Best Oscillating Fans for Your Grow Room

Each of the several broad categories of fans is designed for a particular use. Therefore, you should define your needs before trying to choose a fan for your grow room.

Unlike inline fans, oscillating fans turn back and forth, slowly changing the direction of airflow in a growing room. This helps to move cool air around.

The choice of the best rotating fans isn’t easy. You will most probably come across cheaply made models that have a very short lifespan.

Our main objective today is to help you choose a design that will be almost ideal for your growing environment.

Choosing an Oscillating Fan:

Finding a Reliable Oscillating Fans for Your Grow Room

Global Industrial Oscillating Wall Fan

This uniquely made industrial grade fan provides dependable, safe, out of the way operation for an indoor garden with limited floor space.

This fan has a highly efficient motor that is permanently lubricated as well as enclosed for long-lasting durability.

The unit features well-balanced metal blades for optimum air distribution in your growing environment. The blades are enclosed in steel wire guards for safety.

The fan head allows pivot action for tilt angle adjustment. The tilting head allows for ninety-degree oscillating operation, using the safety clutch oscillating mechanism.

It also features a pull chain control and a sufficiently long conductor power cord that is highly maneuverable.

The unit features three-speed settings (high, medium, and low), which not only help to eliminate still air, but also improve transpiration rates.

Things We Like:

• The permanently lubricated motor is long lasting
• Three different speed settings for optimum airflow
• Well-balanced metal blades allow for optimal air distribution
• Ninety-degree oscillation ensures superior air movement
• Very easy to install the wall

Things We Didn’t Like:

• Maybe louder than usual

Lorell LLR49256 Oscillating Fan

The Lorell Oscillating Fan is a suitable choice for indoor gardening as well as grow spaces where larger fanning units just won’t fit.

It comes with a convenient installation that mounts effortlessly on the wall. It will hold firmly and will not scratch surfaces or slide around.

It has one pull chain switch, an adjustable tilt head, and three-speed settings. The variable speeds allow for easy elimination of stagnant air.

The lightweight, sturdy exterior mesh ensures the fan blades, as well as the surroundings, are protected from damage. High-quality parts are durable.

The fan blades are also uniquely angled to provide sufficient airflow with low, medium, and high settings, keeping your plants cooler and comfortable. ETL and CETL approved parts are safe for both you and your plants.

Things We Like:

• Uniquely angled blades offer sufficient airflow
• The fully adjustable and oscillating head allows for wide coverage
• Variable speed settings eliminate stagnant air
• Durable blade guards protect the surroundings and blades from damage
• Front mounted control knob is super easy to navigate

Things We Didn’t Like:

• The oscillating chain may fail to work

Hurricane Super 8 Oscillating Fan

The Hurricane Super 8 Oscillating Fan is engineered for performance. It comes with a heavy-duty body that features durable parts.

This fan gets its Super 8 name by the ability to oscillate in a figure eight pattern. You can also run it back and forth or up and down motion.

The figure eight motion covers more volume in your grow tent. This motion can effectively move air near the base of the plants and above the plants’ canopy.

This model has a push button, an LED display, and includes a remote control (which works universally with all Hurricane models).

The model comes with three-speed settings as well as three oscillation settings. These settings help to eliminate stagnant air and improve plant transpiration rates.

This unit also has an exclusive natural wind feature, which increases and decreases air flow. This mimics natural wind patterns.

Things We Like:

• Figure 8 motions cover a larger growing space
• Features back and forth and up and down motions
• Variable speed and oscillation settings eliminate stagnant air
• The memory function allows you to use timers and power backup
• Durable blade design won’t break easily
• ETL listed parts are safer

Things We Didn’t Like:

• It is not entirely quiet, even in the low-speed setting

Air King Commercial Grade Oscillating Fan

If you are searching for a versatile fan for all your grow room needs, look no further than the Air King Commercial Grade Oscillating Fan.

Three powerful speed settings make this unit perfect for your growing space or anywhere else you may need a high performing unit.

The split capacitor motor is permanently lubricated for durability. The front grill has superior impact resistance, and the polypropylene blades are chemical resistant.

The pivoting head allows for ninety-degree oscillation. This ensures air is effectively moved at the base as well as above the plants’ canopy.

The front mounted control knob is easy to navigate with its clearly labeled speed settings. The cord is generously long at 7 feet.

Simple and easy assembly means you will have the unit installed in your grow room in no time. You only need two screws to successfully mount it on the wall.

Things We Like:

• Variable speed settings help improve plant transpiration rates
• Permanently lubricated capacitor motor is highly durable
• Ninety-degree oscillation improves air circulation at the base and above the canopy
• Easy assembly requires only two screws
• 7-foot long power cord improves maneuverability

Things We Didn’t Like:

• A little bit louder than usual on all speed settings

Hydrofarm Active Air Oscillating Fan

This is easy to mount active air unit is designed to help keep your grow room and leaf temperatures optimal.

