The Best Smart Tower Fan?
Emily Bell As a lifelong apartment dweller, I had one question when I first saw the Lasko fan tower, “Where have you been all my life?” This recently released oscillating can be controlled from anywhere with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or the Aria app. If you don’t understand why that’s a big deal, you’ve probably never lived in an apartment or college dorm room that doesn’t have central air conditioning.
I relied on cooling fans or window air conditioners in most of the apartment buildings I’ve lived in, and they’re handy when you’re home. The problem is unless you have the budget for fancy smart home devices, it’s hard to pre-cool your place without racking up an expensive electric bill. That’s how the Lasko smart tower fan became this summer’s must-have accessory.
What is the Lasko tower fan?
Anthony O’Reilly for Family Handyman
This tower fan is the latest model from the American-based company Lasko, which has been making fans for the last 100 years. It’s safe to say they know a thing or two about keeping Americans cool during the hot summer months.
This unit puts a 21st-century twist on the brand’s classic black tower fan design by allowing you to control it with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or the Aria App. You can control the speed and oscillation, turn it on to cool down your space before you get home or set a timer. It’s hard to understate how convenient this is for the average person, not to mention people who can’t get out of bed (such as the elderly or those who may be injured).
Lasko Tower Fan Features
via iphone, getty images
The Lasko tower fan is 40 inches tall and 11 inches wide, so it won’t take up much space. It has five speeds and 90-degree oscillation. It also takes under five minutes to assemble and sync to your smart home device.
The main attraction is its ability to sync with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and the Aria app. The fan is equipped with Wi-Fi to connect to your device, which should only take about two minutes if you follow the instruction manual. There’s also a physical interface to control it with your fingers if you feel like living in the 20th century. You might be thinking, “There are tower fans with remotes that can do that, too.” And to that, I say, how many times have you lost that remote in the couch cushions? Exactly.
There’s an exclusive Dark Mode feature on the Aria app that allows you to turn off the LED lights on the fan’s interface. The lights didn’t bother me, but I know people who would appreciate that feature at night.
How We Tested It
The ability to pre-cool my apartment before I reach my building’s front gate is a luxury I don’t take lightly. I like to go on long walks and runs—yes, even during the humid and sweaty summer months. I wanted to see if the Lasko tower fan could get my apartment to a refreshing temperature before I returned.
But first, I had to assemble the tower fan. This was pretty easy, and I knew what I had to do before I even opened the manual. You simply connect the floor plates to the tower fan’s bottom and plug it in—yup, it’s really that simple.
Anthony O’Reilly for Family Handyman
While I appreciate the techie features of this smart tower fan—and I’ll get to them in a second—I was a little disappointed in its physical interface. The buttons were hard to press, and I have hands that can palm a basketball with ease. Anyway, after downloading the Aria app, which you can do by scanning a QR code, you’ll sync it with your fan. This took less than two minutes, and I think even the most technologically challenged people should have no issues.
Then, I started walking in 92-degree heat. I only had a three-mile jaunt for that day, so I decided to open the Aria app once I hit the halfway mark. I like a cold, but not frigid, apartment, so I chose the third speed choice, the good ol’ Goldilocks, and turned on oscillation to spread the airflow.
To my relief, the place was cool when I finished the jog. The apartment was neither too warm nor too cold, and I had the peace of mind that my electric bill wasn’t skyrocketing since it only ran for half the time I was gone.
Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility are the least impressive features, in my honest opinion. Sure, it’s nice to say “Hey Alexa, turn off the fan” while still eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch in bed, but I can also do that with my phone. One situation where the voice-controlled feature might come in handy is if it’s used in the room of someone who can’t leave their bed.
Pros
- Connects to Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Aria app
- Can be controlled even when you’re not home
- Has five speeds
- Features 90-degree oscillation
- Can fit in tight corners
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Physical buttons are hard to push
FAQ
Are smart tower fans worth it?
Smart tower fans can be a worthy investment if you like to turn on fans to pre-cool a room before you step into it. They’re also good investments for people who care for the elderly or infirm, because they allow you or the person to control the fan without getting up and pressing hard-to-push buttons.
Why do Lasko fans stop working?
Lasko fans might stop working if they’re overheated or overused. It’s important to follow the user’s manual before using any new electronics to find out the best way to care for your new device.
Is Lasko a good brand?
Yes! Lasko is an American-based company that’s produced fans, heaters and air purifiers since the early 1900s.
What Other Reviewers Had to Say
The Lasko smart tower fan is a recently launched product, so it doesn’t have many reviews. However, the ones it does have point to it being a quality cooling system.
“First, it’s attractive. Not to body shame other fans, but this one is thin and sleek!” writes five-star reviewer, Beth Case. “And I no longer have to worry about losing the remote, because who doesn’t have their phone attached at the hip these days?”
“This smart tower fan made it convenient and enjoyable to beat the summer heat, especially at night while sleeping,” writes Wayne J. Evans Jr., another five-star reviewer. “The vertical design of the fan blows air just right!”
Final Verdict
You’re not going to find a better smart home appliance with similar features at this price point. The Lasko tower fan is a valuable addition for apartment dwellers, those in college dorms, people in offices or anyone else who needs a source of cool air that can be controlled from anywhere.
Where to Buy the Lasko Tower Fan
via merchant
The Lasko tower fan can be purchased for $127 through Amazon. You can also bundle it with an Amazon Alexa device if you don’t already have one. Goodbye, high electricity bills, and hello, comfortable environment!
