Fans are a popular way to stay cool on hot days or circulate air in stuffy rooms. Dyson fans in particular have become trendy in recent years, known for their bladeless designs and hefty price tags. But are they actually better at cooling than regular old box fans or tower fans? Let’s take a look at how Dyson fans work compared to other types of fans, and examine the pros and cons of each.
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How do fans work?
All electric fans work by using a motor to spin blades or circulators, creating a flow of air. The movement of the blades pushes air around the room, creating a wind chill effect. This makes you feel cooler by accelerating the evaporation of sweat off your skin and increasing heat loss from convection as the airflow passes over you. Fans don’t actually lower the temperature of a room, they just make it feel cooler by accelerating this process of evaporative and convective cooling.
There are a few main types of electric fans:
- Box fans: The most basic type, these feature an electric motor with fan blades encased in a square frame. They are designed to sit on the floor or mount to walls or windows.
- Tower fans: Tall and thin like a column, these fans direct air upwards and oscillate back and forth to circulate air around a room.
- Pedestal fans: Larger fans on a stand that sit on the floor and can tilt to direct airflow.
- Ceiling fans: Mounted on the ceiling to circulate air throughout a room, often with rotating blades.
- Desktop fans: Small portable fans that sit on a desk or tabletop.
Dyson fans take a different approach to moving air by using airflow amplification and the Coanda effect instead of traditional spinning blades. The engineering aims to create a smoother, more consistent stream of air.
How Dyson bladeless fans work
Dyson fans don’t actually have no blades. But instead of visible spinning blades, they use what Dyson calls “bladeless” technology to generate airflow. This consists of a motor inside the base that spins a circular ramp covered with tiny openings. Air gets drawn into the base through the openings. The spinning ramp accelerates the air, shooting it out through a slit that runs around a ring at the top.
This is where the Coanda effect comes into play. The Coanda effect describes how air or liquid tends to follow along curved surfaces. The ring at the top of the Dyson fan head curves slightly inward. This causes the fast-moving stream of air being pushed out to hug the contour of the ring, rather than immediately diffusing outward.
This concentrated ring of airflow passes over a small aperture on the inside of the ring, which helps to amplify the airflow up to 15 times, according to Dyson. The air multiplies in speed, creating a consistent, uninterrupted flow of accelerated air without requiring exposed blades.
Most Dyson bladeless fans operate in this same general way. The major difference between models is the shape and style of the head and whether it includes features like oscillation or tilt.
Dyson fan pros
Dyson bladeless fans have some advantages compared to traditional bladed fans:
- No exposed blades makes them safer around kids and pets and easier to clean.
- Some people find the stream of air gentler than choppy air from bladed fans.
- Their unique modern aesthetic stands out from typical fans.
- Advanced features like air multiplication and magnetic levitation allow for smooth, consistent airflow.
- Higher-end Dyson fans include options like oscillation, tilt adjustment, and remote control.
- They take up less space than box fans and many tower fans.
Dyson fan cons
On the downside, Dyson fans also have some drawbacks:
- The biggest issue is the high price, often 4-5 times more expensive than comparable bladed fans.
- The shape and design limits placement options compared to tilting tower or pedestal fans.
- While air circulation is smooth, some may prefer the cooling sensation of choppy air currents.
- No exposed blades can lead to a dust buildup problem inside the base over time.
- Harder to service than typical fans if something breaks.
Regular fan pros
Standard box fans, tower fans, and pedestal fans have been cooling people off for decades, and offer some advantages including:
- Very affordable, ranging from $20-50 for most models.
- Time-tested simple mechanical design with replaceable blades.
- Oscillating and tilting models provide flexible directional airflow.
- Easy to take apart and service at home if needed.
- Box and tower styles have small footprints and fit in more places.
- Strong blades can generate higher velocities and more turbulent airflow than Dyson fans.
Regular fan cons
On the downside, traditional bladed fans also come with some drawbacks:
- Exposed blades can collect dust and dirt over time.
- Less safe for use around children and pets.
- Airflow can feel choppy compared to Dyson’s smooth stream.
- Lower tech features compared to Dyson’s options like air multiplier and magnetic levitation.
- Tower fans with lots of settings can be overly complex to use.
- Oscillation and tilting mechanisms are prone to breaking over time.
Dyson vs Regular Fans: Airflow performance
When it comes to actual cooling power and airflow, how do Dyson bladeless fans compare to old school box fans and tower fans? Let’s look at some objective airflow performance measurements.
Air velocity
Air velocity measures how fast air is moving when it comes out of the fan. Faster air speeds create more wind chill effect as the air blows on your skin. Tests of air velocity at various fan speeds show that regular bladed fans generate higher maximum air velocities than Dyson bladeless fans:
| Fan Type | Max Air Velocity |
|---|---|
| Lasko 3-speed box fan | 4.6 m/s |
| Vornado Tower Fan | 4.1 m/s |
| Dyson AM07 Tower Fan | 3.1 m/s |
The bladeless design of the Dyson aims for smooth, consistent airflow rather than maximizing velocity. But for generating maximum wind chill, bladed fans exceed the Dyson’s velocities.
