What Is Sweep in Pedestal Fans?

What Is Sweep in Pedestal Fans?  

When you’re looking at oscillating pedestal fans, there are a lot of things you might want to consider. How tall is the fan? How well does it cool a space? How loud is it? How much does it cost? While you’re weighing those considerations, it’s also important to know about the metrics of the fan. There are plenty of ways to measure how any fan might work, and a term that frequently appears is “sweep.” What does the sweep refer to in regards to pedestal fans? Learning that answer can help you get the right device and understand why it’s appropriate for your usage. 

A Quick Definition

Sweep is a term used to identify the size of the fan blades. Basically, the fans are arranged in a circular design. The sweep refers to the diameter of the circle of that design. The blades will almost be half of that diameter each. So, the sweep helps you consider the volume of air that can be moved by the fan. Although, the air volume is also determined by the shape of the blades and the rotations per minute. Still, sweep is one of the fundamental specs to consider when looking at pedestal fans. 

How Much Sweep Do You Need?

On something like a ceiling fan, the sweep provides enough information to choose the item. That’s because ceiling fans are more standardized in how they operate. You won’t see radically different motor speeds or powers among ceiling fans, and the number of blades and surface area on a ceiling fan tends to cover a smaller range. Pedestal fans come in greater variety, so sweep alone is usually not enough information. Instead, it’s typically better to consider the volume of air the fan can use each minute — usually measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM).

It’s pretty obvious, but more powerful fans will be rated for higher CFM, and that means they can cool or vent a space better. As a generalized rule, you want your fan to be able to circulate the entire volume of air in a room every five minutes. As an example, a 400 CFM fan would be great for a room that has a volume of 2,000 cubic feet. For large industrial spaces, each fan will only be able to service a section of the room, but you can still think in terms of CFM.

Ultimately, if you’re struggling to find a fan that can meet your demands, sorting by sweep can help you get to higher CFM designs.

While you’re shopping around, consider looking at an Airmaster Industrial Oscillating Pedestal Fan. They are high-quality fans that can move a lot of air and do a lot of work. When you’re looking to cool and vent large spaces, these are fans that can get the job done, and without extraordinary investment.