We’ve had some scorching summer seasons, with abnormally high temperatures in recent years. With global warming and the unrestrained advance of production and transport of goods and merchandise, scientists are confident that this phenomenon will continue. This summer, you certainly don’t want to liquefy yet again. So you’re wondering which to choose: a fan or an air freshener? To help you make the right choice, here’s some useful information about these 2 devices…
Fans
Ranging from 30 euros to 150 euros on average, whether free-standing or column-mounted, a fan has a certain power rating that depends on the airflow rate. The higher the airflow, the more efficient the fan. There’s no point in buying a fan with an airflow of less than 50 m3/h, otherwise the unit will be inefficient.
New-generation fan
This new style of fan, which arrived on the market a few years ago, offers a number of advantages:
- Increased safety : bringing greater safety and peace of mind with children who are not at risk of accident.
- Less noise: thanks to the absence of a propeller, this fan is less decibels and more relaxing.
At what price can you buy a fan without a propeller?
This type of fan is still expensive, costing between 300 and 500 euros. But it’s a device that’s expected to serve many summers.
How effective is the fan in cooling a room?
Tests were carried out with a propeller fan running for several hours in a room at 28°C. The verdict is clear: the room temperature did not drop by even 1°C. The main advantage of a propeller fan is that you feel cool during the few seconds when the air is projected onto you (in the case of a rotating fan). In other words, this type of appliance, despite being sold in astronomical quantities every summer, is useless for cooling a room…
The air cooler
We often confuse the term air conditioner with air cooler. It’s important to understand the features of this appliance before describing its advantages and disadvantages.
How does an air cooler work?
The principle of the air cooler is very simple. Our grandmothers already used this more archaic method, placing a wet cloth in front of the fan’s propeller. The air blown over the damp cloth created humidity in the air, giving a feeling of freshness. In more technical terms, this is exactly how the air freshener works as we know it today.
How does the air cooler work?
In concrete terms, the air cooler consists of an air inlet and an air outlet. At the rear, the fan draws in warm, dry air. The air then passes through a water-gorged, honeycomb-shaped cellulose filter. It is then propelled to become fresh, humid air. It’s the same concept used by our grandmothers! But technology has come a long way, and today there are a multitude of devices…
Technical features of air coolers
Unit size
Depending on the volume of the room to be cooled, the size of the air cooler plays an important role. There are many models, from a few centimeters in height to nearly 2 meters.
Power output
The larger the fan, the greater the cooling effect. And, of course, the cooler the air, the larger the room. But beware: more power means more decibels with this kind of device…
Humidification output
Water humidification flow rate is directly related to water consumption. The more water consumed, the more refreshed the air. On the other hand, this also means that the air freshener needs to be refilled regularly. However, by pouring as many ice cubes as possible into the reservoir, the cooling time is even longer, and the effect is much more pleasant in hot weather.
Fan or air cooler: the verdict
Price comparison
With more or less the same size and motor, the prices of these appliances are virtually identical.
Noise comparison
Again, for the same power rating, the air cooler is slightly quieter, since its impeller is housed inside the unit, rather than in the open air as is the case with the fan.
Which of these 2 devices is better for cooling a room?
There’s no doubt that the air freshener is the most effective at cooling warm air. Even more so if you use the trick of inserting ice cubes in the water tray. On the other hand, you’ll need to refill the unit regularly, and anticipate the action by having fresh water or ice cubes on hand for greater efficiency.
Why not use an air conditioner?
Air conditioners are far more efficient than fans and air fresheners. As we all know, they can create such temperature differences with the outside world that they make you sick!
Today, mobile air conditioners don’t cost much. Some very good models can cool a 25 m2 room for as little as 300 euros. A price very close to that of the 2 devices mentioned above.
On the other hand, air conditioners consume a lot of electricity. It’s also a source of noise. By choosing a fixed-split model, the number of decibels is significantly reduced. But it’s only a good solution in regions where the heat lasts a relatively long time. The investment is high (between 2,000 and 4,000 euros, depending on the size of the house or apartment).
Ultimately, it’s not the price that determines your choice in this case, but rather the number of decibels emitted, the quality of freshness you’re looking for, and how long you’ll be using one or other of these devices.
