8 top-rated tower fans to keep you cool

NBC Select production coordinator Kelsey Fredricks says that this tower fan from Dreo is the best she’s ever used — in fact, her and her roommates like it so much that they have one in their living area as well. “It’s perfect for those who don’t like noise since it’s sincerely quiet,” she says. “I hardly hear it and would forget it’s on if it weren’t for the fan motion.” She also says that the fan is not very heavy and easy to assemble. 

When shopping for tower fans, our experts suggest we keep the following in mind:

Noise levels: Both our experts agree that you should consider noise while making your purchase. Some fans on our list, like the Dreo models, can operate at 25dB, which is akin to the sound of a normal conversation. “But because everyone’s tolerance can be different it’s a good idea to listen to each fan in person,” says Carl Prouty, a tech expert at ABT.

Air purification: Some tower fans come with air purification built in, like the TP01 which has a HEPA air filter — useful when the air quality is low, according to our experts. “[Tower fans] can provide clean air in the room where they’re located, and are less expensive than adding a purifier to your HVAC system,” says Prouty. There are other precautions you can take as well to improve the air quality: “To ensure a healthy indoor environment, it is important to open the windows regularly when using either an AC with internal circulation or a tower fan, in case of oxygen deficiency,” says Herman He, Vice President of Research and Development at Dreo.

Smart features: “Smart devices make life easier, freeing people from the physical distance of controlling appliances,” says He. “For instance, you can turn on a tower fan for your furkids with your cell phone to create a pleasant breeze in your house, avoiding the risk of them getting too hot.” Many tower fans now function with compatible apps to make this possible, and you can even turn your fan on before you get home to cool down your space.

Cleaning: “After summer, the fan usually accumulates a lot of dust and hair around its air outlets,” says He. “Therefore, the ability to easily take apart and wash the fan is an important factor to consider.”

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Carl Prouty is a product specialist at Abt Electronics, a US electronics, appliance and furniture retailer.
• Herman Hee is the Vice President of Dreo in charge of research and development.

Nishka Dhawan was formerly a commerce editor forNBC Select.

Justin Redman was formerly a reporter for NBC Select.

Ambar Pardilla was formerly a reporter for NBC Select.

Ashley Morris is an associate SEO reporter at NBC Select, covering wellness, home and kitchen and lifestyle.

For this article, Justin, Ambar and Nishka recommended top-rated tower fans and also considered NBC Select staff favorites. They also interviewed product experts and tech experts on how to shop for tower fans.

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