I tested fans to keep you cool in a heatwave the winner costs 1p an hour to run

The Sun

6 hours ago

SUMMER is finally here with temperatures all over the UK set to hit 30 degrees this week, if not hotter.
Whilst we all love the sun, it can make us feel a little sticky and sweaty especially when trying to sleep at night.
A good fan is a must if you want to keep cool.
Electric fans are a good option as they are cheaper, smaller, lighter and more energy efficient than air conditioning.
But prices of fans vary and some don't do much to keep you cool at all, which can make buying one a challenge.
Pedestal fans are a great option and tend to be more powerful than tower or table top fans.
We've tested top brands including Meaco, Morphy Richards and Daewoo. Here's how they compare:
Morphy Richards Air Flex 9inch Circulating Pedestal Fan
£149.99, morphyrichards.co.uk
Speed settings: 8
It's expensive, but this has a DC motor which enables the fan to use less energy whilst still giving an outstanding performance.
In fact, DC motors are meant to be up to 70% more efficient than air conditioning units.
So, with this, you'll get maximum cooling without the worry of soaring electric bills.
It's reasonably quiet and offers eight speed settings as well as advanced oscillation, which means it can direct airflow both horizontally and vertically.
The fan made the entire room feel fresher, cooler and more comfortable - even when it hit 30 degrees outside.
Performance: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Total score: 9/10
Status 16inch Oscillating Stand Fan
£19.99, currys.co.uk
Speed settings: 3
For the price, I can't really grumble.
It's not the most aesthetically pleasing, but given this cost less than £20, this was surprisingly powerful.
It blew enough air around to keep a reasonably-sized room cool and it wasn't overly intrusive, though the noise measures around 40 decibels, which was higher than most.
The oscillating function was very effective.
The frame was a bit flimsy and it wouldn't withstand much - a child or a pet bumping into it could easily knock it over.
Performance: 3/5
Value: 3/5
Total score: 6/10
Daewoo Pedestal Air Circulator Fan
£79.99, daewooelectricals.com
Speed settings: 3
This fan was easy to put together and at 5kg, it's not too heavy, so it was easy to move from room to room too if you needed to.
For nearly £80, it looked pretty flimsy and it only had three speed settings - most of the pricier ones had more to choose from.
It does have a built-in oil diffuser, which did make the cool air smell lovely and created a lovely relaxing vibe around the room.
It also had dual oscillation - up and down and side to side - which was effective at keeping the entire room airy and cool.
Performance: 3/5
Value: 3/5
Total score: 6/10
Vonhaus Air Circulator Pedestal Fan - 16 inch
£74.99, vonhaus.co.uk
Speed settings: 12
This fan is hard to beat. Not only was it one of the best at cooling me down, it's a real design feature too.
The innovative blade design is engineered to evenly push the air in a way that bounces off walls and surfaces.
It's sleek and stylish yet easily cooled my kitchen diner, which is the largest room in my house.
At night, a soft ambient backlight kicks in which was so calming and perfect for winding down.
It has 12 speed settings to choose from and is energy efficient. Even though it's reasonably powerful at 35 watts, it only costs around 1p an hour to run.
It also has an aromatherapy function which allows you to add a few drops of your own essential oils and the fan will spray cool air, that also smells amazing.
Performance: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Total score: 10/10
Zanussi 16inch Pedestal Fan
£24.99, amazon.co.uk
Speed settings: 3
For less than £25, you are getting a reasonably powerful fan. However, the legs were not very sturdy.
They are hollow plastic and lack weight making the entire product a bit top heavy. I worried about it being knocked over.
It's not the quietest but at the same time, the noise wasn't overly intrusive.
It also has 90-degree oscillation and it gives out a decent breeze even on the lowest setting. For a budget option, it's alright.
Performance: 3/5
Value: 4/5
Total score: 7/10
Meaco Sefte 10inch Pedestal Air Circulator with Storage Bag
£179.99, meaco.com
Speed settings: 12
A super low energy fan that costs from just 0.1p an hour to run.
It was easy to assemble, sleek and so quiet you'll forget it's even there - hence it's name 'Sefte' which is an old English word meaning 'quite, gentle and undisturbed'.
It was very quiet and unobtrusive yet has a powerful airflow of 1,140m3ph, allowing it to cool a room quickly.
Previously, fans I've used in the bedroom keep me awake at night with their flashy displays but this has a night mode, which switches off the display light, mutes the buttons and gradually reduces the fan's speed overnight.
The handy remote means you can control it without getting out of bed.
I'm not surprised it's proving very popular this summer. The only downside is the price. At nearly £180, it's a pricey purchase.
Performance: 5/5
Value: 3/5
Total score: 8/10
Duux Whisper Pedestal Fan
£179.99, duux.co.uk
Speed settings: 26
This Duux fan has some incredible features including 26 speed settings, horizontal and vertical oscillation and a 12-hour programmable timer.
The 26 settings certainly give you plenty of options to choose from but I loved the natural wind mode which is designed to replicate outdoor cooling by varying the fan speed.
It also has a night mode where the speed will decrease to the lowest setting over 2.5 hours.
The breeze this creates is pleasant and it lived up to its "whisper" name as it was one of the quietest I tested.
Even on the highest settings, the noise was not overly intrusive.
The touchscreen panel was a little difficult to operate, it was easier to use the remote control.
It's very energy efficient, only costing around 0.8p to run on the highest speeds.
Performance: 5/5
Value: 3/5
Total score: 8/10
Air Craft LUME Quiet 2-in-1 Pedestal Fan
£119 ao.com
Speed settings: 12
Say goodbye to hot stuffy days with this cutting-edge fan, which did a brilliant job of cooling larger rooms.
It's quiet. In fact, the manufacturers claim it's never louder than an electric toothbrush.
You pretty much forget it's there though on its highest it does go up to 60 decibels.
What I loved most was that it came with an illuminated backlight which was very calming and could be used even with the fan switched off.
It's easily controlled with a remote control and has front and back guards for fan blades.
It has three modes - normal, natural and sleep.
Natural runs at alternating speeds to simulate a natural breeze with occasional gusts and in sleep mode, it gradually reduces speed every 30 minutes until it reaches the lowest level.
Perfect for hot, restless nights.
Performance: 4/5
Value: 3/5
Total score: 7/10
EcoAir Equinox 16inch DC Low Power Consumption Fan
£49.99, ecoair.org
Speed settings: 12
This product is easy to assemble, efficient and economical.
I thought it had an impressive power output for less than £50 and just like the Morphy Richards' fan, it has an energy efficient DC motor.
It has 12 settings but it did get a bit noisy once you get to level five and I wouldn't have wanted to keep this on through the night.
The fan isn't as sleek and stylish as others but it's reasonable value for money and once you've paid for it, it will cost pennies to run.
It also has an energy saver function and will turn off automatically within 12 hours of the last adjustment on the control panel.
Performance: 4/5
Value: 4/5
Total score: 8/10
How to keep cool in hot weather
Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it's too hot, there are health risks. Here are three ways to keep cool according to the NHS...
Keep out of the heat if you can.
If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter.
Cool yourself down.
Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes.
Keep your living space cool.
Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep.