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This review is spearheaded by Senior Review Editor, Maggie Nichols, who lives and recreates in the hot high deserts of northern Nevada. Maggie grew up enduring the oppressive heat/humidity combination of the Midwest, spending sticky afternoons keeping cool in front of fans. She’s spent a huge chunk of her life battling lasko pedestal fans heat and humidity from teaching in the jungles of South America and plains of Africa to living on a remote Caribbean island. Fans have always been a necessary part of life for both Maggie and her easily overheated dog. From her home gym to her home office, she knows what it takes to find the right fan for any space.
With all that in mind, we highly enjoy the convenience and less intrusive noise you get with this model. Oddly, the jump from speed 8 to 9 is far more noticeable than any other speed change, jumping a full 6 decibels. It doesn’t remember what speed you were on last, instead Lasko Box Fan always powering up on level 18 with no oscillation and chirping offensively as you scroll through all 24 speeds. If you want a powerful fan, this isn’t likely to tick your boxes. However, if you prefer a very light breeze and value silence, this may be a good fit.
I typically need my fan at night while I’m sleeping and while sitting at my desk during the day. If you can’t buy a fan fully put together, this is the next best thing. The pieces are lightweight besides the motor that’s in the fan head but even that piece is manageable. The fuse within the plug detects any electrical hazards, and it will stop the current of power to the fan to protect against any damage.
During the day, I kept the fan pointed at me while sitting at my desk and stayed totally comfortable. On top of that, it runs quietly enough that it wasn’t disruptive when I was in meetings. While air conditioners can change the temperature of a room and reduce humidity, a great fan can still keep you cool and circulate air throughout a room. They’re more energy efficient than an air conditioner since they just cool you—not an entire room.
As a light, plastic unit, ours bounced and vibrated at every speed — not audibly, but visibly. Unfortunately, the lights on the base also don’t dim or turn off, and this is one of the loudest, highest-pitched fans of the bunch, making it not a great option for picky sleepers or for use when watching movies. Though, if you’re a fan of white noise and a powerful breeze, you may just love this big unit exactly as it is. While those that love simplicity will appreciate this straightforward 3-speed design controlled by a simple knob, the Vornado 683 is likely to disappoint if you’re after settings and features. It has no remote, no extra modes, no timer, and doesn’t even oscillate.
Remove batteries from equipment that is not to be used for an extended period of time. Always purchase the correct size and grade of battery most suitable for the intended use. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.