You're using your fan all wrong these 3 top tips will help you cool down
your home properly and stay comfortable in a heatwave

Date:
Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Description:
Even a cheap electric fan can make a real difference to the temperature in your home but only if you use it the right way.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter If you have an electric fan, it's tempting to just point it in your general direction and hope for the best, but if you're just moving the warm air around inside your home, you're really missing out.

High-end fans can move a large volume of air very quickly for maximum cooling effect, but even a cheap, low-powered fan can make a noticeable difference to the temperature indoors if you position it strategically particularly at night when you're struggling to sleep in a stuffy bedroom. Read on for three top tips for using your fan properly, and if you don't already own one, check out our guide to the best fans for our top picks, rated and recommended by
our expert reviewers. Latest Videos From You may like The 3 best budget-friendly fans to beat the bank holiday heatwave 5 reasons to buy a cooling fan now don't get caught out by a heatwave The best desktop fans to keep you cool when summer arrives 1. Know your fans First of all, determine whether you have a fan or an air circulator. They look very similar, but they serve different purposes when it comes to keeping you cool.

Simply put, a fan blows a concentrated jet of air in your direction, which helps sweat evaporate and lowers your skin temperature. An air circulator, on the other hand, moves air around a large area in your home, and works best combined with some sort of cooling source, such as an air conditioning unit.

Meaco is one of the biggest names in air circulators, and its new Sefte Pro models are particularly good for keeping you comfortable at night. Our writer Becca Caddy recently reviewed the Meaco Sefte Pro 10in Table Air Circulator , and was very impressed by its whisper-quiet operation, and ability to run all night on a single charge. It even comes with a glow-in-the-dark remote so you can control it from bed. The pedestal version has its wireless receiver in
the top so you don't have to sit up to aim the remote, and its mobile app
lets you start running it while you're out, so you return to a cooler house.

If you want a fan (to use while working at your desk, for example), the Shark FlexBreeze gets our seal of approval. Again, it's extremely quiet, and it has a misting attachment that sprays a very fine cloud of water to enhance the cooling effect as it evaporates from your skin. You can also detach the head from its tall pedestal and use it as a desktop fan. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Today's best Meaco Sefte Pro and Shark FlexBreeze deals Meaco Sefte Pro Desktop Fan 119.99 View See all prices Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan 149.99 99 View See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices 2. Position it properly If you've chosen a fan rather than an air circulator (which is usually the less expensive option), you can boost its effectiveness at night by using negative pressure ventilation , which is a technique employed by firefighters to help clear smoke out of a room.

It might sound counterintuitive, but if you position your fan so it's facing an open window, rather than pointing into the room, it will draw in cool air from outside while pushing warm air out.

This method only really works to cool one room at a time, but it can be very effective. If you want to cool your bedroom, for example, close all windows and doors in your home except for the bedroom window, the bedroom door, and a window at the other end of the house from your bedroom. What to read next Amazon has slashed up to 37% off top fans from the likes of Dyson, Shark, and Dreo 400 for a fan? No thanks 8 products to keep you cool at work for less than 100 We tested the best fans on the market these models came out on top

Place your fan about 3-6 inches from the window, facing out of the room, turn it to its maximum setting, and switch it on. The fan will create negative pressure inside your house, and cause cold air to rush in through the
opposite open window. Pointing your fan towards yourself will just move warm air around the room. Instead, point it out of an open window to create negative pressure and pull cool air inside (Image credit: Getty Images / Antonio_Diaz) 3. Keep it clean Whether you're using a fan or an air circulator, it's important to keep it clean to keep it running efficiently
and avoid spreading dirt around your home. It's easy to forget if your fan
has been sitting on a shelf for months, but as the aircare experts at Dreo point out , it can make a big difference.

Fans and air circulators often come with removable grills to make cleaning easy. Switch off and unplug the fan, then look for the small screw or clips holding the grill together and undo them. Wipe the blades and grill with a damp cloth, allow them to dry, and then reassemble. You can also wipe the fan's housing with a dampened microfiber cloth, but don't get water anywhere near the motor. If you can see dust in air intakes, use a small brush to gently dislodge it.

If you're in any doubt about how to keep your fan clean, check the
instruction manual and the manufacturer's website. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. My fan recommendations

Homes editor Cat Ellis picks her favorite fans and air circulators for all budgets

1. Shark Flexbreeze: My #1 pick overall Today's best prices Read our
review 2. Meaco Sefte Pro: My fave air circulator Today's best prices Read our review 3. Dreo Smart Tower Fan 519S: My top tower fan Today's best
prices Read our review 4. Dyson Cool CF1: The best for sleep Today's best prices Read our review

"I've been a tech journalist for over 15 years, in print and online, and am committed to testing devices in the real world so you can be sure you're getting the product that's right for your individual home."



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/home/air-quality/3-top-tips-for-using-a-fan


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