If you've ever experienced all that British summertime has to offer, you'll know that a typical week can range from torrential rain to searing heat and back again, which leaves us less than prepared for the higher temperatures. Be smart and plan ahead by investing in a portable fan. Our guide covers the benefits, fan types and additional portable fan features so you can sit comfortably at home and sleep through the night all summer long.

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Overview:

• Benefits of Using a Portable Fan
• Types of Portable Fans
• What is CFM?
• Additional Features
• How to Clean a Portable Fan

Benefits of Using a Portable Fan

Portable fans can be a lifesaver during the hot summer months, especially when installing an air conditioner in your home or workplace just isn't an option. While many people use a portable fan primarily for its cooling effects, there are some other benefits from using a portable fan you may not know about.

Mobile: As mentioned, fans are most commonly used to cool down a room or designated area. What makes portable fans even better is their mobility. Take your fan with you wherever you go, whether that's another room in your home, a new building or even outside and continue to feel its cooling and comforting effects.

White Noise: Too hot to sleep at night? Tempted to leave on your fan while you catch some Zzzs? Leaving a portable fan running at night can help create a soft, gentle humming sound that may help you drift off to sleep more easily during warmer evenings.

Fresh Air: Portable fans help circulate stale, stuffy air rather than produce new cool airflow like air conditioning. But don't fret, this function allows for fresher and cooler airflow throughout your home for longer, which in turn helps to lower body temperature and reduce sweating.

Types of Portable Fans

There are more portable fan models than you might think! Take a look at some of the most popular fan types below:

Pedestal / Standing: A pedestal or standing fan is a classic floor fan type that comes with an extendable pole attached to a base. Most standing fans are adjustable and therefore can move up or down for better comfort during the hot weather. Place a pedestal fan in the corner of a room such as the living room or bedroom, under a gazebo or anywhere that's open-plan to really feel the cooling effects.

Tower: Tower fans are tall, slim, tower-shaped models that are great for when floor space is limited. They take up much less space than a standing fan but still provide a fair amount of cooling, making them ideal for smaller rooms such as a guest room, home office or student accommodation. Most tower fans come with oscillating technology which allows for better airflow distribution.

Personal: These portable fans are shorter in stature compared to their towering counterparts but are the perfect solution when you want a cool breeze directed at you. Place your personal fan on a desk, kitchen countertop or atop a shelf, wherever you need it most. Personal fans are even small enough to travel with, so be sure to slide yours into your case once holiday mode is back on.

Box: Similar to personal fans, box fans (also known as window fans) come with their blades encased in a box-type casing. Box fans are typically placed in windows, with the front side facing inwards to extract warm air (and vice versa during cooler months).

Bladeless Fans: An bladeless fan (also known as an air multiplier) is a fan which blows air from a ring with no external blades. With everything hidden within the fan's pedestal, the air is collected and then blown out as a thin, velvety smooth airflow. And while this fan type offers more in terms of style and safety than a conventional fan, they do tend to come with a much higher price tag.

Tip: Looking for something more permanent than a portable fan? Ceiling fans are functional, stylish and fixed so before you decide on a model, check out our ceiling fa buying guide and our expert tips on how to measure and mount a ceiling fan.

What is CFM?

Find out just how effective your fan is by checking the CFM rating. CFM (cubic feet per minute) indicates just how powerful the airflow from a fan is, with most household fans ranging from 100 CFM for personal fans, to up to 600 CFM for larger fans like pedestal or tower models. Of course, this varies depending on fan speed. If you're looking for entire room coverage from your next portable fan, try searching for a model with a CFM rating of no more than 800-900 CFM for home use.

Additional Features

As well as improved airflow and cooling, some portable fan models also come with additional features including quite mode, misting and an automated shut off.

Quiet Setting: If you're planning to use your portable fan over night or need a little peace and quiet while you WFH, then a portable fan with an added quiet setting is for you. This extra feature will reduce the amount of noise the blades create, leaving you with a quieter cooling experience.

Remote Included: Easily adjust the speed setting on your portable fan by opting for a model with a remote control including. Whether you prefer to turn up or lower the blade speed, do it simply at the touch of a button, no getting to walk across the room required.

Misting: Ideal for outside in the garden or on the patio, misting fans emit tiny droplets of water or mist to the airflow. Using water supplied in-house, usually by a garden hose, these fans come equipped with a small nozzle that can be adjusted to fit.

Automatic Shutoff: Fell asleep and left the fan running? Not to worry. Portable fans with the automatic shutoff feature will switch themselves off after a certain amount of time has passed. Great for anyone worrying about the electric bills.

Oscillating: A portable fan with oscillation features rotates from side to side while blowing out cool air. Thanks to this rotation, oscillating fans direct airflow in multiple directions, creating better air flow than a stationary fan type.

How to Clean a Portable Fan

Regular care and maintenance is key to keeping your fan running at optimal performance. Dust and dirt can quickly gather on the fan's blades and in the grill, meaning that airflow becomes dirtier and heavier. Avoid this by using the dusting brush on your vacuum cleaner and gently removing debris. If you feel your fan is in a need a clean down with a cloth and some soapy water, read the manufacturer's instructions before dismantling.

Tip: Searching for more ways to remain cool and collected in the heat? Then why not check out our expert tips on how to sleep at night during summer?