Tower fans…..do they really cool down a bedroom?

[Ottakee]

I am early 50s.  I like to sleep in a dark and cold bedroom.  Winter is easy as I turn off the heat in my bedroom and it stays nice and chilly.

Now that temps are warming I am not sleeping as well as my bedroom is warmer.

I gafe AC but the house is already 68° with no AC so I don’t want to freeze everyone else out.

I have a ceiling fan on but that isn’t t enough.   I don’t want the hassle and expense of a room air conditioner.

i keep seeing these tower fans touted as cooling down rooms.  They run. $50-75.  Are they worth it?

[KungFuPanda]

What about one of those fans that sit in your window? They have two fans in them and you can set them to blow in the room, out of the room, or to “exchange” so one is in and one is out. I slept with one in the window last night and it made a big difference. I have a tower fan but it doesn’t work any better than this and the window fan doesn’t take up any space in the room. A tower fan isn’t going to work any better than a ceiling fan. I think a ceiling fan is probably better at cooling a whole room. 
 

My room was 83 degrees last night, but the window fan pulled in the outside air and cooled off the room really quickly. Even a box fan in a window would do this. 

[Ottakee]

37 minutes ago, KungFuPanda said:

What about one of those fans that sit in your window? They have two fans in them and you can set them to blow in the room, out of the room, or to “exchange” so one is in and one is out. I slept with one in the window last night and it made a big difference. I have a tower fan but it doesn’t work any better than this and the window fan doesn’t take up any space in the room. A tower fan isn’t going to work any better than a ceiling fan. I think a ceiling fan is probably better at cooling a whole room. 
 

My room was 83 degrees last night, but the window fan pulled in the outside air and cooled off the room really quickly. Even a box fan in a window would do this. 

I actually do have one of those in the garage I could try.

I love a dark bedroom so I would have to give that up a bit for the fan but that might help.

[Pawz4me]

I sleep with a pedestal (round) fan. It doesn't reduce the temperature but it makes me feel cooler due to the wind chill effect. It sits on my side of the bed, about three to four feet away, and is aimed to hit my mid body.

We also have the ceiling fan going. Make sure you change the direction with the season (if yours can be changed; we've never had one that couldn't be but I've read that some can't). But it doesn't provide anywhere near the same wind chill cooling effect that the pedestal fan blowing right on me does.

[HomeAgain]

The short answer - no.  It won't cool down a room, but it will move the air so that cooler air can be brought in.

A dehumidifier might work better for you in conjunction with a fan.  They can be a pain, though. 

[Toocrazy!!]

I’ll let you know in a few weeks. I bought one on Amazon that says that and I swear it blows cool air out of it. But the temps have been cool enough that my room is still cool and I can’t vouch for actual room cooling yet. 

[Ottakee]

Just now, Toocrazy!! said:

I’ll let you know in a few weeks. I bought one on Amazon that says that and I swear it blows cool air out of it. But the temps have been cool enough that my room is still cool and I can’t vouch for actual room cooling yet. 

Which one did you buy?

I would rather keep my windows shut in the bedroom for noise and light…..if this tower fan would work.

[MEmama]

I open all 3 bedroom windows, use the double window fan mentioned above, ceiling fan on high and a tower fan placed right next to my side of the bed. I use the lightest comforter available from IKEA, bamboo sheets, cooling pillows and my next purchase is a lightweight cooling blanket for summer use instead of the comforter. I wear very light cooling joggers and a tank top for sleeping. We don't have AC.
 

As mentioned, the tower fan doesn't cool the room but it will help cool you. The double window fans are amazing, I'm planning to add a couple more downstairs this year. They really help. The ceiling fan helps tremendously too, I need that on all year. 
 

All summer I run around opening and closing window shades with the sun. Cellular blinds are incredibly insulating. Last year I bought some removable UV window cling for south facing windows--it kept the heat down easily by several degrees. 

 

 

 

[Toocrazy!!]

The dreo https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09MKPDJRT/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I paid $62 though. Not sure on this price. I bought it and only used it a few nights and since then I’ve been out of town so I don’t have a good review yet. 

 

[Dmmetler]

I have a BIG pedestal fan that seems to help quite a bit for hot flashes. I don't know if it cools the room so much as evaporates sweat which has a cooling effect, but it works without having to turn the house to icebox temps. 

we got a tower fan for L's dorm because it's an old building which is either heat or air, and there's a period in the fall and Spring when it's invariably wrong, and being able to open windows at night and pull in outside air helps a lot. 

[kbutton]

I agree with the pedestal fan aimed right at you. If I get super hot, a cool shower or using a cool washcloth head to toe helps. I have been known to sleep with a wet towel or washcloth on my feet or legs while the fan is pointed at me. Even in the winter I often can’t have anything more than a sheet for bedding, and my feet will be sticking out. 

Modern beds are NOT breathable. I would buy one of those pads that circulates cool air if I could afford it. None of the temperature regulating bed products I tried help—cooling bedding seems to be a cruel joke. I slept on bamboo sheets last weekend at a family member’s house, and I thought I would roast to death. I thought they were microfiber they were so hot.

 

[Arcadia]

Tower fan on a bedside table next to DS18 is good enough for him for summer nights. The fan is only good enough to keep him cool. My husband needs a pedestal fan for summer nights. DS19 and me are scared of cold so blackout curtains are already cold enough. 

[Carol in Cal.]

Warning about a fan blowing right toward you—it can dry out your eyes, and if you have ocular rosacea start you on the path to repeated corneal erosions, which are extremely painful.

[gardenmom5]

5 hours ago, Ottakee said:

I actually do have one of those in the garage I could try.

