Honeywell Comfort Control Tower Fan (3 Speed Settings, Oscillating 110°, Timer Function, Remote Control, Easy to Use Controls) HO-5500

Product Information

A Dyson appliance is an investment; however, the high-tech features, two-year guarantee and ability to reach the corners of large rooms make it worth the extra cost. In addition, the AM07 is light so it can travel around the house with you, and the magnetic remote control sits on the fan exterior, so you always know where it is. You can never bank on getting hot weather in the UK but, when it does come, it can come with a thump. When the mercury rises and the air stays still, it’s almost impossible to escape the humidity and heat, yet – for most of us – air conditioning is overkill. Get hold of a fan, however, and you can get a breeze going inside your home and make the temperature a bit more bearable. Put one in the lounge and you can properly chill out; get one in the bedroom and you might just get some sleep. Because we know there’s nothing like a genuine recommendation from a real parent, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out which tower fans discerning Mumsnet users had bought. Next, we compiled a list of fans they recommended, noting how effective they found them and whether they were particularly good for specific needs.

Honeywell is one of the big players in the world of tower fans, and the HO-5500RE is a good example of why, with a decent design and a powerful blast of air at the top end. Oscillation is the other key feature. Nearly all tower fans oscillate, turning slowly from side to side to cover a larger area, but they differ in how wide the angle of oscillation is. Again, the bigger the space you want to cool, the wider you want it – and you can always turn oscillation off if you just want to keep yourself comfortable. How we test tower fans

If you're looking for a powerful tower fan but don't want to splash out a small fortune, the John Lewis 30-inch Tower Fan is your best bet. Coming in a sleek and unobtrusive design, it'll sit neatly in your living room or bedroom while its 90-degree oscillation angle works a refreshing, cool breeze around the room.

Our biggest gripe is the noise level. It's quite loud on the maximum setting, but thankfully the lowest speed is a lot quieter for a peaceful bedtime. Overall though, we think it's a great value buy. You could say we're big fans . Our fan tests start with a battery of airflow tests, where we measure the speed of the air pushed through the fan at a distance of 1m with an anemometer. We test at maximum and minimum fan speed settings, plus a medium setting in-between. We also measure sound levels at these settings, along with power consumption at the highest and lowest. From there, we use the fan in a selection of different rooms to gauge how effectively they work in different situations and layouts. We also try out any special modes and get to grips with both the built-in controls and the remote control, if supplied. What controls and features should you look for? Air speeds: 10 | Night mode: Yes | Dimensions: 23 x 19 x 107cm | Weight: 2.85kg | Cord length: 1.8m | Wi-Fi connectivity: No | Remote control: Yes | Oscillation angle: Not specified | Power: 56W What we likeThis isn’t the perfect fan for sleepers, as even on its lowest setting it’s far from silent, but it’s fine for cooling down a small living room or taking some heat out of the bedroom before sleep. Looking for maximum cooling for a minimal cost? The Igenix is pretty hard to beat. Size: Tower fans can be as tall as 1.5 metres, which is fantastic if you have a large room but not if you want a fan that will sit neatly and discreetly in the corner of a room. Most tower fans have a small footprint so they won’t take up a lot of floor space. Air speeds: 3 | Night mode: Yes | Dimensions: 19 x 19 x 81.5cm | Weight: 4.6kg | Cord length: Not specified | Wi-Fi connectivity: No | Remote control: Yes | Oscillation angle: 70 degrees | Power: 60W What we like The best tower fan for cooling will look great and create powerful airflow without drowning out the TV. In addition, most are more compact and affordable than the best portable air conditioner or air cooler, and they will make life on hot days much more comfortable. And, while it may seem like summer has only just started, we suggest snapping up a tower fan now before everyone else has the same idea and demand goes through the roof - we're already seeing some models flying off the (virtual) shelves.

We're disappointed that there's no remote control; however, it is lightweight, so it’s easy to move close to where you’re sitting. It also has an optional one-hour timer, which will switch off when the room has been cooled, a valuable feature for use at night. Automatic mode: Some high-spec fans can be programmed to switch on when the room reaches a particular temperature. Key specs – Dimensions: 107 x 30 x 30cm; Weight: 5.7kg; Oscillation angle: 60˚; Cord length: 1.8m; Warranty: 2yr; Power: 45W Desk fans: A desk fan will be small enough to sit on an office desk, bookcase or bedside table. They are usually shaped like a pedestal fan, but some compact tower designs are available. Do tower fans cool better than regular fans? Dyson is an iconic home appliance brand that many Mumsnet users rate highly. The AM07 Cool Tower has a futuristic yet minimal look and is super quiet, even on higher settings. But it doesn’t just look good, it’s a brilliant fan too, especially for families. It has bladeless technology meaning it’s safe if you have curious toddlers crawling around the house as there are no moving blades for fingers to get caught in.

Why you should trust us

It’s compact, lightweight, and has a sturdy carry handle, so it's easy to carry from room to room. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a remote control which is a shame, but its ability to effectively cool all corners of a small space is impressive.