Top pick
The quietest, strongest, and most efficient window fan we’ve tested stands apart from all competitors, though it is a bit more expensive.
We’ve been reviewing window fans since 2016, and the Vornado Transom is the first model we’ve evaluated that actually did all the things we wanted in our tests, and did them well. This model dispenses with the dual-fan design that has become common among window fans, instead offering just one long fan that spans almost the entire width of the unit. As a result, the Transom is shorter than other window fans—about 7 inches tall, as opposed to 12 inches or more—and its stocky shape is much better suited for sitting on a window sill.
It’s the most powerful window fan we’ve tested, by far. We measured an airspeed velocity of about 10 mph coming out of the Transom when it was running on low and 11 mph on high. With those results, it was nearly twice as fast as the Genesis and Holmes models we tested and a bit faster than our former top pick (and current budget pick) from Bionaire. Put into practice, the Transom was capable of moving a string from 24 feet away, while the Genesis and Holmes window fans both barely made it to 16 feet. The draft the Transom created was also much more pleasant throughout the room than the gusting from the similarly powerful Bionaire fan, which felt more like a targeted wind tunnel than a room-wide breeze. That’s because, like most Vornado products, the Transom is designed to circulate air all around a room instead of just pushing it straight ahead.
It uses half as much energy as the competition. In our tests, the Transom consumed about 26 watts on low and 29 watts on high, versus a range of around 50 to 70 watts for the other models we tested. Based on current average US energy rates, this Vornado fan would cost you around $4 to run nonstop on high for an entire month. In contrast, running our budget pick from Bionaire would cost you around $9.60. Even if you just used your fan for 3 months of the summer, you’d save enough money in three years to make up for the roughly $40 price difference between the two fans. And you’d have a more pleasant experience overall.
It’s noticeably quieter. On the Transom’s highest setting, we measured its noise at about 49 decibels—about as quiet as the other tested window fans on low. There were no ear-splitting stray frequencies, either, just the nice, pleasant white-noise rumble of a fan fading into the background. It’s the kind of sound that might help some people focus or fall asleep.
It has unusually attractive and intuitive controls. These consist mainly of a small LCD screen at the lower-right corner. The panel dims automatically, a feature that we appreciated in a bedroom at night. The clearly marked controls let you turn the fan power up or down, set the (questionable) thermostat, or switch between the intake and exhaust settings.
It’s easier to install than other window fans. The Transom is also more versatile, as it can fit in windows up to 40 inches wide, while the other window fans we tested all maxed out at 37 inches. Because it’s shorter than most other window fans, it’s much more well balanced than tall, floppy dual-fan models. Foam-covered overhangs on the top and bottom improve its seal along the edge of the window, and included in the box is a set of six foam blocks that you can wedge between the fan and the window jambs on the side of the frame to hold the fan in place and improve the seal. In our experience, this foam system worked much better than the accordion-like wings attached to most other window fans, but it’s not perfect. Vornado also sells replacement sets of foam pads, so no need to worry if you lose them between the seasons, say, or accidentally drop one into the alleyway abyss behind your apartment building.
It actually resists weather. For starters, unlike every other window fan we’ve tested, the Transom doesn’t explicitly warn you not to expose it to the elements. (Believe it or not, most other window fans specifically have “NOT FOR OUTDOOR USE” somewhere on their packaging, despite the fact that they are literally designed to sit in a window and straddle the inside and outside of your home.) We can tell you from personal experience, too, that the Bionaire and Holmes models will not hold up through a good ol’ New England nor’easter, whereas the Transom has continued to endure through several such storms. If anything does go wrong, Vornado backs the Transom with a reliable five-year warranty.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Cleaning is a pain. Fans get dirty. This is no one’s fault; it’s just what happens when a machine is moving lots of air. Unfortunately, window fans in general aren’t easy to clean, and the Transom is no exception. Vornado recommends vacuuming the outside of the unit, but there’s no simple way to reach the blades inside if they get mucked up with dog hair or whatever else they suck in.
A perfect seal is elusive. Like any window fan, the Transom works better when it has less air infiltration around its sides, regardless of whether you’re running it on intake or exhaust. As much as we liked the foam pads included with the Transom, they still left some small gaps between the fan and the window frame. (Related issue: bugs.) We recommend picking up some extra foam weatherstripping tape, which is a standard upgrade to window fans for optimal results.
It ain’t cheap. The $100 price tag on this window fan might seem a little steep to you. We agree. But we also didn’t think it was right to make this model an upgrade pick, when it’s really the only window fan out there that does what it’s supposed to. An extra investment is always worth making if it gives you something that actually works.
The remote control is … meh. While the onboard control panel is easy and clear, the tiny remote control that comes with the Transom is sadly unintuitive. The best we can say about it is that it’s a remote control, and it looks sort of sleek (at least until you lose it, as we did more than once). It’s a good thing the Transom offers alternative control options that are better and more convenient.
