You’re probably well aware that pretty pennies are regularly squandered keeping that air conditioner running in your room all day and night.

If you don’t want to melt into a puddle of sweat or spend a considerable amount on your electricity bill, consider investing in a powerful window fan.

Feeling lost and don’t know where to start? No worries, I’ve got you covered. The following best window fan reviews will reveal some of the top-tier units on the market today.

What Are Window Fans?

Window fans are designed to be fitted into an open window. They often feature expandable sliding side panels, allowing them to cover the entire window opening.

Most window fans on the market today come in two styles: two smaller side-by-side fans or just one large fan.

You’ll also find that most window fans tend to feature two or three-speed variations, which allow you to control the speed of the air exhaust or intake.

Speaking of functionality, there are models on the market that are electrically reversible, allowing you to switch between the exhaust and intake modes. These models are highly recommended over their single-mode counterparts.

Window fans are usually packed with awesome features, such as:

• thermostats,
• adjustable grilles,
• shut-off timers,
• remote controls.

A window fan with a thermostat turns off automatically if the room temperature drops to a certain desired degree, which helps you save money that would have otherwise been wasted if the fan remains on.

Adjustable grilles are a great feature to look for in a window fan because they allow you to control the direction of the airflow.

The remote control and shut-off timer features are pretty self-explanatory.

Most window fans today feature a plastic construction, which makes them lightweight but takes away from their durability. Older models, on the other hand, tend to be made of metal and are much heavier and sturdier than plastic units.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Window Fan

Just like all products, not all window fans are created equal, and navigating through the endless deluge of products on the market can be quite confusing. Here are some tips that you should take into consideration when shopping for a window fan.

Size of the Window Fan

The size of the window fan should be the first on your list of priorities. Ideally, if you’re looking to install a window fan on a quite large window, you should definitely buy a twin window fan. This way, you’ll avoid gaps between the frame of the window and the fan itself.

To avoid buying the wrong size, look for a window fan with sliding extenders. With these parts extended, you can obtain a customized fit for your window fan, eliminating gaps and keeping bugs and insects from sneaking into your home.

You should also consider purchasing a window fan that features detachable legs, which allows the unit to be transformed into a stand-alone fan, when needed. And remember, a small window fan can be a very strong window fan, don’t let the size fool you.

Types of Window Fans

Window fans are mainly divided into two different categories: intake and exhaust fans.

The main idea behind an intake fan is that it draws cold air from the outside into the house, while an exhaust fan pushes the warm, stale air that’s inside the house to the outside.

How you choose between the two types will depend on the placement of your window fan. On the sunny side of your house, an exhaust fan is an ideal choice because it’ll help push out all the hot air from the room.

On the shady side of your house, however, an intake fan will help make use of the cool air outside by drawing it inside.

Luckily, quite a number of units are available on the market that can perform both functions with equal efficiency. Keep an eye out for models that feature the reverse function, which allows you to switch between intake and exhaust mode whenever you want.

Remote Control

Nowadays, almost everything is controlled remotely, and window fans are no different. Units that feature multiple speed variations usually have a remote control feature so that you don’t have to change the speed settings manually.

Durability and Safety

A window fan made of a strong and solid material will certainly last longer than one that isn’t. Thus, you should pay close attention to the materials from which the window fan is made to ensure its longevity.

Another thing that you should pay attention to is whether the blades of the fan are secured or not. Blades that aren’t secured properly by the outer grill of the fan can be quite hazardous. Also, the intake of any floating object can render the fan useless without proper blade protection.

Shut-Off Timer

Although window fans don’t consume as much electricity as an air-conditioning unit, I’m sure you still want to reduce your utility bills as much as possible. A window fan that features an automatic shut-off timer is certainly the smart way to go, as you can set it to turn off in a few hours when the house cools down.

Noise Level

You’ll definitely run across a lot of fans that are a bit noisy, which can limit your options if you’re a light sleeper. However, if some noise isn’t a big deal to you, then you can choose any fan you want.

