Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This review is for: Lasko 3720 20" Box Fan How on earth do you choose a box fan? Well really they mostly choose us don't they, we choose the first box we see. The product descriptions aren't much help, they mostly all say they are quiet, powerful, low cost to operate, etc. Are they really all that different from each other? When looking for a replacement fan I found 2 of our fans were recalled in 2005 for fire hazard, so now I am replacing 3 fans. I guess in-plug mini-fuses became universal for a reason. Let's get started... The 20" box fans we'll compare are: A - Aerospeed BX100 B - Holmes HBF2002A C - Kenmore 32002 D - Lasko 3720 E - Lasko 3721 F - Lasko 3723 G - Lasko 3733 H - Lasko B20201 DESIGN AND DETAILS: --------------------- All have white fans and grills, gray enclosures, 245-260 square inch areas the blades pass through, and 70"-73" cords. A - Aerospeed BX100 - Wavy grill (BX200/BX400 have other grills). - Fan speed dial is on TOP. - Little smaller enclosure (you wouldn't notice unless side-by-side), though the blades pass through an area near to the highest square inches of the bunch. - The in-plug mini-fuse is easily replaceable if it blows. B - Holmes HBF2002A (Target) - Simple grid grill, blades have circle connecting them. - Fan speed dial and plug connection are on the MIDDLE OF THE BACK. This is not ideal if bringing air into the house from a window and not an attractive option when exhausting out. - The in-plug mini-fuse is easily replaceable if it blows. - Looks exactly like the Kenmore 32002. - NEGATIVE: At top speed it vibrates like crazy, enough to move itself. C - Kenmore 32002 (Sears/Kmart) - Simple grid grill, blades have circle connecting them. - Fan speed dial and plug connection are on the MIDDLE OF THE BACK. This is not ideal if bringing air into the house from a window and not an attractive option when exhausting out. - The in-plug mini-fuse is easily replaceable if it blows. - Looks exactly like Holmes HBF2002A. D - Lasko 3720 - Circular grill, blue logo on the front, blue speed dial. - Fan speed dial is on TOP. - Lasko promotes this as their fan of choice to PUT IN A WINDOW because it is more RAIN RESISTANT (not weatherproof). - All Lasko in-plug mini-fuses are not replaceable. - This is a wider (4 3/4") and thus fairly STABLE fan enclosure compared to some of their models. - Should be mostly the same as 3721, except this has the blue logo. E - Lasko 3721 - Circular grill, blue speed dial. - Fan speed dial is on TOP. - Lasko promotes this as their fan of choice to PUT IN A WINDOW because it is more RAIN RESISTANT (not weatherproof). - All Lasko in-plug mini-fuses are not replaceable. - This is a wider (4 3/4") and thus fairly STABLE fan enclosure compared to some of their models. - Should be mostly the same as 3720, except no blue logo. F - Lasko 3723 - Circular grill, blue speed dial. - Fan speed dial is on TOP. - Although it physically LOOKS LIKE one, this is NOT one of the rain resistant ones like the 3270/3721 (larger size, blue dial, etc.). - All Lasko in-plug mini-fuses are not replaceable. - This is a wider (4 3/4") and thus fairly STABLE fan enclosure compared to some of their models. - LOOKS just like the 3721, larger enclosure and no blue logo. But again not a rain resistant model. - NEGATIVE: Rattles a little at all speeds G - Lasko 3733 - Simple grid grill. - Fan speed dial is on TOP. - All Lasko in-plug mini-fuses are not replaceable. - NEGATIVE: Shakes a lot at settings 2&3. - NEGATIVE: Listeners thought the hum tone was more annoying than the others. H - Lasko B20201 - Simple grid grill. - Fan speed dial is on TOP. - All Lasko in-plug mini-fuses are not replaceable. - NEGATIVE: LOUD at highest setting, listeners thought annoyingly so. - NEGATIVE: Little more of an airplane hum/whine sound. "(yelling over a fan) THEY SAY THEY ARE ALL QUIET!" aka NOISE: ----------- First some things that may help you get more out of this section on noise.. - It takes +10dBA to be perceived as a doubling in LOUDNESS. - It takes just under +6dBA (5.85dBA) to be perceived as 50% (half-again) LOUDER. - It takes just over +3dBA (3.22dBA) to be perceived as 25% (quarter-again) LOUDER. (Note: When you read that +3dBA roughly doubles "sound pressure" that's different than perceived loudness) Most sounds 50dbA on up have more of a potential to annoy, for example when while trying to talk, and especially starting at 55dbA (highly subjective, but gives you an idea). Okay, now onto the comparison.. SUBJECTIVELY listeners liked the WHOOSH of air sound much more than that of the HUM of a rotating object. I noted next to the fan descriptions above which ones listeners felt had a sound they didn't like as much, regardless of loudness. (A) Setting.....2' away.....5' away....10' away 1.............48dBA.......45dBA.......43dBA 2.............55dBA.......52dBA.......49dBA 3.............64dBA.......60dBA.......57dBA (B) Setting.....2' away.....5' away....10' away 1.............59dBA.......55dBA.......52dBA 2.............63dBA.......60dBA.......57dBA 3.............66dBA.......63dBA.......60dBA (C) Setting.....2' away.....5' away....10' away 1.............58dBA.......54dBA.......51dBA 2.............62dBA.......60dBA.......56dBA 3.............66dBA.......63dBA.......60dBA (D) Setting.....2' away.....5' away....10' away 1.............55dBA.......51dBA.......48dBA 2.............62dBA.......58dBA.......55dBA 3.............66dBA.......63dBA.......60dBA (E) Setting.....2' away.....5' away....10' away 1.............55dBA.......51dBA.......48dBA 2.............62dBA.......59dBA.......56dBA 3.............68dBA.......65dBA.......62dBA (F) Setting.....2' away.....5' away....10' away 1.............56dBA.......51dBA.......49dBA 2.............62dBA.......58dBA.......56dBA 3.............67dBA.......63dBA.......61dBA (G) Setting.....2' away.....5' away....10' away 1.............60dBA.......55dBA.......52dBA 2.............66dBA.......62dBA.......59dBA 3.............70dBA.......66dBA.......63dBA (H) Setting.....2' away.....5' away....10' away 1.............63dBA.......59dBA.......57dBA 2.............68dBA.......64dBA.......61dBA 3.............71dBA.......67dBA.......65dBA POWER USAGE: -------------- We see below that the difference in yearly electrical cost is fairly small, and of course much less than air conditioning. If a little additional on-going expense for a fan makes this much less costly alternative to air conditioning more palatable, then that's probably a good investment. However, being green is an important factor for some folks, so here below is a comparison in electricity usage I measured. (A) Setting.....Watts.....Annual Cost 12hrs/d 90d/yr 10cents/kWH 1.............45W......$4.90 2.............55W......$5.90 3.............68W......$7.30 (B) Setting.....Watts.....Annual Cost 12hrs/d 90d/yr 10cents/kWH 1.............52W......$5.60 2.............61W......$6.60 3.............70W......$7.60 (C) Setting.....Watts.....Annual Cost 12hrs/d 90d/yr 10cents/kWH 1.............49W......$5.30 2.............60W......$6.50 3.............68W......$7.30 (D) Setting.....Watts.....Annual Cost 12hrs/d 90d/yr 10cents/kWH 1.............74W......$8.10 2.............92W......$9.90 3............110W.....$11.90 (E) Setting.....Watts.....Annual Cost 12hrs/d 90d/yr 10cents/kWH 1.............74W......$8.10 2.............95W.....$10.30 3............111W.....$12.00 (F) Setting.....Watts.....Annual Cost 12hrs/d 90d/yr 10cents/kWH 1.............71W......$7.70 2.............90W......$9.70 3............105W.....$11.30 (G) Setting.....Watts.....Annual Cost 12hrs/d 90d/yr 10cents/kWH 1.............58W......$6.30 2.............67W......$7.20 3.............84W......$9.10 (H) Setting.....Watts.....Annual Cost 12hrs/d 90d/yr 10cents/kWH 1.............60W......$6.50 2.............66W......$7.10 3.............83W......