Why I'm 'fan-girling' this pedestal fan as the perfect 24p a day solution to hot and sweaty nights – and you should too
I tested the MeacoFan Sefte 10" Pedestal Air Circulator in a heatwave and let me tell you, it's whisper quiet, cheap to run and well worth the investment
Never again will I question if pedestal fans are worth paying more for. If I urge you to do one thing this summer, it's to invest in this one. It's turned hot nights into peaceful slumbers with barely any raised decibels or extra electricity costs.
Pros
+
Design
+
Low noise level
+
Remote control
+
Night setting
+
Degree of oscillation
Cons
-
Not all white
-
Take apart to adjust height
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Sometimes fortune is on our side, and having the opportunity to review the MeacoFan Sefte 10" Pedestal Air Circulator when the temperature dial is reaching an all time peak is without doubt, perfect timing.
While I tell myself every year I'll invest in one of the best air cooling fans, I've not kept to my word. The consequence of not taking action? I've left buying one until the last minute every time it gets hot and then end up panic buying a cheap, plastic version that barely lasts the summer.
Needless to say my opinions on pedestal fans have been less than favourable. But, having experienced the soft, cooling quiet joy of this fan, I'm more than happy to fully accept you get what you pay for – and in the case of the MeacoFan Sefte 10" Pedestal Air Circulator the premium price is returned to you ten fold.
First impressions and set up
Although tower fans such as the Dyson Tower Cool Fan have changed the design dynamic in terms of how air cooling fans look, it feels like pedestal fans have lagged behind in the style stakes. Thankfully that's now changing, with the likes of Meaco and Shark developing more aesthetically friendly products. And while some older styles can still feel cumbersome with their large diameter and pronged feet, new designs are far more contemporary and streamlined in feel.
I knew the MeacoFan Sefte range was different to the older-style fans, but wasn't expecting quite how much I'd like its appearance when it arrived. Yes it's still a product with a functional aim, but the moulded white design, with LED display and remote control bring it well and truly up to date.
The packaging for the fan was neat and simple, and includes a visual explanation of how the name Sefte comes from an Old English word meaning 'quiet, gentle and undisturbed.' A nice touch, that rings true once you start using the fan.
Even the puppy was relieved there were only a few parts to put together before he would feel cooler(Image credit: Sarah Harley)
Neatly contained inside more packaging inside the main box, the fan was easy to remove, although I'll confess to spending a few minutes being convinced it was missing the columns that are required to change the height of the fan. If you do buy one, don't panic like I did, they are in there, just on the rear of the packaging that contains the fan head and base.
Most of the item's parts are inside the brown packaging, but the columns are on the back of it so don't worry if you don't spot them immediately(Image credit: Sarah Harley)
Fixing the base, columns and head unit together is simple. You align the gold metal guide pin with the gold hole and insert to bring the items together. Tighten the security collars to secure the parts in place, plug in and you're ready to be cooled. It's that simple. Remove the security tab from the remote control and you can then use the fan by either pressing the interface on the fan, or the remote.
An instruction booklet is included that's comprehensive but clear and not too wordy, meaning it's easy to get the fan up and running. Once I'd found the columns it was set up in a matter of minutes.
Another plus point? It comes with a black storage bag meaning once summer's over, you can neatly pack it away and find a place for it in your loft storage.
The handy storage bag for me is a plus point, making it easier to move into the loft(Image credit: Sarah Harley)
MeacoFan Sefte 10" Pedestal Air Circulator Specifications
The specifications of the fan are pretty impressive and the product also comes with a free three-year warranty.
Its main features are:
Whisper quiet airflow from 25dB
3 angles of vertical and horizontal oscillation
Adjustable pedestal – can be used at three different heights
Remote control
Night function
Timer
Eco option (auto adjusts fan speed to room temp)
Maximum air flow 18.33m3/minute
Net weight 5.4kg
The impressive list of specifications includes a remote control(Image credit: Sarah Harley)
How and where I've used the MeacoFan Sefte 10" Pedestal Air Circulator
First up for the fan treatment was my open-plan kitchen, dining and living room. It's not a large space, and shutters on the sash windows mean I've already got some tools in place to keep a room cool without air con. But, it still gets hot when the temperatures higher and we're all sat in once space.