Weight

Heavy window fans are extremely hard to carry and even harder to install. Make sure that the window fan you’re about to buy has a lightweight construction, to ease the process of moving it from one place to another.

Main Benefits of Using a Window Fan 

Apart from their reasonable cost, window fans possess numerous benefits that will surely put an end to all your ventilation problems without breaking the bank.

Constantly Refreshed Environment

A poorly ventilated area is just uncomfortable to be in, especially if there’s more than one person in the room contributing to the stale air through their exhalation. An example of this would be two people sleeping in a small room. This can lead to many respiratory health problems.

Window fans provide a simple solution to this problem by exchanging the stale air in the room with the air outside. It keeps the room refreshed and prevents any negative health effects.

Low Power Consumption

Did you know that your average central air conditioning system consumes around 3,000 to 5,000 watts of energy when used for about 9 hours per day? Did you also know that a window fan uses around 35 to 100 watts to run for one hour? This is around 700 watts, on average, in 9 hours. To find out more about your AC’s power consumption, click here.

A window fan costs less than an air conditioning system. Get one and spare yourself an insane electricity bill.

Maintained Temperature

When it comes to ventilation, air conditioners don’t perform that well. They might provide the desired temperature, but they usually can’t get rid of any unpleasant odors in the room.

Window fans can constantly exchange the air in the room, which not only helps keep the room refreshed but also gets rid of unwanted odors and stale air while maintaining a comfortable temperature.

Great Addition to an AC System

Okay, enough bashing of air conditioning units. You can also work hand in hand with them.

You can use a window fan inside your house to boost the efficiency of your AC system. Since AC systems aren’t capable of cleaning the air within the room, why not combine both appliances to achieve the most optimal outcome?

Compatible with Most Windows

Most high-quality window fans on the market come with adjustable panels, which allow for an easy installation process. In a nutshell, all you need to do is fit the window fan into the window frame with the aid of its panels, plug it in, and enjoy the cool breeze.

How to Use a Window Fan?

The idea behind the direction of a fan’s airflow is pretty simple.

A fan is comprised of two sides:

• the open side
• and the grille side

Air flows across the fan’s open side and moves towards the grille side. So, for intake fans, the open side should face outside, and vice versa for exhaust fans.

Window fans are pretty simple to use because they rely on fairly simple principles.

If you turn the fan on when it’s warm outside, the fan will blow hot air into the room. So it’s advised to turn the fan on when it’s cooler outside to cool down the air in the room and lower its temperature.

This could also spare you from using the AC at night since the outside air temperature might have cooled off by this time. It’s a good idea to have another window fan installed elsewhere to help you achieve a cross breeze.

If the nighttime air in your region is not that cool or if it’s highly humid, you should steer away from intake fans, as they are ineffective.

During bad weather conditions, it’s extremely important to remove all fans from your window frames. Unless your window fan has a water-resistant motor, a drop of water can lead to serious electrical damage to the fan.

Generally, a common window frame should accommodate most window fans.

You’ll need to insert the fan into the window’s lower frame after the frame has been lifted and the sash has been lowered. This will ensure that the fan is securely sealed.

Units that are specifically designed for horizontally-opened sliding windows follow the same installation process.

Bionaire Twin Reversible Airflow Window Fan

This fan has both a remote control and an onboard electronic one with an LCD screen.  It is designed for windows anywhere from 24 to 37 inches wide and comes with a programmable thermostat that turns it on or off automatically in order to maintain a set room temperature.  It has reversible blades, 3 speed settings, and water-resistant motors.  It supports both vertical and horizontal mounting.

Pros

• Strong
• Fans can be set to move air in directions independent of each other
• Relatively quiet at the 2 lower speeds

Cons

• No night-dimming/off switch for LEDs
• Can be a little noisy in the switch from one speed to another when being managed automatically by the thermostat

This fan is a solid product with some nice motor muscle behind it.  It’s far from being a whole-house fan, but it’s still strong.  It can move a lot of air quickly and functions well whether on intake, exhaust, or exchange mode.  It’s not the quietest fan around, but it’s far from being the noisiest—at the lowest and middle speeds, it’s even decently quiet as far as these fans go.