Airflow efficiency
Another important metric is airflow efficiency. This measures how efficiently the fan converts electric power to generate airflow. More efficient fans will move more air for the same amount of electricity. Dyson fans tend to have higher airflow efficiency than comparably sized bladed fans:
| Fan Model | Airflow Efficiency (CFM/watt) |
|---|---|
| Lasko 2554 42″ Tower Fan | 2.84 |
| Vornado 660 Large Whole Room Air Circulator | 5.55 |
| Dyson Cool AM07 Tower Fan | 7.55 |
This higher efficiency means the Dyson can move the same amount of air as other fans using less electricity. So it may cost less to run long-term, offsetting some of the higher purchase price.
Airflow consistency
One area where the Dyson bladeless fans stand out is in airflow consistency. Traditional bladed fans naturally create choppy, inconsistent air currents that fluctuate in speed and direction. The Dyson aims for smooth laminar airflow that maintains a steady speed and direction. This helps eliminate annoying buffeting sensations and creates a more relaxing experience.
Noise levels
An important consideration for many people is how noisy a fan is when running. Fans with spinning blades naturally generate noise from the motor, blades cutting through the air, and air turbulence. Improperly mounted blades that are unbalanced or loose can generate annoying hums and grinding noises as well over time.
Dyson bladeless fans operate much more quietly. Without exposed blades and with smooth laminar airflow, they avoid much of the mechanical noise issues with traditional fans. However, the highest speeds on most fans will produce audible white noise as air moves through. Here are the noise levels of some tested models at the highest speed setting:
| Fan Model | Noise Level (dB) |
|---|---|
| Lasko 3-speed box fan | 61 dB |
| Vornado 660 air circulator | 60 dB |
| Dyson AM06 Desk Fan | 56 dB |
While not silent, the Dyson fans tested register several decibels lower than comparable bladed fans running at the highest settings. The difference in noise may be more noticeable in a quiet room.
Style and aesthetics
When comparing regular fans vs Dyson fans, styling plays a role as well. Dyson bladeless fans offer a sleek modern aesthetic that stands out from the crowd. The unconventional shape and hidden mechanics look eye-catching and sophisticated. While tower fans can look nice as well, the budget box fan remains the epitome of utilitarian and clunky.
For some consumers, form matters as much as function. The Dyson fan’s style commands a premium price that fans of modern industrial design may consider worthwhile. Ultimately aesthetics are subjective, but Dyson fans likely hold more visual appeal than common off-the-shelf fans for most people.
Operating costs and environmental impact
Over the longer term, operating costs and environmental impact come into play when comparing different fan models. Key factors to consider:
- Energy efficiency – As noted earlier, Dyson fans utilize electric power very efficiently at pushing air thanks to their patented airflow engineering. This means they use less electricity to achieve the same cooling effect as less efficient budget fans.
- Filter replacement – Dyson bladeless fans don’t use replaceable filters. But some tower fans and air circulators require filter replacements over time, adding to long term costs.
- Lifespan – How long the fan physically lasts before breaking down. Dyson fans may last longer on average than cheaper import fans due to higher quality components.
- Repairability – Basic fans are easier for consumers to repair themselves by replacing worn out motors or blades. Dyson fans are harder to service at home due to their more complex and proprietary designs.
- Recyclability – Dyson uses more plastic compared to metal bladed fans, which may be less environmentally friendly. Their compact size uses fewer raw materials than large bladed fans.
The higher upfront cost of a Dyson fan may pay for itself over 5-10 years of use through increased efficiency and lifespan compared to replacing cheaper fans that break more often. But the lack of repairability shifts replacement costs to the consumer rather than the manufacturer.
Conclusion
To summarize the key differences between Dyson bladeless fans and regular fans:
- Dyson fans use patented bladeless technology to generate smooth, consistent airflow that maximizes efficiency.
- Traditional bladed fans create choppy air currents but generate higher maximum air velocities.
- Noise levels are lower on Dyson fans without mechanical blades cutting through the air.
- The modern style and aesthetics of Dyson fans appeals to many consumers.
- Dyson fans are more expensive upfront but may pay for themselves long-term through energy efficiency.
- Simple bladed fans are the most affordable option and easier for owners to repair themselves.
When choosing between a Dyson bladeless fan vs a regular fan, consider your priorities. Dyson fans make sense for those who value smooth quiet airflow, advanced features, modern aesthetics and don’t mind paying more upfront. For buyers who just want maximum cooling power or airflow flexibility at the lowest cost, a basic box or tower fan gets the job done.
At the end of the day, personal preference reigns when choosing a fan. While a bit overhyped, Dyson fans do deliver genuine differences in performance and style. For many buyers, these differences justify paying the premium price. But tried and true bladed fans continue to offer the affordable reliability people have depended on for cooling for over a century.