I love a dark bedroom so I would have to give that up a bit for the fan but that might help.

have you tried a sleep mask?  I use this one - it's more comfortable than i expected.  
I've had to buy more, as dudeling and dh have both walked off with them . . . . I also keep one in my car for road trips (dh is driving, but if I want to nap I need dark.)
They do work as insulators around my eyes for warmth as well.   But for me, dark is more important.  I also prefer cooler for sleeping.

[Toocrazy!!]

That’s the kind of mask I have as well. It took some getting used to but now I really like it. I do find mine kind of hot though. But it is not the exact brand. 

[KungFuPanda]

Have you considered getting a small air conditioner for just your room?

[Shelydon]

68 degrees is where I turn on the central heating. 😁

[Ottakee]

5 hours ago, KungFuPanda said:

Have you considered getting a small air conditioner for just your room?

I have but those can be expensive to run.

[Annie G]

I prefer an oscillating fan- it sort of tricks me to feeling cooler when the breeze comes and goes.  And it can’t be too close or I actually feel it less.  Dh just bought a new fan from Costco that moves in multiple directions. It’s made by woozoo or something…he loves it.  Dry small but packs a punch. 

[Drama Llama]

I thought you were thinking of building a tower to avoid the cost of an air conditioner, and were consulting those of us who are fans of towers for our thoughts.  i was going to reply that while cross breezes up high are nice, towers cost more than AC units.

Then I reread.  I do think my tower fan helps.

[mommyoffive]

16 hours ago, MEmama said:

I open all 3 bedroom windows, use the double window fan mentioned above, ceiling fan on high and a tower fan placed right next to my side of the bed. I use the lightest comforter available from IKEA, bamboo sheets, cooling pillows and my next purchase is a lightweight cooling blanket for summer use instead of the comforter. I wear very light cooling joggers and a tank top for sleeping. We don't have AC.
 

As mentioned, the tower fan doesn't cool the room but it will help cool you. The double window fans are amazing, I'm planning to add a couple more downstairs this year. They really help. The ceiling fan helps tremendously too, I need that on all year. 
 

All summer I run around opening and closing window shades with the sun. Cellular blinds are incredibly insulating. Last year I bought some removable UV window cling for south facing windows--it kept the heat down easily by several degrees. 

 

 

 

Do you happen to know what you bought?  I am searching and not finding anything

[MEmama]

6 hours ago, mommyoffive said:

Do you happen to know what you bought?  I am searching and not finding anything

Sure! I'll look for a link, but there are lots on Amazon.

I was honestly surprised by the difference it makes.

[mommyoffive]

3 hours ago, MEmama said:

Sure! I'll look for a link, but there are lots on Amazon.

I was honestly surprised by the difference it makes.

Thank you!!

 

Do you keep the film on all year or do you just have it on there in summer?

Edited May 1 by mommyoffive

[MEmama]

33 minutes ago, mommyoffive said:

Thank you!!

 

Do you keep the film on all year or do you just have it on there in summer?

I tried to link but couldn't get it to work. I'll try again in a bit, my ipad is being fussy today.

I only keep it up in summer--in winter I want the free heat! It's totally reusable too.

This one does shade the inside of the house a bit (of course) but the cats can still see through it. That was a concern for me. The neighbours can't though 🙂 

[mommyoffive]

1 minute ago, MEmama said:

I tried to link but couldn't get it to work. I'll try again in a bit, my ipad is being fussy today.

I only keep it up in summer--in winter I want the free heat! It's totally reusable too.

This one does shade the inside of the house a bit (of course) but the cats can still see through it. That was a concern for me. The neighbours can't though 🙂 

Perfect!!  That is what  I want in the winter too!  Thank you so much.  Love that the neighbors can't see through it too!!!

[KidsHappen]

I have blinds and then blackout curtains which help block the heat and light from the southern exposure windows in my room. And then we own an air purifier that does a good job of circulating the air. In the summer we have all the vents in our room open and then in the winter we close them all. Our bathroom has northern exposure windows so we open or close the bathroom doors to regulate the heat exchange between the two rooms and finally we have a ceiling fan as well which helps. 

I used to use a sheet, thin lightweight down alternative blanket and a comforter. After menopause I removed the middle layer. I sleep nude and keep my feet and shoulders outside the blanket if I get too warm. Some of the family complains that it is too cold but I have explained to them that they can always put on my blankets whereas there is a point where I cannot remove any more blankets of clothes.

[Toocrazy!!]

Ok, I’ve been using my fan for a few days now that I’m back in town and I do think it blows cool air. I’m not sure it can cool a whole room though. But I checked the temp on my side of the bed where the fan is hitting and it is 3 degrees cooler than the temp on DH’s nightstand where no air is hitting. 

[Toocrazy!!]

I’m also a fan of my new muslin blanket. I was using a bamboo type but it was cold and not snuggly. Which maybe I’ll want when it’s really hot. But right now this is perfect. It’s cool, but not cold to the touch. 
 

https://www.amazon.com/Muslin-Queen-Breathable-Couch-Warm-Blanket-Adult/dp/B0B781QYXR?pd_rd_w=V0q5P&content-id=amzn1.sym.2eca026f-c06d-4a33-8611-f9bc4324bb01&pf_rd_p=2eca026f-c06d-4a33-8611-f9bc4324bb01&pf_rd_r=QDP1T75VXRPDG1GKBCY9&pd_rd_wg=DOTT9&pd_rd_r=b47aa743-63a2-41c9-903f-b1f1ea6025ea&pd_rd_i=B0B781QYXR&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_m_grid_dv_rp_0_1_ec_pr_pr1_ppx_aw_ya_bia_t