by ERIK J. MARTIN

During the heat of summer, we often turn on a trusty fan when indoors. But there’s a better way to keep cool, and ensure more even heating in wintertime too: Simply switch on an air circulator instead.

Unlike a fan, which produces a single airstream as its blades turn and the unit oscillates, an air circulator performs more like a jet engine by pulling in air from behind and channelling it through its front grill without oscillating. A fan will blow air near you if it’s pointed in your direction or you’re sitting in front of it. But an air circulator creates a jet stream of sorts, bouncing its blown air across walls and ceilings and keeping air in the room continuously moving.

“A fan’s sole purpose is to cool down a person by moving air in a singular direction, while an air circulator has a greater wind vane and air travel distance,” says Hiroyuki Takahashi, president of IRIS USA, which distributes Woozoo-branded air circulators. “This allows for air in a room to be properly circulated 360 degrees, distributing cool or warm air to the entire room for any season.”

An air circulator isn’t intrusive, either. It can be placed out of the way, such as in a corner or on a table without having to be near your body. Additionally, they’re typically quieter and lower maintenance than a traditional fan and are built to run efficiently without sucking up a lot of power.

Joshua Tibando, a Costco member in Toronto, can’t stop singing the praises of his air circulator. “I use it in my home because it provides the benefits of circulating air and maintaining a consistent temperature,” he says. “My unit has three different speeds. During the day, I use the low setting; at night I use the high setting. It’s very quiet and has a convenient remote control.” Experts recommend pointing an air circulator on full blast toward your air-conditioning unit or vents in warmer months to more evenly and quickly disperse cool air. During colder months, point the air circulator toward the ceiling and turn on its lowest speed setting to efficiently circulate hot air around the room.