When the summer is heating up and hot, sweaty nights are slowly becoming a borderline nightmare, there is nothing you wish for more than a gust of fresh air, something which our top pick, the Holmes Dual Blade Twin Window Fan will provide. You might cringe at the thought of a ceiling fan which circulates the same air around the room over and over again. This is where window fans come in. Window fans circulate fresh air into your home and do so at a fairly low cost too.
To bring to you the best window fans the market has to offer, we have done thorough and extensive research. Not only that, we also tested each and every one of them so we know what we are talking about. If you are thinking of buying a window fan for your home, all you need to do is read on as we list down window fans according to their price range and lay down the pros and cons of each product. We will also tell you what other customers of each window fan think of it, for you to get a better understanding of each offering.
Our top pick, the Holmes Dual Blade Twin Window Fan is very budget friendly and not at all bad looking. Whether you are living in an apartment, a condo, a small or a big house, you will find that this window fan is the perfect one for you. We must tell you that while we were testing this window fan, we were quite impressed with its performance. We feel that it really is the best window fan money can buy. And it won’t even put a dent in your wallet.
Our budget pick, the Bengoo Portable Fan USB Mini Desktop Desk Table Electric Rechargeable Fan is an outstanding inexpensive fan. It is a favorite among college students and studio apartment dwellers due to its compact size and affordable price. If you ever wondered if you could afford a window fan, we can tell you that our budget pick is just the one for you. Its affordable price is not the only thing going for it.
Our step-up pick, the AirKing 9166 20 inch Whole House Window Fan is more expensive but covers the whole house.
What are window fans?
As its name suggests, a window fan is a fan designed to fit inside a window frame. The most basic of window fans work by drawing in air from outside when the window is open and thereby cooling the inside of a room. Installing a window fan is a cost effective way of staying cool in the summer as the cost of operating a window fan is a fraction of that of an air conditioner.
As mentioned in this article on how to use a window fan, the most efficient way to cool down your house using a window fan is to bring in cool air using a window fan at night and to exhaust hot air from our house during the day time. As you read on you will see that some fans actually do come with independently operable dual blades so that one can bring in air and the other can push out air.
Types of window fans
If you are not all that discerning, you might find that all window fans look somewhat alike. They have cage-like appearances with the blades trapped inside. They are all made to fit inside the frame of a window. But since their inception decades ago, window fans have come a long way. Now they are not just fans bringing in cooler air into your homes. They do so much more. In fact, some window fans can replace air conditioners if used properly.
As mentioned in this Wikipedia article on window fans, window fans can be categorized by the number of blades in place. The most common of these are the single fans and twin fans. They also have more than one speed setting and can be either manually or electronically reversed from intake mode to exhaust.
Some window fans also come with a thermostat to regulate the temperature inside the room. Most current window fans also carry remote controllers for easy operation.
How to pick a good window fan
As with choosing any electrical or household appliance, the picking of a good window fan has most to do with your needs. You need to choose what suits your needs most. That being said, there are a few ground rules to cover when considering a window fan. As mentioned in this article on how to use a window fan the prime factor to consider is the kind of use you are hoping to get from your window fan. Before choosing one, stop for a minute and think of what you want is a few cool hours in the afternoon or to completely scrap your air conditioner. That’s one of the things we considered when we were looking for the best window fan in the market as well.
Another factor we considered, (and you should as well) is the size of the fan. As far as window fans are concerned, the larger the better because that means the air flow into your house will be bigger. But the fan should be compatible with the size of your window.
Other things to consider are whether you want a single or twin fan, what kind of technology you would like it to have and of course the price.
Our Top Pick: Holmes Dual Blade Twin Window Fan
Holmes Dual Blade Twin Window Fan
Our top pick, the Holmes Dual Blade Twin Window Fan with its great price and even more amazing features, we aren’t really surprised that it’s a household favorite when it comes to window fans.
First of all, let us describe the features of Holmes Dual Blade Twin Window Fan so you know if it is exactly what you are looking for. As you might have guessed from its name, this is a twin fan. It has two side by side fans with dual blades. These fans also have independent controls. This means that the two fans can be controlled independently. You can make one fan work slower than the other depending on your air requirements. Using the same controls, there is also a manual reverse air flow control feature.
If you install the fan to be facing indoors, you can set up the control so that draw in cool air from outside. By installing it to face outdoor, you can set up the control to exhaust stale indoor air outward using the manual reverse air flow control feature. That is not all. You can manually turn the fan from intake or exhaust quickly, depending your needs of the moment.
