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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be considering spending £££ on a fan

46 replies

FourDecades · 26/04/2020 10:52

Ds1 16yrs, is autistic and spends practically all his time in his bedroom.

He has his curtains firmly shut and puts a towel by the door so no light enters.

He absolutely refuses to have a window open as this causes his curtains to move which let's light in the room.

His room stinks and is so hot. I clean it when he is at college or his Dad's but currently he is going to neither due to the current circumstances.

I have been looking at the Dyson fans that cool and cleanses the air but they are so expensive. However he has a fan on 24/7 anyway so it would be used.

Could l have some opinions and recommendations please.

I looked at an air con unit but they either have a hose to shove out an open window or can cause moisture build up which is already an issue.

Thank you

OP posts:
Shamoo · 26/04/2020 10:57

We have the dyson fan, as well as the usual much cheaper (massive) ones from B and Q etc - to be honest the dyson isn’t all that. The big ones cool the room better. That said, I suspect the dyson is better at cleaning the air, that’s not something we really need. It’s also much quieter (don’t know if noise is also an issue for your son).

If you think it would help then go for it for sure, just wanted to say it isn’t brilliant at cooling compared to what I had expected.

(We do have an air con which is brilliant at cooling, but you are right you need a small space in the open window for it to go through. We block the rest of the window with towels and it doesn’t let light in.)

Jammydodger1981 · 26/04/2020 10:57

I’ve got the Dyson hot and cool fan that purifies as well and I love it. We get a lot of sun in the front room windows so hot in the summer plus draughty windows so difficult to keep rooms warm in the winter so we get a lot of use out of it and it’s better than any heater or fan I’ve tried before. I’d definitely recommend it.

BikeRunSki · 26/04/2020 11:01

DH has just bought a air purifier fan from Dyson to help with his hayfever, one of the big floor standing ones. It’s fantastic at its job. He bought it refurbed direct from Dyson, for less than half price. You’d never know it pwas refurbed, and still comes with 30 day trial, warranty etc.

BikeRunSki · 26/04/2020 11:04

Refurbed Dyson Fans

I don’t think DH paid that much, maybe his is an older model.

morelikeaclubsandwich · 26/04/2020 11:06

If this is a long term problem: What kind of windows have you got? Can you also find another way to get some more ventilation eg our patio doors have a narrow vent panel built in or our wooden windows can be left on the catch, it's just a trickle of air. Or talk to a builder eg air bricks?

RozHuntleysStump · 26/04/2020 11:07

My son is autistic and is similar. We have an aircon unit in his room. My partner made the hole in the wall to put the vent through which is better than putting it through the window and not dificult. An aircon unit will be MUCH better than a fan. Think it cost me about £250 or something like that.

RozHuntleysStump · 26/04/2020 11:07

Just to add.. when he goes out (heh) we open his windows.

Notthecarwashagain · 26/04/2020 11:08

Your DS sounds exactly like mine! He has a cheap fan on all night for the noise, but I've been looking at the Dyson purifier as an 'upgrade'

Absolutely no help or advice, sorry, but I find it strangely comforting at the moment to know that out there, there are people doing the same as us! (sorry that's a bit weird maybe!)

DameXanaduBramble · 26/04/2020 11:10

We researched dyson fans last year, fully prepared to shell out for one. The reviews are very very mixed, I want it to be universally loved for that price. Then we saw one and I’m so glad we didn't buy it, we bought a great one for a fraction of the price. His stuff is very much style over substance.

ZoeandChandon · 26/04/2020 11:11

The Dyson fans do not cool the air, read the reviews. They move the air around making it feel cooler. If you want to lower the temperature you’ll need an air con unit.

BambooWhoosh · 26/04/2020 11:12

I've no experience of those type of fans, but could you get VAT relief or any disability grant towards the cost as they are so expensive? It sounds as if it would substantially improve his environment.

QuestionableMouse · 26/04/2020 11:14

Doesn't sound very healthy for him. My windows have a vent setting that can be locked, leaving about an inch gap. Worth a try?

The maternity ward my sister was on last year had Dyson fans and they didn't doo much unless you were directly in front of them.

WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat · 26/04/2020 11:15

A fan is generally just going to move the same air about. You could consider an extract fan so that stale air is removed and replaced with fresher air. You could extract to the outside through a wall or via ceiling if it is an upstairs room. The fans are not too expensive but making the hole in the wall could be.

Thighmageddon · 26/04/2020 11:17

Same issue here.

Autistic, high anxiety but currently unmedicated and on a waitlist to get meds.

Windows closed because xyz might get in, bedside lamp and PlayStation constantly running, he's anxious about leaving his room to even shower.

It bloody stinks so I've also been looking at ways to deal with it via a Dyson fan.

Floralnomad · 26/04/2020 11:21

We’ve got Dyson fans but not the purifier ones as that’s an unnecessary part for us and we used to have an air filter machine ( got it as a tester on MN) and it was pretty useless and broke quickly . To me the Dyson fans work as well as the cheaper normal models , are definitely a bit quieter and the plus point for us is that they are so much easier to keep clean whereas the old type fans are complete dust traps . I don’t think any fan or purifier will solve your problem OP , you need either fresh air or aircon .

Original poster
FourDecades · 26/04/2020 11:21

Many thanks everyone.

For those who already have the Dyson Fan, is the actual fan on it better then a normal tower fan which is what he currently has

OP posts:
Original poster
FourDecades · 26/04/2020 11:23

@morelikeaclubsandwich - l have the air vent open and do leave the windows on the latch

OP posts:
Gtugccbjb · 26/04/2020 11:24

I don’t think stain fans are any better. Waste of money. We have this issue with a client as work (care) we had to get a big air con unit in the end and put whole in wall. We went through every other option and nothing solved the stifling heat and lack of ventilation enough.

Gtugccbjb · 26/04/2020 11:24
  • dyson
Floralnomad · 26/04/2020 11:24

thighmageddon , I have 2 bug phobic adult children ( one at home) and we have midge roller blinds on all our windows , they are excellent .We get them from Newblinds , they are made to measure and very easy to fit .

Original poster
FourDecades · 26/04/2020 11:25

@RozHuntleysStump- l open the windows too when he's not in the house...but unfortunately that is not often...

OP posts:
Oysterbabe · 26/04/2020 11:25

We bought one of those fans and sent it back. It was shit and really loud.

Original poster
FourDecades · 26/04/2020 11:26

@Notthecarwashagain - not weird at all. Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
FourDecades · 26/04/2020 11:26

@DameXanaduBramble - which one did you buy please

OP posts:
Bbang · 26/04/2020 11:47

@Shamoo I don’t suppose I could pick your brain (or anyone else’s with an air con for that matter) over which air con machine you have?

I am in the attic room of my house and all it has is one tiny dormer window on one side and it’s south facing so as you can imagine it gets so hot no one can actually go up there temperatures of 39 last year. I spent most of the summer months sleeping in the living room which isn’t ideal.

Air cons are quite big purchase and I’d rather not get it wrong.