How to Choose Between a Bladed Fan and a Bladeless Fan?

Answer 1

Bladed fans have blown air in hopes of creating a cooler, milder environment for millennia. From palm fronds to hand-held fans to the first electric fan invented in 1923, forced air movement has been a favored method of reducing heat. Recently, a new genre was invented: the bladeless fan.

MisnomerThe bladeless fan that creates a steady flow of air actually does contain blades. They’re simply not visible. The standard fan operates with equally spaced blades around the center motor that turns them. The currently-designed bladeless fan hides its blades within the pedestal beneath the visible circle atop it. General Appearance DifferencesStandard bladed fans come in various sizes, designs, and applications. The box fan rests directly on a surface without a stand, and while the blades rotate in a circle, box fans present a square appearance. Pedestal fans rest upon a flared base and column and can be stationary or rotate (oscillate) from side to side within a predefined arc. Ceiling fans are without the protective grill covering but hang from the ceiling, as the name implies.

As of July 2010, bladeless fans are desktop or table models only. The bladeless fan presents a 12-inch or 10-inch lollipop type of profile with the base leading up to the circle that creates the vortex of forced air.

Standard fans present myriads of coordinating and functional choices, while the bladeless fan presents only one—sleek, to be sure, but singular in decorating options.

Effect DifferencesBladed fans usually offer three running choices—low, medium, and high. The effect of the air volume can drop drastically just a few feet away or as it turns on its base. The bladeless fan uses more unevenly-balanced or asymmetric fan blades rotating at a higher speed to generate a higher initial air flow.

Standard fans use a curved blade design to push air forward, and the breeze creates a slight vacuum behind it as it pulls air through. The amount of air pushed depends on the speed of the rotation, the number and size of the blade, and proximity to unmoving obstacles to air behind it. A standard fan can also “coerce” or “entrain” nearby air to also follow the flow of the forced air.

A bladeless fan operates with retro-positioned and side-positioned air, as well. Differences in air flow through the air loop, however, account for the much higher output.

Cost DifferencesTraditional, bladed fan prices run from a few dollars to $100 or more, depending on style, material, and type.

Partially because the technology is relatively new, bladeless fans can cost $299.00 for the smaller, 10-inch model to $329.00 for the larger, 12-inch fan.

SummaryDesign, intended use, space, and cost contribute toward deciding to use a bladed or a bladeless fan. Examine each carefully; a wrong choice can result in either less relief from heat or a reduced bank account.