A Quiet Fan

[hoyt]

It's summer time and, for me, time for a new fan. I have a 32" Max Air barrel fan on the floor as well as two 24" barrel fans that I have hanging from the walls. They move a lot of air but are very loud and it's just gotten annoying. One of the smaller fans failed, so it's time for at least one new, quiet fan.

So I need some recommendations for some QUIET replacements. I'd even consider just a replacement fan blade from a quieter model if anybody has some suggestions.

 

[cvairwerks]

Not cheap at all, but we just bought probably a truck load of these for work:

https://store.bigassfans.com/en_us/blackjack

With one running at about 85%, you can have a conversation while standing right in front of it and not have to raise your voice. They have some smaller and much less expensive fans and from what I've seen with their products, they are worth the cost.

 

[Bert_]

Furnace fan.

Quiet, moves a lot of air and they are cheap.

Here's the one in my garage. Newer ones are direct drive instead of belt. They can be had for free

 

[nadogail]

Free furnace fans are very adaptable to many uses.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I’ve got 2 of these furnace fans (squirrel cages) but never thought about using them for air movement. Was almost going to scrap them and save the motors. Now I might just build a box around them and use them to keep cool.

 

[rpcraft]

I’ve got 2 of these furnace fans (squirrel cages) but never thought about using them for air movement. Was almost going to scrap them and save the motors. Now I might just build a box around them and use them to keep cool.

They move a lot of air but it is very directionally challenged so you can put a plate, like a 4 way exit register that redirects it in multiple directions. The restriction will actually help speed up the fan some and if you have one that points it 2 or 3 directions it will help move the air "around" some more.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Thanks Rpcraft Great info
Think I’ll add a swivel/turn table for changing direction when needed.

 

[Rusty Fords]

make sure you get a 120VAC fan easier to find power for the 120V ones.
I use one behind my wood stove in the winter pointed upwards. It blows the heat that builds up above the stove and blows across the ceiling, it helps heat the shop up down where it matters quickly 1/2 hour I'm in a t shirt working on the old trucks.

 

[hoyt]

Not cheap at all, but we just bought probably a truck load of these for work:

https://store.bigassfans.com/en_us/blackjack

Not cheap is correct -- $5,900.00.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I don't care for the furnace fans. Every one I have seen or the one I had was too loud. It was annoying to me.

Last year after my 20" box fan died, I bought a fan at Menard's. Surely made by somebody else.

https://www.menards.com/main/heatin...de-14-floor-fan/hv-14d-mf/p-1533564536611.htm

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Unfortunately, the best way to make a fan that is quiet and moves a lot of air is to go with a large diameter blade, turning at a low RPM. Big *** Fans do this very well.

Tommy

 

[SouthLake]

you could try slowing them down with speed controllers if you know the motor type. I was just helped in a recent thread to slow down / quiet down my shop fan.

in this post i listed two controllers that worked for me.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8569421&postcount=28

 

[lowbucktruck]

Same problem here, Hoyt... looking to upgrade my garage fans. Trying to find a decent quality wall-mount vent fan (with shutters) to move the hot air out of the garage. Fan volume = noise, it seems.

 

[PelicanPines]

You can hire some people to wave large leaf palms... expenses are variable... as is the fan speed.

 

[XJSuperman]

Ive found that unless you spend a fortune on a new fan, its gonna be noisy and feel cheap. Older fans seem to be better built, balanced, and much much quieter. Dad has an old fan mounted on a semi truck brake drum that doesn't make a peep when its running no matter what speed setting its on. A friend collects old tabletop fans and they are all silent, regardless of whether he has restored them or not.

But then I go down to the big box store or hardware store and buy a fan and it sounds like I'm listening to a blender running.