Do you have a workshop that gets uncomfortably hot? If so, you are probably looking for a way to keep it cool so you can spend more time there. Your first thought is likely: a workshop fan will do the job.
But will it? There are some situations in which a workshop fan might be effective, but in many cases, it simply will not do the job you want it to do.
There are definitely some situations where a workshop fan might cool your workshop. You can cool your workshop with a portable fan if at least two of the following are true:
It’s important to understand that fans don’t do any cooling. All they do is move air. In some situations, this can help your body cool more effectively (more on this later), but in general, if you want a fan to provide cool air, you need to have access to a cool air source. For example, if your workshop only gets hot because it traps heat from the people and machines inside, but the outside air is relatively cool, a workshop fan might be a good choice. For most people, though, this will mean abandoning the workshop for weeks or even months in the summer as there is just no cool air to be found.
Fans seem to cool because they help your body use its own cooling mechanisms more effectively. The body naturally exchanges heat with the surrounding air. When the air is still, your body develops an envelope of warmer air around it, which reduces the effectiveness of cooling. Moving air means there is a constant supply of air your body hasn’t yet warmed so that you can keep cooler. To take advantage of this, you need to have exposed skin. If you’re working with dangerous or messy tools, paints, or solvents that require you to keep covered, you’re not going to get much benefit from a fan.
Fans can also help your body’s sweat cool you more effectively. Sweat cools you by evaporating, which takes heat from your body and the air. Moving air pushed by a fan is more effective at evaporating water, which helps you cool off more. However, you might not want to spend your time in the workshop sweating. Sweat can interfere with your work. It gets in your eyes, making it hard to see. It can get on your fingers, making it hard to hold tools. Not to mention that some of your projects and crafts might be damaged by sweat.
For most people, an evaporative cooler is probably a better choice for cooling your workshop. An evaporative cooler needs a supply of fresh air, but it doesn’t have to be cold to keep your workshop cool. An evaporative cooler can drop the air temperature by as much as 30° F with a single pass, so your workshop can stay comfortable and cool even on the hottest days.
With a Portacool portable evaporative cooler, you can wheel the unit around to cool different parts of your workshop or move it to cool you off outside if you have to relocate for working on an extra-large component. You don’t need to have the fan on maximum just to stay cool, so there won’t be as much dust, cloth, or paper blowing around.
An evaporative cooler also adds moisture to the air, which can help your shop feel more comfortable on dry, hot days. However, you don’t have to worry about corrosion or other problems related to humidity. Portacools are used in metal shops and garages around the country without causing issues.
Plus, Portacools have been made in the USA since 1990. With best-in-class warranties and customer service, they’re the kind of craftsmanship skilled workers like yourself can appreciate.
To learn more about Portacools and get one for your workshop, please contact a local or online retailer.
