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Ceiling fans are a great way to cool down a whole room. They put out a lot of air and don’t take up any floor space. However, for rooms with low ceilings, ceiling fans can be a safety hazard.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through some alternative options for keeping your room cool which are suitable for rooms with low ceilings. We’ll take a look at the pros and cons of each option and offer some recommednations for specific models.
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1. Tower Fans
Tower fans are a great alternative to ceiling fans if saving space is a main concern. They’re very compact compared to pedestal fans, and they’re easy to move around too.
Other advantages are that there are bladeless models which are safer if there are kids or pets around (these models are expensive though), and they are usually fairly quiet too.
The downside of tower fans is that they generally aren’t as powerful as other options like pedestal fans, so you might want to choose an alternative if you want a fan that really puts out a lot of air.
If you decide to go with a tower fan, the Dyson Cool AM07 is a great option if you’re budget can stretch to it’s price. It has a stylish, modern deisgn, but it’s biggest selling point is that it is bladeless making it a quiet and safer option for children and pets.
Dyson Cool AM07
A quiet & bladeless fan, ideal for use around children and pets. Features a programmable timer (ranging from 15 minutes to 9 hours), 10 air flow settings, oscillation, and a magnetic remote which can be stored neatly on the fan itself.
Lasko T42951
Much more budget friendly than the dyson. Not as sleek or quiet, but not a noise machine either, and is still reasonably powerful. Great bang for your buck. Features timer (30 minutes to 9.5 hours), 3 speed settings, remote, and oscillation.
2. Pedestal Fans
Another great alternative to a ceiling fan for a low ceiling room is a pedestal fan. These aren’t quite as compact as tower fans but they put out a good amount of air.
Other advantages are that they are great for bedrooms because you can easily direct the airflow towards your bed, and they’re portable too so you can move them around to suit your needs. Though they aren’t quite as portable as tower fans.
The downside is that they are generally noisier than tower fans, and as I mentioned earlier, they aren’t quite as compact due to the size of the circular blades.
If you decide to go with a pedestal fan and would like a quieter model, the Pelonis FS40-19PRD is a great fan to check out. It has lots of different settings, a remote (which can control the oscillation unlike some pedestal fans), and is quiet for a pedestal fan.
Pelonis FS40-19PRD
A quiet but powerful 16″ pedestal fan. Features 12 speed settings, 12 hour timer, adjustable height (3.5′ – 4′), oscillation and a remote control. The remote control for this fan can control oscillation.
Lasko 1820
A very powerful but fairly noisy 18″ pedestal fan. Great if you like white noise to help you sleep. Features 3 speed settings, programmable timer (1 – 4 hours), adjustable height, tilt-back head, and remote control.
3. Wall Mounted Fans
Another option to consider is a wall mounted fan and perhaps the closest alternative to a ceiling fan. You can position a wall mounted fan high up so it has a wide coverage like a ceiling fan (although don’t expect it to put out as much air).
One of the best things about wall mounted fans is they take no floor space making them a great option for smaller rooms. They’re also a more budget-friendly option.
The downside, of course, is that they have to be installed which for one things takes time to do. But it also means drilling into the wall which may not be desirable or even possible (if you’re renting). Obviously, they aren’t portable either like the previous two options.
If you decide to go with a wall mounted fan, the Hurricane HGC736503 is a great option. It’s not too expensive, it has 3 fan speeds, 90 degree oscillation, and is easy to install.
Hurricane HGC736503
A reasonably quiet but powerful, 16″ wall mounted fan. Features a programmable timer (up to 7.5 hours with 30 minute increments), 3 speed settings, oscillation, and remote control.
4. Window Fans
The final alternative to a ceiling fan for low ceilings on our list is a window fan. As the name suggests, these are installed into your window. They usually have two fans and you can set each fan to blow in different directions depending in the circumstance. You can set both fans so they draw cool air inside, you can set both fans so they blow stale air outside, or you can set them in alternate directions so there is an air exchange.
The great thing about window fans is that they take up hardly any space at all in your room. They are also very efficient when the air outside is cool and you use the intake option. This makes them a good option for cooling your room at night when the outside temperature is lower.
There are a few disadvantages to using window fans. The main problem is that they remove the barrier between your room and the outside world. So smells, noises, pollen (a problem for allergy suferers), etc. will be brought into the room. You also need to consider the fact that having your window open will make it easier for criminals to enter your home. But if these problems won’t affect you, or you can work around them, window fans are a great alternative to ceiling fans for rooms with low ceilings.
The Bionaire BW2300-N is a great option to check out. It’s reasonably priced and has lots of useful features such as reversible blades, a remote control, and programmable thermostat.
Bionaire BW2300-N
The Bionaire BW2300-N has two reversible fans which allow for air intake, extraction, or exchange. Features include 3 speed settings, a thermostat to maintain your prefered comfort level, and remote control.
Last update on 2023-03-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API