Finding somewhere to put it wasn't an issue because of its size or appearance, more because of the location of plug sockets and the amount of furniture I have in one room. Floorspace is limited, so for the purposes of testing, I've simply located it where the air flow can move around the room, and I can benefit from it during the day as I work from home.
As is the case when you start using any new piece of tech, it's compulsory to run through all the available functions, so I put the fan to the test.
From minimum to maximum speed, no oscillation to full vertical and horizontal oscillation (which I found pretty impressive), eco setting which auto adjusts the fan to suit the room temperature, timer mode and display lights on or off I've tried them all.
Any issues? No. As the headline said, I'm 'fan-girling' this fan for good reason. It's quiet, has kept me cool, has enough tech to make me feel it's a great gadget, is easy to use and offers plenty of flexibility. It's not disturbed my work, I've had phone and video calls with no problems and it's certainly not disrupted my son's TV watching in the evening.
And yes, in case you're wondering, we have all pretended we're in a Beyonce video with a wind machine when it's on full blast!
In my open-plan living room the fan has kept me cool all day long(Image credit: Sarah Harley)
But can it deal with hot and sweaty nights?
And so we come to bedtime, and the second, and perhaps most 'testing' location for the fan. My bedroom is on the third floor of a listed building located on the main high street of the town in which I live. It has single-glazed sash windows, and while it's not a busy town, opening the windows at night means I risk being disturbed by some traffic, or late night revellers leaving some nearby pubs.
Add to this the fact I'm a fairly light sleeper, and it means I'm asking for as little noise as possible from any piece of kit I bring into my bedroom. To date, I've achieved success with Meaco products, having tested the MeacoDry ABC 12L Dehumidifier during winter to help deal with window condensation, so I was hopeful that I wouldn't be adding the noise of the fan to the reasons why I couldn't sleep.
The fan is light to carry, even when fully assembled, so I was able to move it upstairs easily. I used the night mode as it removes the LED light display, the beep sound from pressing buttons, and then reduces the fan speed every half hour until it reaches the lowest speed.
The result? I slept soundly and woke fresh as a daisy. No disturbances, just the odd recollection of stirring in the night and feeling a lovely breeze wash over the bed.
To be perfectly honest, even if it got hotter at night, it's that quiet even when on eco mode that I'd be comfortable using it on this setting too. Lights don't disturb me, but if you do prefer a pitch black room, you should be aware the remote control glows in the dark, so you may choose to leave that in a drawer if you are using the fan in a bedroom.
My final verdict will come as no surprise
It will clearly be no surprise to you that my final verdict and suggestion for the MeacoFan Sefte 10" Pedestal Air Circulator is to buy one. I'll certainly be keeping an eye out in case it pops up in the Amazon Prime Day Sale as my sons are hankering after one for their bedrooms too.
Yes, the price-tag of around £175 with the storage bag is more than you'll pay for some pedestal fans, but if you don't want to, or can't invest in installing air conditioning, climate changes means we're likely to need a way of cooling our homes one way or another. So, if you're going to buy a fan, it's worth investing in one that looks good and performs well.
If I had two minor complaints, it would be firstly that the face of the fan is black, whereas the rest of the unit is white. My personal preference would be an all-white finish, but it's a minor detail that's based on opinion rather than performance based.
Second, having to take it apart to adjust the height isn't as easy as having an adjustable mechanism. So, while it's a simple procedure, it's just not quite as quick as it could be.
Worried about the daily running costs? Don't be. So far, according to my smart meter, it's costing just 1p per hour to run. Even if it's on for 24 hours a day, that's only 24 pence a day for a few weeks, or at the most, a couple of months a year when I'll be adding that amount to my electricity bill. Worth it? For a cooler living environment and improved home ventilation, absolutely.
Sarah is Homebuilding & Renovating’s Assistant Editor and joined the team in 2024. An established homes and interiors writer, Sarah has renovated and extended a number of properties, including a listing building and renovation project that featured on Grand Designs. Although she said she would never buy a listed property again, she has recently purchased a Grade II listed apartment. As it had already been professionally renovated, she has instead set her sights on tackling some changes to improve the building’s energy efficiency, as well as adding some personal touches to the interior.
