Cooling Fan

Cooling fan products appear in the home in many shapes and forms. They all function to facilitate ventilation and move air from one location to another.

All fans have relatively broad surfaces and flat fins that function against low pressure and use aerodynamic principles to circulate air. This differentiates them from centrifugal air blowers that use constricted air flows to move air in the same forward direction as blade rotation. Regardless of the type of fan being used, always remember to allow enough free area for air to pass behind the fan without obstruction.

Table and Standing Fans

Almost everyone is familiar with these common household fans. They are great for hot days and ventilating stagnant areas. Compact cooling table fans may have either a pedestal or wind tunnel design. Oscillating models help to increase air circulation. Most table fans have variable speed settings, and standing fans are just larger models that move greater air volume.

Entertainment System Fans

Large home entertainment systems with lots of electronics are frequently outfitted with a fan to ventilate the back of the system pier. If you have a component based entertainment system which you've constructed yourself, you can take advantage of specially designed fans which will mount on the back of your shelving system to provide circulation. With today's mix and match ensembles of a TVs, VCRs, DVD players, DVRs, media centers, and game systems, it's important to ensure a cool and safe environment. It's worth a couple of extra bucks to prevent your home from going up in flames, especially when you consider all those crossing cords and power strips.

PC and Notebook Fans

Slot cooling fans can be inserted into your PC and help stabilize system performance, extend system life, increase reliability, and keep your PC tower running cool. They are easy to install in open rear PC slots, and the hum of newer, high-performance fans are minimal in volume. Hard drive fans, computer case fans, and bearing case fans are popular choices with do-it-yourself computer builders in expelling hot air from these systems.

Laptops overheat easier and more frequently that most people realize. This is especially a problem when they are placed on beds, laps, chairs and other surfaces in the home that insulate heat emitted by the laptop or obstruct air circulation underneath it. Notebook pads remedy this.

Most utilize dual fan systems to remove stagnant air and create a cool current of airflow. They can also help to reduce your laptops noise level. Switches are provided to turn fans on and off, and some models incorporate feet that ergonomically lift the laptop for easier typing. Other models provide power to the fans directly from the notebook, eliminating the need for additional cables and adapters.

By Doug Vanisky