The Holmes Dual Blade Twin Window Fan will also fit virtually all types of windows such as slider and double hung windows. This fan also comes with extender panels which make it for a safe custom fit into the window. Not only that, because the extender screen adjustable it can also be secured into larger windows if you wish. And here’s one the best things about this window fan. Based on standard residential cooling, it uses up to 60% less energy than using residential air-conditioning. Window fan: One. Air conditioner: zero.
This is also a great fan to be used in a bedroom or a living room, as the extremely efficient makes this fan quiet.
If you are on the lookout for a window fan which is easy on your budget, provides you with great airflow and can be fitted into practically any window, then this is the window fan you have been looking for. In addition, do not forget that this fan works in reverse too. It can double up as a ventilator/exhaust fan to remove stale or hot air from inside your home in a jiffy.
Flaws but not deal breakers
It really is no surprise that even something great as our top pick, the Holmes Dual Blade Twin Window Fan would have a minor flaw as nothing is quite perfect. The problem with our top pick actually has something to do with one of its more commendable features, its reversibility. Like the product description says, it is manually reversible. What this means is that you can take the fan and turn it around to change it from being a window fan to an exhaust fan. Once such reversed, it stops bringing in chilly air from the outside and instead pumps the hot air from inside your home outwards. Our only complaint is that we wished the reversibility was automatic. The score of this fan would have even more sky rocketed if there was a switch which could be used to reverse the fan as in the case of some other pricier Holmes Fan models.
However, as the product description does say that it is manually reversible and they are not misleading the customers at all, we do not consider this a flaw which hinders from its usability or as a deal breaker which would prevent us from buying the Holmes Dual Blade Twin Window Fan.
Our Budget Pick: Bengoo Portable Fan USB Mini Desktop Desk Table Electric Rechargeable Fan
Bengoo Portable Fan USB Mini Desktop Desk Table Electric Rechargeable Fan
Our budget pick, is the Bengoo Portable Fan USB Mini Desktop Desk Table Electric Rechargeable Fan.
Here’s why this fan is a perfect one if you just got your first apartment or in college. It’s portable. It’s smaller in size, compact and extremely easy to use. It will fit right in your dormitory, your office, or your home. Imagine you wanted to go camping but you were worried about the heat. YOU can even take this fan with you on camping. That is because you do not need to keep it plugged into work it. It comes with its own Li-ion batteries which after being charged can run up to six hours (depending on the mode you’re using). Even if you lose the standard charger it comes with, you can still charge it using your micro USB mobile device chargers.
This fan is also very easy to operate as the ON button works as the button to change the speeds as well. As an added bonus, there is also an LED flashlight on the side of the fan which you can use if you are need of an emergency light.
Our Step Up Pick: AirKing 9166 20 inch Whole House Window Fan
AirKing 9166 20 inch Whole House Window Fan
And here are its technical specifications, should you be interested.
This window fan comes with three-speed settings and works on 120V. It also has a front-mounted rotary switch which makes it extremely easy to operate. The plastic housing surrounding the fan is impact resistant, meaning that it will not be jarred or cracked if it’s dropped by mistake. Both the blades and the front grill are made of powder coated steel which ensures durability and longevity. This window fan also fits into windows 27″ to 38″ wide and 26.25″ high. The AirKing 9166 20 inch Whole House Window Fan is also OSHA approved.
A feature we really like about this fan is that you can close the window behind it. No need to remove the fan just to close your window. Because the fan comes with a powerful motor with 1/6 Horse Power, the moment you turn it on, the room will get noticeably cooler and by circulating cooler air from outside.
Other Noteworthy Contenders
When it comes to window fans, something we noticed was that there is something for everyone. With something low cost as our budget pick for a college student to something costly like our step-up pick, the market for window fans is quite varied.
It is with this in mind that we decided to extend out search and bring to you another assortment of window fans. This list of window fans is made according to ascending order of prices for easy reference.
Holmes HBF2010A-WM White Metal 20-Inch Box Fan
Holmes HBF2010A-WM White Metal 20-Inch Box Fan
Holmes seems to be a popular brand name when it comes to window fans as evidenced by several inclusions in our list. The first one of these is the Holmes HBF2010A-WM White Metal 20-Inch Box Fan.
The Holmes HBF2010A-WM White Metal 20-Inch Box Fan is also a great window fan if you are budget conscious (As anyone should be). It comes in other colors as well..
This window fan comes with three speed settings and a high efficient motor and blades. One of the best features of this window fan is the convertibility. If you do not want to install this as a window fan but would like it as a pedestal fan, it can be easily converted by adding feet which give it greater stability. The dimensions of this fan are height:21 inches, width:21 inches, and depth:4.2 inches.