It comes with an industrial strength construction with thoughtful design touches. Front-mounted controls area is super easy to navigate.

The compact design is wall-mountable, saving space. It delivers the same cooling power as bigger industrial models without excessive vibration.

This unit is driven by a powerful motor that comes with three different speed settings. The motor is capable of delivering up to 3000 CFM.

It has a quiet and smooth operation. It is equipped with two pull chains, which allow for super easy adjustment of direction and speed.

This unit comes with heavy-duty blade guards that keep you safe from the fast moving parts. It also comes with a six-foot cord for superior maneuverability.

Things We Like:

• Ninety-degree oscillation for superior coverage
• Wall mountable design is space saving and easy to install
• Two pull chains for easy speed and direction adjustment
• Variable speed settings eliminate stagnant air and improve transpiration
• Help prevent grow room air stratification
• The six-foot power cord is extremely maneuverable and easy to install

Things We Didn’t Like:

• May receive a defective model

What to Look For in the Best Oscillating Fan

There is no reliable grading system for fan efficiency when trying to choose the best model. However, we have uncovered a few tips that will help with your selection.

Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM)

This refers to the airflow rate, which is the volume of air the fan delivers in a given time. Visualize one cubic foot as a block of air measuring one foot by one foot by one foot.

Almost all manufacturers supply a cubic foot per minute rating, showing the volume of air the fan will push per minute.

A larger number indicates more air movement in your growing environment. However, small differences don’t interfere with airspeed.

CFM can also be used to determine the efficiency of the fan. Theoretically, CFM divided by watts gives an efficiency index.

The higher the index, the more efficient the fan is in using energy. Other manufacturers may argue that the efficiency index is of little importance.

You should also know that oscillating fans that deliver the highest air movement tend to be noisy. But this is normally wind noise and nothing to worry about.

Size

Oscillating fan size may range from as small as 6 inches to more than 20 inches. The size is usually determined by how large the blades are by design.

Most ideal size for a grow room should range from ten to twenty inches. Blades of such sizes can drive sufficient air in the grow room.

We recommend a 16-inch, 18-inch, or 20-inch for most normal size indoor gardens. However, you can opt for a larger rotating fan, if your growing space is larger.

It is also worth mentioning that the blade size determines how big the fan is, but the number of blades is no indication of its quality or performance.

According to our analysis, a three-bladed model can move more air than a five-bladed model, depending on the size and pitch of the props.

Speed Settings

It is advisable to choose a fan with variable speed settings. This helps to effectively control how the air is moved in your growing environment.

The most popular models are equipped with three speed settings: low, medium, and high. You can adjust the speed conveniently.

Variable speed controls help to eliminate any stagnant air in the room, thus improving the transpiration rate of your plants.

Apart from the front mounted control knob, you can opt for a model that comes with a pull chain control for easy adjustment.

Tilting and Adjustable Head

The convenience of controlling the oscillation is of utmost importance. An ordinary oscillating fan will just rotate from left to right, but an advanced design allows you to modify the oscillation.

Consider a unit that has a tilting head (can move up and down). This enables you to mount the fan facing downwards or upwards conveniently, depending on where you want the air to be directed.

Some models are engineered to oscillate in a unique figure eight motion. This kind of oscillation maximizes air movement in the grows room in all directions.

You can also opt for a model that can be locked into a specific position. This will conveniently allow you to direct air to one specific direction at a given time.

Mounting Options

This may as well be one of the most important factors when shopping for a quality oscillating fan for grow room.

There are two major types of mounting or installation options you can consider: standing and wall mounted.

A standing rotating fan is ideal for a grow room with sufficient flow space to spare. However, a standing model can tip over and damage the head or even your plants.

Also, most standing designs are not very sturdy. Repeated contact with the fan may deteriorate the structural integrity of the stand.

The most desirable option for most growing rooms is a wall mounted oscillating fan. You will not have to worry about floor space.

Wall mounted units are also very sturdy. They sit above the plants’ canopy, providing a wider coverage.

Remote Control

Apart from the control knob and pull chain control, you can choose a model with remote control. This allows you to change mode and speed easily without having to use the knob.

Some manufacturers, such as Hurricane, engineer remotes that can be used universally to control more than one fan in the same growing space.

Safety Features

We recommend you to choose oscillating fans that are ETL listed and CETL approved. Such models come with safer parts that will not expose you to any danger during use.

Final Words

The aforementioned products are our top five oscillating fans for growing rooms. However, you can choose a separate model that’s more appealing to you.

When shopping for a high performing model, consider a fan that has a head that can oscillate as well as tilt upwards and downwards.

The size of the blades depends on the amount of air movement you need in the grow space. A 16-inch, 18-inch, or 20-inch size is sufficient for most grow rooms.

Consider a model with variable speed settings, three to be precise. This will help to effectively eliminate stagnant air and enhance transpiration rates of your plants.

For easy and convenient operation, we recommend a model that comes with remote control.