The Best Heavy-Duty Shop Fans for Garages, Worksites and Workshops

With winter gone, the throbbing summer heat makes working inside the workshop dreadful; this, coupled with the fact that the machines in the workshop produce so much heat and noise, means that you need to get a shop fan for the garage. A shop fan or heavy-duty fan, as it is also popularly called, is a high-velocity fan designed for cooling and drying large and enclosed spaces. As seen above, we have reviewed the best shop fans, so you don’t need to worry about heat, stuffiness, and odors from chemicals in your workshop slowing down your productivity. This section will include vital information that will help you with obtaining and maintaining a shop fan. We would also be including everything we think you should know about these high-velocity fans.

What Are the Types of Shop Fans?

There are three common types of shop fans; the type you will select will depend on the space available to you and how easy it will be to move it around.

Floor shop fans

A floor fan is an ideal option for workshops with plenty of free space. These fans can be placed on the floor and directed to the area where they are needed the most. In addition to this, many of them rotate automatically and can be tilt up or down. 

We advise that when you choose a floor fan for your garage, ensure that it features a sturdy stand made of metal. Also, ensure that the fan’s feet are covered with rubber to prevent scratches to the floor.

Wall-mounted shop fans

Wall-mounted shop fans save space. With them, you also wouldn’t need to worry about tripping and falling over the wires. However, moving them around might be daunting since many of them are semi-permanent to permanent use.

Ceiling shop fans

Ceiling shop fans like wall-mounted fans also save floor space and are useful for circulating air throughout the workshop. If you decide to go with a ceiling shop fan, get a professional for the job. Only an expert can determine if your ceiling can withstand the pressure from the blades of the fan. Also, once installed, they cannot be moved around.

How To Select the Best Shop Fan

If you want the best shop fan for your space, your shop fan must tick these boxes.

Power or airflow rating must match your shop’s needs

When choosing a shop fan for your workspace, ensure that the airflow rating of the fan is what your shop needs to stay cool. Since the power rating of fans is measured in Cubic feet per minute (CFM), you should choose a fan with a very high CFM rating. 

Conversely, a low CFM rating will leave your workshop with pockets of hot air.

A durable motor under the hood

The fans motor can only be durable if it is resistant to dust and debris. This is because dust and debris cause overheating of the motor. To prevent dust from getting in, ensure that the motor features a durable casing and check the specifications to see if it is made from durable components.

Easy to assemble and install

The best shop fans should be easy to install. With that said, many of the best shop fans, especially those selected in the review section above, are already preassembled. All you need to do is plug and use. If a shop fan isn’t completely preassembled, make sure you do not need any tool to assemble it. 

Lastly, if you decide to go with wall or ceiling shop fans, ensure the manufacturers include all the necessary components you will need to hang it securely.

Warranty protection

Different manufacturers place warranties on their shop fans, and these warranties cover manufacturing defects, shipping accidents. However, they do not include wears and issues that may arise due to improper use of the shop fan. Therefore, choose shop fans with an extensive warranty period.

If your fan becomes slow to start or even won’t start up at all, you may be able to fix the problem yourself. Watch this video from DIYwithWayne for troubleshooting tips:

Oscillating and tilting

The oscillating or tilting feature is a must-have for all the best shop fans; some shop fans feature both. Oscillating fans are common with floor fans. Many of these fans can do a full 360 degrees rotation. On the other hand, with the tilting feature, you will need to manually position the fan to face upwards or downwards depending on the direction where it is required.

Factors To Consider When Choosing a Shop Fan

Here are key features you have to take into consideration when choosing a shop fan.

Portability

Portability is a condition that needs to be satisfied when it comes to choosing floor shop fans. Although it is impossible to request that these fans be lightweight since they are built using heavy components, they need to be compact enough to sit on a workbench. 

To help with the portability, many manufacturers include handles and wheels on these floor fans, this way; they can be carried or wheeled to areas where they are needed.

Speed

Shop fans with variable speed are the way to go; this way, you can adjust the fan’s speed to your preference. Many of these shop fans come with three variable speeds: low, medium, or high. It is, however, not uncommon to see those with two speeds.

Noise level

The search for a noiseless shop fan is a near-impossible task; this does not mean that you cannot get a good low noise shop fan. Simply choose a fan with a noise level you can tolerate. 

While many users prefer noisy fans that can drown out the noise from machines and other tools, some users prefer a low noise fan. Once you know this, if you want a quiet fan, a blower shop fan might not be the best option for you; we advise you to opt for an air circulating fan instead.

Resistance to dust and debris

Shop fans are constantly exposed to dust and debris; this can cause fans noises or, worse, damage to the fan’s motor. To avoid this, choose shop fans that are manufacturer specified to be resistant to dust and debris attacks.

Cost

The cost of the shop fan will also determine what features you will get and the overall performance of the shop fan. A typical example is seen with basic shop fans that cost less than $60; they have no special features and are not as durable as the larger ones with more power and speed that cost $100.