Having a fan in your home is very important for the summer months. The fan is useful because it’s perfect for circulating air. Even if you have an effective air conditioner, the fan will be necessary so that the cold air can move around your home. There are a lot of different kinds of fans and materials that you can choose from. Two of the most popular fan choices include metal blades and plastic blades, both of which make choosing a fan a little harder. Here’s more information about the differences between metal and plastic fans.
Are Metal Fans Better Than Plastic?
Metal fans are better than plastic fans environments that have extrememe temerparatures and are more industrial. Plastic fans are better than metal fans for smaller applications and in the home. This is due to their malleability during manufacture, they wear and tear less, they’re more lightweight and put less pressure on the motor, and they’re queter due to less vibrations than a metal fan.
A metal fan isn’t cooler than a plastic fan. In terms of a fans ability to cool down a person, this depends on the fans diameter, fan speed and the number of rotations. So, irrespective of blade material, one is not going to give you cooler air or warmer air than the other. The coolness is usually correlated to the price of the fan if you’re looking for an easy way to judge – that’s if you’re looking for a typical home fan.
Metal Fan Blades vs Plastic
Comercial fans for industrial uses are usually made out of aluminum, metal or plastic. When your fan becomes old and worn down, a replacement one can usually be purchased separately. Another reason why you’d consider getting your fan blades replaced is if the motor of your current fan is damaged.
Metal and plastic fans have many similar characteristics and the ones you prefer depends on your need them for. In terms of what they all have in common, they’re lightweight although the size of the fan increases depending on its use, they last a very long time, so depending on what your needs are, you can look at the differences these materials have and make your decision from there.
If you’re not sure which type of fan material you’d consider buying, you need to consider the type of environment that the fan will be working in as well as the static pressure needed. If the air the found will be in is around air with highly corrosive elements, then the amount of wear and wear on those fan blades will be a lot higher than if it was just in a normal home environment. Some environments contain moister, saltwaer and even ice if you’re considering replacing the fans in your refrigerator. Another factor that you should factor is the temperature that fans will remain in. There extreme hot or cold temperatures that could impact the fan blades.
No one type of fan blade is better than the other. It’s often more about what you need in your home and what the fan needs to address. Sometimes the position matters or you might want to consider the environment where you live. Because of all these factors, it’s a good thing to look at both kinds of fans and know about them before you select them. Although there are wood fan blades, most popularly chosen are metal and plastic fan blades. Here’s more information about those two types of fan blades so you can know about them before you select one.
Metal
First you should know that metal is a great option. A high-quality Metal fan (view on Amazon) is best for large spaces and if the fan is high above the floor. They’re supposed to be good for outdoor damp and outdoor wet applications. Also if you’re having a metal ceiling fan then they’re usually hung at 10 inches or higher above the ground. Metal is a popular choice with oscillating ceiling wall and portable fans. For safety purposes if they’re within reach of anyone, they should be equipped with a protective cage. The only downside to having a metal fan is that if you’re anywhere near the ocean, they will rust. Even if you buy a marine grade version that is supposed to be less susceptible to his rust, it will eventually rust. Many people who live in marine environments know this and they select a plastic blade instead.
Metal blade ceiling fans are among the most durable. They cut through the air with little resistance, providing strong airflow. This makes them ideal for use in larger areas where you may have higher than normal ceiling heights, however, it also means they can be noisier, so typically not recommended for bedroom areas.
Ceiling fans with metal blades tend to have more weight, so typically require a stronger motor to push the blades to ideal capacity. One of the downsides to metal fan blades is that they typically do not wear well in outdoor, coastal or areas with too much moisture in the air as they will eventually rust. You might still consider metal blades for these areas, opting for something like stainless steel.
Metal Fan Properties
If you’re considering a metal fan, they typically have diameters that range from 2 inches to 48 inches. Metal fans are used in larger fan systems and usually they’re accompanied with 3 to 10 other fan blades depending on the fan system you’re using it for.
Metal fan blades can undergo extreme temperatures so if the environment you’re putting them in is not the usual, then you should consider them. Metal fan blades can come with finish which is usually a coating of zinc and silicon. This is done for a protective finish touch as well as an aesthetic look. Depending on the environment, the finish can begin to chip and peel away from the blades due to wear and tear. Once this has come up, corrosion will start to occur to the metal underneath.
Metal fan blades are more common in industrial environments due to it’s stronger properties. Although they’re usually painted with a finish, the metal fan blades are still suseptable to rust, corrosion from corrosive materials. Due to the weight, the metal and the high speeds that these blades will spin at, they usually create more noise due to vibrations.
In conclusion, metal blades are more appropriate for larger fans, they can handle more airflow and higher static pressures, and they can be used in extreme temperatures due to their properties. However, they can be subdue to corrosion, they create a lot of noise due to vibration, and they have a harder time balancing.
Plastic
Nowadays, plastic fans are commonly used in homes and they’re usually made of an ABS polymer. Due to their properties, they can be easily molded into shape which means they’re easier to make for the masses due to the amount of designs they can be made into. They’re also lightweight which means they’re easier to install inside the home and the motor capacity doesn’t need to be as high. They’re easier to clean unlike metal blades and they keep their original look for a lot longer.
An ABS high quality plastic fan (view on Amazon) is a popular fan option because it’s easy and inexpensive to manufacture. They can be molded into any shape and it can even be finished to look like real wood. ABS fans work good inside and outside. They are known to be a little less powerful than the metal however that can be remedied with having more fan blades. Oftentimes people enjoy the versatile look of the plastic fans and with more fan blades, you probably won’t even notice that it’s weaker than a metal fan. It’s also quieter than a metal fan and that’s a plus that many people enjoy. If you think that you would be okay with a plastic fan, that’s definitely something you should buy because they’re usually a little bit cheaper than metal fans.
Plastic Fan Properties
Plastic fans are commonly made with ABS polymers as well as composite plastic resings. Their diameter typically ranges from as low as 2 1/2 inches to 8 inches which the blade range average from 4 to 6. They’re also more appropriate for low static pressure applications compared to metal fans.
Like metal fan blades, plastic blades can be colored for aesthetic reasons or to provide additional protection like UV and corrosion resistance just to increase it’s lifespan. Rather than the color being painted on, it’s usually intergrades through the entire plastic which means that there’s less fading and wear to it. When it comes to larger fan blades, more additives, more additives need to be added to make it more stiff for variable static pressure applications.
In conclusion, plastic fans are less corrosive, they provide the best airflow, they’re quest and lightweight, the wear down less, and the motor doesn’t suffer as much as metal fans. However, they’re not suitable for high static pressure, they can’t be used in extreme temperatures and they’re more appropriate for smaller enviroments.
How to Pick Out a Fan for Your Home
Before you decide on the material that you’re selecting for your fan, you’re probably wondering what you should look for in a fan at all. Like any other product, not all fans are the same when it comes to all the different features that they have available. With so many options to choose from, you can have a very versatile fan in your home. Here are some things you should consider when you’re picking out a fan.
First you want to consider finding a fan that has an adjustable base so that you can change the height to suit your needs. An adjustable fan head would also be great so that you can angle the fan in any direction. If the fan stays in one place, then you won’t have the flexibility to change the direction of the air which would make it hard to keep you cool and comfortable. You also want to pick up a fan that has adjustable speed so that you can change whether you need a gentle breeze or a rapid gust of air.
If you are going to upgrade your current fans, don’t assume that any type of ceiling fan blade can be installed on any fan. Some manufacturers only supply blades to those with existing fan blades that show signs of wear. Make sure that the blades you’re choosing are designed to fit your needs. Due to the lightweight, plastic blades are easier to install and they put less pressure on the motors when they’re spinning at high speed. The heavier the fan blades that are installed onto the motor, the more pressure it’s put under which means it’s lifespan is going to be a lot shorter than intended.
You also might want to consider a unit that has an oscillating fan head, which is a good choice for most spaces. These fans move side-to-side keeping the airflow consistent so that it can make your room more comfortable. You might also want to consider a floor fan that has a remote control feature so that you don’t have to get up and make the necessary adjustments. The remote includes the option to change the fan speed and direction, and it should also have an automatic shut-off feature so that you don’t have to get up to turn off the fan.
Some fans come with an ultrasonic humidifier that sends tiny droplets of water into the air, which would make your air a lot cooler. If you have dry summer months, this would be a perfect option for you And you’re home.
You also might want to consider the size of the space you’re cooling because you might not need a massive fan. Tall column fans look great and work well in small rooms because it can be placed in a corner. A box floor fan isn’t often chosen since these fans only place the air in one direction or angle. This doesn’t mean that they don’t work well. It’s just that you might not need this type of stationary fan in your space.
Lastly, you might want to consider the CFM of the fan you’re interested in. This stands for cubic feet per minute. This measurement determines how much time it takes for the fan to circulate through the entire room. There are a bunch of online calculators that can help you determine the right CFM for your room but you can have an estimate of how many minutes it will take to travel through your room by dividing the cubic foot number of your room by the CFM of your fan. The greater CFM, the more your fan will move.
These are all factors that you want to keep in mind when you’re picking out a fan. Fans can be very expensive, so you want to ensure that you’re getting the fan that you need. Besides all these factors, you also need to consider the material of the blades. Blades are commonly metal or plastic in it can be hard to choose between the two. Here’s more information about that.
Best Plastic and Metal Fan
Costway Metal Pedestal Fan
This is one of the best metal pedestal fans. It has five stars and it’s a great option for your home. It’s a high-velocity fan that’s made of high-quality metal. It’s durable and wear resistant. Since it’s a powerful metal fan, it’s meant to quickly cool down a room. There are 3 speeds that you can choose from according to the temperature or situation that you’re in. It also has an adjustable height so that you can speed up air circulation and air cooling. The height of the fan can be put low so that you can feel it whether you’re standing, sitting or lying down. Luckily it’s easy to assemble and very quiet compared to many other metal fans. Maintenance is easy since all you need to do is wipe it with a cloth. If this sounds like something that you need, it’s definitely worth the try.
Honeywell TurboForce Floor Fan
This is a great plastic fan option that’s perfect for the table or the floor. It has 3 speeds and a 90-degree pivoting head so that you can get the air that you need the angle that you need it. It’s compact and quiet so you don’t have to worry about it being too much in the space that you put it in. It can increase your comfort and you can feel the air from 27 feet away. If you aren’t interested in this one, then the company has a variety of fans that can help meet your needs.
Now that you understand what you should look for in a fan, you can choose which kind you want. Choosing the height and size is very important but you also want to consider choosing metal or plastic fan blades depending on what you want. No fan type is better than the other because all it has to do is be good enough to meet your needs.