Lasko 2155A Electrically Reversible Window Fan

This ETL-listed window fan is made for windows at least 22 inches tall and 26.5 to 34.5 inches wide. The three 16-inch blades can be reversed, so you can blow air in and out. The fan comes with a safety plug and also permits you to shut the window behind it when desired. It costs almost twice as much as the previous one.

Pros

• Moves a lot of air
• Reasonably quiet
• Doesn’t impede window closure in bad weather

Cons

• May not be sufficient for whole-house cooling in medium-to-large homes

This is an excellent fan for the money, given its strength and performance. However, if your place has more than three rooms, it probably still won’t be enough to cool the whole house. Nevertheless, it’s a powerful instrument, and it doesn’t put out as much noise as one might expect from its size. With 16-inch blades, this is no baby, yet it operates very nearly as though it were one.

Whole House Window Fan

This AirKing model has huge 20-inch blades married to a 1/25HP motor.  The fan has 3 speeds, durable plastic housing, a front-mounted switch, and OSHA approval.  It is designed to fit windows 26.75 x 11.25 x 26.25 inches. More expensive than the previous one.

Pros

• Feels quite durable
• Storm Guard works
• Decently strong

Cons

• Can be noisy
• A touch pricy

This fan isn’t among the cheapest, but it does have some nice features to justify its cost.  Among these are the 20-inch blades—these move a lot of air, and they will serve to cool most modest spaces within minutes even on warm days.  They can be noisy, though, although a big part of it might be improper mounting, as the fan tends to rattle if you haven’t mounted it the right way.  The casing is not all metal, but it still feels rather strong, so you do not have to worry that it will collapse after a few months of use.

Holmes Dual Blade 8” Twin Window Fan

This dual-bladed fan has 2 separate motors that can move independently of each other. They are reversible, offer 2 speed settings, and have 8.5-inch blades. It has water-resistant motors and a 3-year limited warranty. It also has a one-touch thermostat. It is priced on the lower end of the price scale.

Pros

• Fairly easy to use
• Comes with a thermostat for automated powering-on and shutdown
• Moderately quiet

Cons

• Could have better controls

This is a modest little fan with better performance than one might expect for its price.  It moves air well—just don’t expect to feel gusts—and is about as quiet as one might expect for a fan of this size.  The thermostat is a particularly useful feature.  It doesn’t have the best controls ever, but they’re easy enough to figure out; they’re just not as quick to set as many other fans’ controls are.  It’s also quite energy-efficient.  It will probably suit people who only need to cool single rooms.

Holmes Dual Blade 6” reversible Twin Window Fan

This twin window fan, fitted with a pair of 6-inch blades, is designed for slider and double-hung windows. It has two speed settings and water-resistant motors. This is the cheapest one in our review.

Pros

• Reasonably priced
• Very easy to install
• Comes with a screen that you can use as an extender

Cons

• Blades cannot reverse flow by electronic control
• A bit noisy

This is one of the smaller window fans, so of course, it costs less than the rest of the items on this list.  Still, it’s reasonably priced. It won’t wow you with automation or electronic features like thermostats or independently-controlled twin motors.  Instead, it’s just a plain little window fan—and that’s probably what most of the people for whom it’s designed will like best about it.  It’s relatively low profile, easy to put in and put out, and is good value for the smaller rooms.

Conclusion

This really depends on the size of the space you need to cool, but most buyers will probably agree that the best buy here is the Lasko.  It’s not the biggest fan in the group, but it is a fantastic performer nonetheless and will cool more than one room quite effectively.  If your cooling needs are lower, you can go with the Bionaire instead, which has a number of really nice features and decent muscle power.