$9.00 AIR VELOCITY: -------------- The 5' and 10' were measured straight ahead from fans. The fan surface measurement was done roughly 1/2 way up the fan blades right against the grill. On fan surface air velocity half-way up a blade at one point is, of course, just a sample point, and air velocity at a distance can be greatly affected by the degree of focus/dispersal. Nevertheless, I hope this air velocity info helps us get a better sense for the differences between the fans. (A) Setting.....Fan_Surface.....5' away....10' away 1................5.7mph......2.3mph......1.6mph 2................7.1mph......3.1mph......2.1mph 3...............10.6mph......4.6mph......2.6mph (B) Setting.....Fan_Surface.....5' away....10' away 1................7.7mph......3.2mph......1.6mph 2................9.5mph......3.9mph......2.0mph 3...............11.2mph......4.2mph......2.1mph (C) Setting.....Fan_Surface.....5' away....10' away 1................7.7mph......3.6mph......2.1mph 2................9.8mph......4.6mph......2.6mph 3...............10.4mph......5.2mph......2.9mph (D) Setting.....Fan_Surface.....5' away....10' away 1................8.0mph......3.1mph......2.4mph 2...............10.6mph......4.6mph......2.7mph 3...............13.1mph......5.0mph......2.9mph (E) Setting.....Fan_Surface.....5' away....10' away 1................7.8mph......3.6mph......2.0mph 2...............10.5mph......4.5mph......2.6mph 3...............13.2mph......6.2mph......3.0mph (F) Setting.....Fan_Surface.....5' away....10' away 1................8.2mph......2.8mph......1.9mph 2...............10.6mph......4.1mph......2.6mph 3...............12.6mph......5.0mph......3.4mph (G) Setting.....Fan_Surface.....5' away....10' away 1................6.8mph......3.0mph......1.6mph 2................8.9mph......3.7mph......2.0mph 3...............10.9mph......4.6mph......3.5mph (H) Setting.....Fan_Surface.....5' away....10' away 1................9.4mph......2.9mph......2.3mph 2...............11.6mph......4.6mph......3.2mph 3...............13.3mph......4.9mph......3.9mph SELECTING A FAN: ------------------ I removed these fans for excessive shaking, rattling, noise, and/or hum/whine: (B)Holmes,(F)3723,(G)3733,(H)B20201. I then removed one fan for the center placement of dial and plug connection due to non-ideal position for window placement: (C)Kenmore. This leaves these to choose from: (A) Aerospeed BX100 (D) Lasko 3720 (E) Lasko 3721 Some other little Aerospeed BX100 (Fan A) comparative details: - Option of lowest air velocity and noise would be of interest if someone will be very near. - Replaceable in-plug fuse in case it blows, the Lasko ones aren't replaceable. - Classic all-white front if you prefer that (like 3721 but not like 3720 with its blue logo). - The option of a little quieter at the very low end of the loudness range. - Lower electricity usage. Lasko 3720 and 3721 (Fans D&E) for their part give the option of a little more air velocity at the very high end of the velocity range. The Lasko 3720 and 3721 also look a bit different than the Aerospeed BX100, so looks may be another deciding factor for you. Note that for any given loudness or air velocity they overlap in, these models have very similar sound/velocity profiles. That is, when comparing points where air velocities are roughly equal for the fans (at the same distances), the loudness difference is so small I can hardly tell which is louder and the numbers support that. So there it is, my favorite three and some ways to compare them. SUMMARY: ---------- In the end these are just classic 20" box fans which are more similar than they are different. Hopefully whichever you choose won't be a lemon and will work for many years. Perhaps somewhere above you'll find information you can use to choose the best fan to meet your needs. Whatever you get, if it rattles, shakes like crazy, makes an annoying hum, etc., try exchanging it for another, don't settle, there are less annoying fans out there and you'll be listening to them for many years to come. I hope this helps someone :). SHOPPING NOTE: ---------------- Millions of 20" box fans are sold in the U.S. every year. Review sites cannot get anywhere near a statistically valid user sample, so although we learn from comments about DEFECTS and EARLY FAILURE, I suggest not filtering out a model based entirely on them. There are also old reviews that have already been acted on by manufacturers to improve the product or fix a description, thus the review may no longer be accurate. That said, defect and early failure comments with details are great for FEEDBACK TO THE MANUFACTURER (or author) and to help us all much more quickly SPOT SIMILAR ISSUES and thus get an exchange while it is quick and easy to do. Again though, I wouldn't use them to filter out a model entirely.