Is it too hot in your room? Using an air conditioner may be too costly for your budget. In situations like this, the best alternative is to use a fan. We researched how you can make a fan blow cold air, so keep reading to learn more.
Different methods can be used to make your fan blow cold air. You can try one of them or do them all if necessary. Here are the steps to follow:
- Inspect the circulating direction of the fan blades.
- Angle your fan up.
- Create a crosswind with two fans.
- Make use of ice.
- Put a damp cloth on the fan.
To make your fan an AC substitute, you will need to follow the step-by-step guides for the methods mentioned above. Additionally, you can purchase a fan that blows cold air if you want to avoid undergoing this process again. We included a list of options below.
How To Make A Fan Blow Cold Air
Is the temperature in your area too hot to handle? Sometimes, all you need is a fan to cool down your home. We've listed the different ways you can do this.
Inspect The Circulating Direction Of The Blades
Your fan blade's direction affects the air circulation. If you want it to blow cold air, you should ensure its blades run counterclockwise. In addition, doing this pushes down the cool air for you. Here's how to do this:
- Turn your fan off.
- Find the reverse switch.
- Press the reverse button.
If your fan doesn't have this button, you can do this instead:
- Set the fan to the lowest setting.
- Quickly turn your fan on and off. Repeat this process until you observe that your fan is running counterclockwise.
Angle Your Fan Up
The air from a fan that directly hits your body isn't necessarily the coldest air possible. Cold air goes down after a while, and hot air rises. That's why you should angle your fan slightly upwards so it moves the cold air up.
Also, you can try pointing the fan at the opposite wall, so the cold air bounces back and circulates around your room.
Create A Crosswind With Two Fans
If you have two fans, you can make a crosswind with them. A crosswind helps push the hot air from your home outside and pull the cold air inside. Here's how to do this:
- Close your drapes or blinds to prevent sunlight from entering during the day.
- After the sun has set in the evening, open all your windows.
- Place one fan in a window facing outside.
- Put the second fan by another window or anywhere inside the room facing inwards
Make Use Of Ice
There are different ways to use ice to make your fan blow cold air. Here are some methods you can try:
- Place a bucket of ice in front of your fan and let the appliance blow over it.
- Put coarse salt and ice into a bowl, then place it in front of your fan. The ice will melt because of the salt, and the fan will spread the resulting water particles.
- Put a large bowl of ice and two frozen liter bottles in front of the fan.
Put A Damp Cloth On The Fan
Water particles in the air help make the breeze from your fan become cooler. You can also hang a damp cloth on your fan. Here's how to do this:
- Dip a clean cloth in water.
- Squeeze the excess water from the cloth. Note that it should just be wet enough so that water doesn't drip.
- Hang the damp cloth in front of the fan.
Best Fans To Use As AC Substitutes
During the summer, having your fan blow cold air may not be enough and using an AC may be too costly. That's why we've included a list of fans you can use as a substitute for AC during hot weather.
Dyson Pure Cool Purifying Fan
This fan doesn't have blades, so it's safe for kids. Also, it directs airflow to where you want it to be instead of getting the room cold and purifies your air simultaneously.
If you don't need to cool down your whole room and only want to feel a breeze that's as cold as an air conditioner, this is an excellent choice.
While this fan won't cause your electricity bill to spike like an AC, it can be expensive.
Click here to see this Dyson Pure Cool Purifying Fan on Amazon.
Lasco 42-Inch Oscillating Tower
Lasco's size lets it cool over high pieces of furniture and across the room. Additionally, if you want to use it for a specific period, it has a 7.5 automatic timer that you can use.
The only con for this fan is that it tends to create low white noise, which may disturb you. However, reviews also say that the white noise is quiet enough that you won't really be able to hear it.
See this Lasco 42-inch oscillating tower on Amazon.
Honeywell Quietset Whole Room Tower Fan
This Honeywell fan is affordable and has eight speed settings for you to choose from. While it cools your room, it doesn't create noise that you may find disturbing.
Check out this Honeywell Quietset Whole Room tower fan on Amazon.
Vornado Energy Saving Air Circulator
You can place this fan on a table. Its most prominent feature is how it can cool a whole room and not just slightly oscillate over several spaces.
The only disadvantage of this fan is its priciness, but considering that it's also energy efficient and has a 10-year warranty, you'll get what you pay for and ultimately save money from high electricity bills.
Tap here to see this Vornado air circulator on Amazon.
How To Make A Room Cooler With A Fan
Aside from making your fan blow cold air or buying one that does this for you, you must also ensure that your room is adjusted to stay cold longer. You can do this by following these tips:
- Turn your lights off during the daytime. Incandescent bulbs emit 90% heat, so it may be what's making your room feel hot. You may also opt to use LED bulbs instead, which don't emit as much heat and are energy efficient.
- Adjust your windows. During hot summer days, close your windows and curtains or blinds, so the hot air from the outside doesn't get in. Meanwhile, open your windows if your house or room is hotter and more humid than outside. It would be best if you do this early in the morning or late at night.
- Keep your doors open. To let the breeze from the outside in, you should open your doors by placing holders or stoppers.
- Use exhaust fans. Exhaust fans help get heat out of your house, so it will be best if you keep them on, especially during the day.
- Avoid using heat-producing appliances such as ovens and dryers, especially when the weather is extremely hot.
At What Temperature Is A Fan Useless?
Although a fan can help you save money, it won't do much for you in periods of extreme heat, especially when the heat index is above 99°F.
In addition, a fan will not be able to prevent heat-related illnesses under such heat. It is best to turn on your air conditioner in situations like this.
In Closing
You can get your fan to blow cool air through several methods. If you only want it to create a cooler breeze, you should adjust the fan so that its blades move counterclockwise or angle the fan up.
You may also opt to buy a fan that can function like an AC unit when it comes to cooling. This will save you time in the long run.
Did you gain new insights from this post? Read these articles about ceiling fans for more information:
Are Ceiling Fans Supposed To Wobble? [And What To Do About It]