Honeywell Comfort Control Whole Room Stand Fan (3 Speed Settings, Oscillating 90°, Adjustable Height, 40cm Blade, No Tools Assembly) HSF1630

Product Information

There are downsides beyond its price point; namely the fact that this fan requires self-assembly – you'll only have to do it once, but if you're already a little hot and bothered from the heat then it's a bit of an annoyance. And, unlike the MeacoFan 1056 Air Circulator which excels at simplicity of use, this Duux fan really has little toomuch functionality – does anyone really need 30 speed settings? – and its awkward controls make it a faff to operate at times. Although it does offer Smart functionality when connected to WiFi if you're keen to connect a fan to your Google Home hub or Alexa. This option offers 12 speed settings, and with its ability to move1056 cubic metres of air per hour, it's the most powerful fan in our round-up. As it's a fan's ability to move the air that results in its cooling powers, it's no surprise that the MeacoFan 1056 Air Circulator also did the best job of all the fans we've put through the Ideal Home testing process at cooling us down.Even more impressive is the fact it delivers such power whilst remaining very energy-efficient, using just 9.5-23.5W. If you're looking to invest in a fan that really does the business, then it's hard to fault the MeacoFan 1056 Air Circulator. Whilst it's not cheap, it delivers powerful, reliable, energy-efficient and user-friendly performance for its mid-range price point. However, there's rarely a bargain without a catch, and the downside to the Honeywell Turbo Force Power Fan's affordable price point is its intrusive noise and limited functionality.

What's more, this fan's multi-directional oscillation means it's not just the person sitting directly in front of the fan who benefits from its temperature-reducing powers. A 60° vertical swing and 80° horizontal swing can be combined into a multi-directional oscillation that smoothly bounces air off walls, ceilings, and surfaces to circulate air and cool the whole room rather than just one area. Better still, there's no self-assembly required with the MeacoFan 1056 Air Circulator – a surprising rarity amongst the fans we've tested, and a great plus point compared to faffing around with assembly in the middle of a heatwave. Its controls are very easy to use, there's a handy remote control, an on and off timer, and ECO mode which automatically shifts the fan speed depending on the temperature registered on the fan's in-built sensor. Even the best fans won't physically reduce the temperature of a room. You'll need one of the best portable air conditioners for that. However, our review team was still highly impressed by the cooling effect that the best fans delivered.The EcoAir Kinetic Fan is a robust and well-built fan that offers powerful performance, relatively simple assembly, straightforward and easy-to-use controls, quiet operation, and best-in-class energy efficiency. The two most energy-efficient fans we've tested are the Duux Whisper Flex Ultimate Fan which uses just 3 watts of power on its lowest settings, rising to 32 watts on its highest settings, and the MeacoFan 1056 Air Circulator, which uses 9.5 watts on low and just 23.5 watts on its super-powerful highest setting thanks to its DC motor. Almost all fans will give you a choice of speeds, but it’s crucial that a bedroom fan has a low, relatively slow and quiet speed setting that delivers an effective level of cooling without blasting you or making too much noise. A dedicated “night” or “sleep” mode is a plus, but not a necessity; any quiet, low-power setting will do. As the weather heats up, we think this super cute and super affordable handheld fan from John Lewis & Partners is going to become your new best friend.

Gentler than the icy chill of a portable air conditioner, using far less energy, and costing less to run, a fan is a very useful heatwave essential that really does make a difference to wellbeing in the hotter months. Which is the quietest fan? A good fan can recreate the powers of nature, delivering this same 'cooling' airflow indoors, and making hot and humid conditions far more bearable.

Too hot to get a good night’s kip? Get a gentle breeze from the best quiet fans for your bedroom

Key specs – Dimensions: 54 x 15 x 14cm; Weight: 2.4kg; Oscillation angle: 90˚; Cord length: 1.6m; Warranty: 2 years; Power: 18W To make the most of its features, our tester found it's best to employ 'continuous monitoring' and 'auto' mode, whereby the purifying fan heater will continuously monitor air quality, temperature, and humidity information, display results on the LCD screen and in the Dyson Link Smart app, and on-board sensors will adjust the settings of the machine accordingly. Unless a fan shouts about it having a DC motor, it's likely to be an AC motor in operation. That's because DC motors are significantly more expensive and so tend to only be used by manufacturers trying to make best-in-class products. As Chris Michael, managing director of air quality specialist Meaco, says 'A DCfanis more expensive to manufacture than an ACfanbut for the consumer, they are much better. A fan with a DC motor will be quieter, use less energy to produce the same results, tend to be more powerful, can offer more variation in fan speeds, and should last longer'. Air displacement In our opinion, there's nothing worse than the dreaded drone of a noisy fan on a hot day. If you opt for a cheap fan then noise is likely to be a compromise you may need to make, but if you can find a more expensive model in the sale then your ears may well thank you. Most fans – at least those that aren't trying to hide anything! – will inform you of their noise levels in the technical specifications. This is measured in decibels and often marked dB. The quietest fan we've tested is the Duux Whisper Flex Ultimate Fan which measures from just 13dB on its lowest speed setting to a maximum of 50dB on its highest setting. Noise can be especially important if you plan to use the fan to help you keep a bedroom cool and don't want it to disturb your sleep. Timer All in all, whilst it may cost significantly more than a budget fan, the MeacoFan 1056 Air Circulator offers so many added extras that it's definitely our first choice when it comes to beating the heat.