How to Choose a Fan: Pedestal, Wall, Tower, High Velocity or Evaporative Cooler

A fan is the cheapest way to stay cool in an Australian summer, but the right one depends on the room, how long it runs and how hot and humid it gets. This guide covers pedestal, desk, wall, tower and high velocity fans and evaporative coolers — what each does best, what they cost to run, and the five new Heller models for this summer.

The short answer

New Heller fans this summer

HECS20 20L evaporative air cooler — a 20 litre tank, bigger than the 15 litre HECS15, so it runs longer between refills. 90 W motor, three speeds, normal, natural and sleep modes, rotating louvres, timer, remote and castor wheels to move it from room to room.

HPF40RDC 40cm DC pedestal fan — a 20 W DC brushless motor and seven blades give a soft, quiet breeze. Natural and sleep modes vary the airflow for comfortable nights, the timer switches it off, and there's a digital touch panel plus remote. It stands 120 cm tall.

HVF40B 40cm high velocity fan — five blades on an efficient 40 W motor with a tilting head. Light enough to carry between the garage, home gym and bedroom.

HDRUM40R 40cm drum wall fan — a heavy-duty metal drum, five aluminium blades and a 50 W motor on the wall, run from a remote. Built for workshops, garages, gyms and cafés where a floor fan gets in the way or gets knocked over.

HWF25R 25cm high velocity wall fan — a compact 25 cm head with an 80 W motor and five blades, wide oscillation and a remote. Strong airflow for a small fan: kitchens, laundries, home offices and small gyms.

Fan types explained

Pedestal fans

The all-rounder: height-adjustable, oscillating, easy to move. A 40 cm fan like the PF40W suits a bedroom; step up to 50 cm — the H50PF or HPF50CR with remote — for living areas. The HFF840 does a figure-8 sweep and can also mount on the wall.

Desk and box fans

Personal cooling for a desk, bedside table or small room: the 30cm and 40cm desk fans, the HBOX30 box fan, and the 15cm clip fan that clips onto a shelf or bedhead.

Wall fans

Off the floor and out of the way — good where kids, pets or benches leave no room: the HWF40R and chrome HRWF40C with remotes, the pull-cord HWF40P, and the new HDRUM40R and HWF25R.

Tower fans

Tall and slim, so they fit in corners and look neat in a living room. The HTF85R 87cm tower fan has a 60 W motor, comfort, normal and sleep modes and a remote; the HMTF40 mini tower sits on a desk.

High velocity fans

Built to move a lot of air: garages, workshops, home gyms, big rooms. The new HVF40B is the efficient one at 40 W; the HVF40SG (80 W, aluminium blades), chrome HVF45CH and HVF50B (100 W) push harder.

Evaporative coolers and misting fans

Coolers blow air through water-soaked pads so the air itself comes out cooler: the new HECS20, the HECS15 and the slim HETC3 tower cooler, which also takes ice bricks. The HMF40BR misting fan adds a fine mist to the breeze — best outdoors.

Fan or evaporative cooler?

A fan doesn't lower the temperature — it cools you by moving air across your skin, so it only helps while you're in the breeze. An evaporative cooler lowers the temperature of the air it blows, which helps more on very hot days. The catch is humidity: evaporation works best in dry heat, like a hot northerly day in Melbourne or inland Australia, and much less on sticky, humid days. Three tips: keep a window or door open so moist air can escape, fill with cold water, and choose a bigger tank — the HECS20's 20 litres — if it will run all afternoon.

DC or AC motor?

Most fans use an AC motor. DC brushless motors are typically quieter and use less power. The new HPF40RDC runs on 20 W, against 50 W for a standard 40 cm pedestal fan — a good fit for bedrooms and fans left on for hours. For a desk, the HCDC30 30cm DC fan has 8 speeds on its remote.

What does a fan cost to run?

Very little. At an example rate of 35c per kWh (check your bill for yours), even the most powerful fan here costs a few cents an hour:

Air conditioners draw many times more power than any of these, so a fan on its own — or running alongside air conditioning so you can set the thermostat a few degrees higher — saves money.

Features worth paying for

• Remote control — change speed from bed or the couch.
• Timer — switches off after you fall asleep.
• Sleep and natural modes — vary the breeze so it feels less harsh overnight.
• Oscillation — spreads air across the room; the HPF40RDC sweeps 80°.
• Tilt and height — aim the air where you sit or lie.
• Wall mounting — keeps floors clear in kitchens, laundries and workshops.

Where to put your fan

Point the fan where people are — moving air only cools what it reaches. In the evening, a fan near an open window draws cooler outside air in; with a window open on the other side of the house, you get a cross breeze. In a garage or workshop, aim a high velocity fan across the space rather than straight at the wall.

Warranty and delivery

Every Heller fan carries a 12 month warranty. We deliver Australia-wide from our Derrimut warehouse in Melbourne's west, or choose Pickup at checkout and collect free. Browse the new Heller fans, all fans, or the full Heller range.