Best Window Fan To Keep Your Room Cool

Your typical electric fan may not be an ideal solution during the hotter days. While they do blow air straight to your face, they don’t necessarily always blow cold air, and this won’t change much in hot weather. You’ll need something that takes in cold air and pumps out hot air— but what if you can’t afford to use air conditioning?

That’s where window fans come in. A cheaper alternative to air conditioning, window fans use the principle of air conditioners and only introduce cold air into your room while taking out hot air, allowing them to effectively cool any hot room. Here’s what you need to know when getting a window fan for your home.

What is a window fan?

A window fan is a type of fan that, as the name suggests, is to be placed by the window. The fan sucks up cold air from the outside and brings it in, and also pulls out hot air in the process. The result is a cooled room that runs on similar principles to modern air conditioning.

Why do you need a window fan?

Window fans are incredibly useful, especially for those who want to keep cool on a budget. Here are some benefits:

They lower electric bill costs

On some of the hottest days, you can’t help but feel the need to turn on the air conditioning. Unfortunately, air conditioning isn’t cheap, and you’ll be spending quite a bit of money using the device. Window fans help cool the air in your room without needing to use the air conditioner entirely.

And if you’re like some people, you may not even have an air conditioner at home. If that’s the case, a window fan is a perfect solution for combating the heat. You don’t have to buy an air conditioning unit at all— just choose the cheaper window fan. These are perfect for those who live in moderate climates who rarely experience consistent high temperatures and don't need to buy an expensive cooling unit.

They’re great for the environment

Air conditioning is one of the largest contributors to energy usage in the modern world, and it’s not hard to see why. Many people just love staying cool in hot weather, and warm in cold weather. During the summer season, though, you’ll want to use a window fan instead, because it helps lower your carbon footprint.

Window fans use less electricity compared to air conditioners, and less electricity means less energy wasted, thus a smaller carbon footprint. So not only are you saving your money, you’re saving the environment, too.

What things do you consider when buying a window fan?

Remember these tips when picking the right window fan for your home.

Size

Window fans are meant to be installed in the window, which means that they should not exceed your window’s dimensions. Luckily, many windows installed these days come with standard sizing, so you can hope to find a window fan that’ll fit snugly in your home. However, in case your window doesn’t fit any window fan properly, you’ll need to make adjustments.

First, pick a window fan smaller than your current window. Then, prepare a frame that leaves just enough space for the window fan to fit in. You want to leave as little open space as possible to prevent the cold air from escaping while also preventing little critters from getting inside. Most window fans have a sliding section that can cover the part of your open window that the fan itself doesn’t cover. This makes it easy to still have a working window fan that may be too small, however, there is not as easy of a solution for a window fan that is too large.

Location

Remember, window fans run on electricity, so you’ll need an outlet to plug it in. Ideally, you’ll have a window that’s placed right beside an existing outlet, so it’ll spare you the hassle of rewiring. If that’s not the case, however, then you have two options available for you.

Firstly, you could install another outlet near the window. This will cost more, but it’ll leave you with a brand-new outlet that is designated for your fan, or you can also use it with other appliances. Alternatively, you could also just hook it up to an extension cord. This is an easy fix, but the extension cord should be properly and safely placed, as you don’t want any loose wiring around the house.

Location within your home matters too. You want to bring cool air in, so try to place fans on the shadier sides of your home. That air will be cooler than a place sitting in direct sunlight. Also, if you have multiple window fans throughout your home, you wouldn’t want them to be competing with each other. Keep one side of your house designated for fans bringing cool air in, and the opposite side for fans that push hot air out.

What is the price range of window fans?

Window fans can cost less than $100, making them a very affordable home cooling solution. The most popular window fans will cost you between $40 and $60, so you don’t need to invest a lot of money in getting your room nice and cool.

How do we choose the best window fan?

Our window fans are chosen based on their dimensions, size, power, and customer reviews. By doing some thorough online research, we firmly believe that these are the best window fans of the year. We look at brand reputation, efficiency, features, and honest and reliable reviews from customers.

Window Fan FAQ

Q: How many window fans do I need?

A: You should at least have two fans so you can have one taking warm air out and one bringing cool air in. Whether you set the two fans on the same unit to different functions or use two units throughout your home is up to you, but you’ll get maximum results by using at least two fans. If you use two units, place them on opposite sides of your home so you get good airflow.

Q: How do window fans work?

A: Window fans take in the hot air from the room and allow cold air to remain inside, resulting in a space colder than the outside air. They can also take colder air from outside and bring it into your home. They work in a similar manner to air conditioning units but use no cooling agents.