Bionaire Compact Window Fan with Manual Controls
Bionaire Compact Window Fan with Manual Controls
One of the first things we noticed about the Bionaire Compact Window Fan with Manual Controls is that it looks cool. It has three side-by-side fans in a very compact setting making it look rather modern. The black colored version of this fan with manual controls is also available.
The three fans have three independent speed settings and the fan can be installed either horizontally or vertically depending on the kind of window you have. It also comes with patented locking extender screens.
Comfort Zone CZ310R Twin Window Fan
Comfort Zone CZ310R Twin Window Fan
This fan comes with a push button control for three speeds and has three fan functions namely, intake, exhaust, and circulate. The fan blades are turbo and fan power, fan function, fan direction, and fan speed can be controlled remotely.
To fit into many sized windows, the Comfort Zone CZ310R Twin Window Fan comes with accordion expanders. The fans are also reversible.
Bionaire Twin Reversible Airflow Window Fan with Remote Control
Bionaire Twin Reversible Airflow Window Fan with Remote Control
This fan, which is electronically reversible has remote control operation, three speed settings, and a digital, programmable thermostat. The control panel is also LED and is very convenient to use. The two fans can also work independently to each other letting our hot air and bringing in cooler air.
Avalon Twin Window Fan with 9 Inch Blades
Avalon Twin Window Fan with 9 Inch Blades
This fan comes with three speed settings of low, medium, and high. It also has a digital inbuilt thermostat with a range from 60 to 80 degrees and the temperature can be tracked with a little help from the LED lights panel. The two fans also have their own individual durable copper motors, ensuring that they last through any kind of weather condition. The side panels of the fan can be extended an additional 6.5 inches on either side, meaning that you can fit it in even a larger window. That is not all, this fan also allows for reversibility, helping you stay cooler during the hot summer months.
Holmes Dual Blade Twin Window fan with One Touch Thermostat
Holmes Dual Blade Twin Window fan with One Touch Thermostat
Somewhat similar to our top pick, we have here another twin fan by Holmes. This fan is also reversible, allowing for air intake, exhaust, or air exchange. However, unlike our top pick, this fan is reversible with the touch of a button.
The blades can be operated independent of each other and the fan has two speed settings. This independent operation of each blade coupled with the reversibility makes this window fan one of our favorites. That is because you can use one side of the fan for exhausting indoor air out and use the other side to draw in cooler air in from the outside. The fan can also fit into most double hung windows and slider windows with the extender panel allowing for bigger windows as well.
Another great feature of the Holmes Dual Blade Twin Window fan with One Touch Thermostat is that it can be controlled either manually or automatically. And you can set it so that a selected temperature is maintained in the room by the thermostat turning the fan off and on automatically.
Lasko 2155A Electrically Reversible 16-Inch Window Fan
Lasko 2155A Electrically Reversible 16-Inch Window Fan
It is a single fan which is reversible. It also allows you to close the window behind the fan so that you be assured of higher safety while you are away or during bad weather. It also has three paddle blades which ensure a greater air flow into you home. For maximum safety, this window fan also comes with a fused safety plug.
In conclusion
Sometimes, the need for a good fan becomes inexhaustible. There might come a time in your life where having an air conditioner is not a feasible option and you might be longing for the airflow provided by a fan. However, as we all know, stand or even ceiling fans circulate the same air round and round and sitting under such a fan can be a stifling experience. This is when investing in a window fan becomes more and more attractive. Even more so, once you realize how cost effective buying and operating such a window fan is.
A window fan is installed in a window as suggested by its name and brings into the room air from outside. No more circulating the same stale air over and over again. With a window fan, fresh air is constantly brought into your home freshening and cooling it down.
There are also a variety of window fans to choose from in the market. From what we’ve been able to see, our top pick, the Holmes Dual Blade Twin Window Fan is the best of the lot. It’s not hard on your wallet. It’s manually reversible and easy to install. It is the best window fan for the price.
Jen Miller is a former electrical engineer and product specialist with more than 20 years of product design and testing experience. She has designed more than 200 products for Fortune 500 companies, in fields ranging from home appliances to sports gear and outdoor equipment. She founded Jen Reviews to share her knowledge and critical eye for what makes consumers tick, and adopts a strict no-BS approach to help the reader filter through the maze of products and marketing hype out there. She writes regularly and has been featured on Forbes, Fast Company, The Muse, The Huffington Post, Tiny Buddha and MindBodyGreen.