( 9 reviews )
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Posted: Aug 2 2009
This item is a real disappointment, at least for my application. I expected much better from the name. It simply does not move any large volume of air with its wimpy plastic blades, although it makes a lot of noise at medium and high speeds. Mine is mounted tightly in a window and is used as a whole-house exhaust fan (a standard window fan will not fit my tall, narrow, crank-open windows). This replaced a 47 year old 20" Toastmaster box fan (which finally died) which would pull the curtains well away from any open windows and created a very definite strong draft throughout my home, and was relatively quiet while doing it. Of course, it had a large-bladed metal fan. This Air King can barely rustle the curtains, creates a minor breeze, and sounds like a turboprop aircraft on a takeoff roll. I live where summers are very brief and uncomfortable heat only lasts two or three weeks so a more elaborate ventilation or cooling system is not justified. I had hoped this fan would be a good replacement for my old one but it has fallen far short and before next summer I will definitely have replaced it with something with metal blades instead of plastic. Perhaps this would be fine for just blowing air around a room but it is a real flop at being a true air mover. I contacted Air King about replacing the plastic fan with a metal one but they stated it definitely was not at all possible. Incidentally, free shipping from Amazon was very timely and I had the item via USPS in a matter of only a few days after ordering. Excellent service from Amazon.
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Posted: Jul 3 2009
I have just recently bought this fan, based on my experience with my old fan that had propeller blades identical to depicted on all published images associated with this fan model. This shape of the propeller (with blades similar to elephant ears) is contributing to higher airflow, at the same RPM, vs. shape of propeller with blade looking like rabbit ears, and which is lately used on majority of inexpensive box fans sold under brand names Lasko or others. To my surprise, the fan that arrived per my order, while having on the box a correct model number and image as on this web page, has propeller identical to less expensive Lasko brand box fans. Lasko 20" Premium Box Fan 3-SPEED In fact, Air King is subsidiary of Lasko, as I discovered while contacting the Air King. In short, this fan went through a typical to current times "cost reduction reengineering" by someone who has no clue about air dynamics of propellers. As a result, the fan is noisier than before because it has to rotate faster, due to the new shape of its propeller blades, to produce a similar airflow, and is no different from all other box fans on the market, but is a twice as much expensive. Do not waste your money. Note that I was told by customer service of the company that, from now on, this fan model will have the same propeller as supplied with Lasko brand fans. The company "didn't have a time" to replace this fan's marketing images. In addition, I found that warranty period on the fan has been reduced from 3 years to just 1 year.
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Posted: May 7 2009
Sure it's heavier duty than run of the mill cheap box fans, but considering the bulkiness of it and the weight which normally accomdates a decent motor **AND THE PRICE** you'd think it would be quieter. See, the smaller the motor the more noise it makes because it's made to work hard, kinda' like a those ear-deafening little motorclyles or bikes that cruise up and down the residential streets using the grass-mower engines; they're trying to do a big work with a little engine, same as this is. The price is too high for what one gets is the bottom line. With shipping it should not cost more than thirty bucks.
