fans have built-in timers. This allows you to turn off the fan at your chosen time. For example, you might set a timer so the fan moves air around your bedroom while you’re drifting off and then turns off after you fall asleep.
Remote control
Some wall fans come with a remote control for convenience. A remote allows you to turn the fan on and off and adjust speeds even when you’re across the room, so you don’t need to get up.
Color
Wall fans come in neutral colors like black, white, beige, gray, and silver. As such, you should have an easy time finding an option to suit your color scheme.
Did you know?
With the oscillating feature turned on, a wall fan can circulate air over a substantial portion of a room.
STAFF
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Wall fan prices
Inexpensive: Wall fans that cost between $34 and $120 are usually small models with 12- to 16-inch blades and a lower CFM, so they work best for small rooms. They’re often adjustable and may offer an oscillating feature.
Mid-range: Wall fans priced between $120 and $310 usually have blades that measure 16 to 18 inches as well as a higher CFM. They work well in medium to large rooms and often feature an adjustable head, an oscillating feature, and a remote control.
Expensive: The priciest wall fans are large home or industrial models that cost between $310 and $730. Their blades are at least 18 inches long, though some have blades as long as 30 inches. For the money, you should expect an adjustable head, an oscillating feature, and a remote control.
Tips
- Most wall fans include the mounting hardware needed for installation. Use the brackets that come with your fan to ensure they’re sturdy enough to support the weight.
- The best placement for a wall fan varies depending on the size of the room and other factors. That said, most should be mounted at least 5 feet above the floor for proper circulation.
- Most wall fan manufacturers recommend installing your fan on a wall stud for stability. Locate the studs in the wall with a stud finder so you know exactly where to place the fan.
- A wall fan has a power cord that must be plugged in, so choose a spot with an outlet nearby. If you have to stretch the cord a bit to reach the outlet, it helps to attach it to the wall to keep it from trailing on the floor.
FAQ
Q. Are wall fans loud?
A. Like many fans, wall fans can be somewhat noisy, particularly when running on the highest speed. To keep noise down, consider purchasing a larger wall fan that you can run on low or medium speed. A smaller fan that you must run on high can make a lot more noise.
Q. What’s the difference between home wall fans and industrial wall fans?
A. Industrial wall fans are generally larger because they’re designed to circulate air through a wider area. However, you can find some home wall fans that are fairly large. Residential models are also usually lighter in weight and easier to install.
Q. Is wall fan installation a good DIY project?
A. Most wall fans offer a pretty straightforward installation, so a fair portion of consumers feel confident handling the task. Most manufacturers provide clear instructions for installation and include the brackets and other hardware you need to mount the fan.
