Review: NewAir AF-520 Misting Fan

Posted on May 11, 2012

Pros:

Simple, rugged design
Straightforward operation
Cool mist feels great
Hose hookup lets you mist all day
A fraction the cost of other misting fans

Cons:

Assembly is required
Not designed for indoor use

The AF-520 is the first misting fan from NewAir. When we received our unit for testing we were anxious to see how it would preform against other misting fans we carry like the Soleous MT-1-19-31.

The first thing we noticed when we got the unit was how small the box was, it impressive that they manage to fit a fan this big (more on that later) into this size box. The second thing we noticed was how many pieces it was in. It was not a simple 5 minute setup to get the fan ready to use. I’d suggest having a few basic tools handy too like a screwdriver and needle nose pliers.

Once assembled though we were pleasantly surprised by the size and sturdiness of the NewAir AF-520 misting fan. You can tell that this fan was made for serious outdoor use. The misting felt great on the 80 degree California spring day and we could feel the cool breeze from as far as 20 feet away. When we used the unit we were impressed by the cooling effect of the fan and easily felt 5-10 degrees cooler when we were in the path of the breeze.The stand was sturdy and the height adjustment and head angle adjustment made it easy to aim the cooling wherever we needed it. We particularly liked the rubberized controls that kept water out and felt great to use. Three simple settings let you choose the fan speed. Anyone that’s ever seen or used any other pedestal fan will have no confusion when operating this fan.

In fact, the only part of this fan that is any different from any other pedestal fan is the fact that it hooks up to your hose and mists. Conveniently, the NewAir AF-520 comes with a hose shutoff valve that lets you turn the misting on and off with ease without anything more than a simple swipe of your thumb.

With other misting fans in this price range like the Soleous MT-1-19-31 you actually have to pour water into the unit. This can be a major source of frustration as the water for misting quickly runs out and your left having to fetch more water to keep it going.

There are three spray nozzles on the NewAir AF-520 misting fan. They seemed to spread the misting out well and the water carried perfectly in the wind from the fan. The nozzles screw in and out of the unit easily. During our testing we noticed that small particulate from the hose would sometimes clog the nozzles, even with the protective screen built in to the hose hookup. For this reason we recommend that you run the house for a short while before connecting it to the fan.

The NewAir AF-520 misting pedestal fan is designed primarily as an outdoor fan and it would be hard to imagine using the misting indoors. After less than a minute the powerful misting resulted in a very wet wall. The AF-520 misting fan could easily replace your pedestal fan indoors but the misting would be far too powerful for inside the home.

It is clear that NewAir has squarely aimed to satisfy the outdoor patio user. And indeed they have hit the mark. The AF-520 is the only option for serious outdoor cooling in it’s price range. It’s rivals are a fraction the size and simply wont cool the same area. The lack of a hose hookup on other misting fans in the price range make the choice even easier. Other outdoor misting fans with the same features can easily run 3 to 4 times the price of the NewAir AF-520. Overall, the NewAir AF-520 is a great way to stay cool outside while relaxing or entertaining guests without breaking the bank.

Congratulations to our $100 CASH Winner for April!

Posted on May 8, 2012

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Congratulations to…

“Cabernet all the way !!”

for winning April’s Customer Review $100 Cash Prize!

Do you own any of our products? We want to know how satisfied you are with your purchase. After writing and submitting your product review, you’ll be entered to win $100 in cash. A new winner will be chosen every month and notified through email.

The customer review can be found here: Absolute BEST for the price !!

Overall Rating: 5 stars

Product Construction: 5 stars

Product Performance: 5 stars

Attractive Design: 5 stars

Noise Level: 5 stars

Accurate Temperature Control: 4 stars

Would recommend to a friend: Yes

Review Title: Absolute BEST for the price !!

“This is my second cooler purchase from Air & Water and this cooler exceeds all expectations. It was shipped the same day and that really impresses me. Well done guys! Got it in three days and was well packed too. The unit is very attractive and the wooden racks really stand out. No more metal rack clanging when pulling a bottle out. Doors close and seal very well. The interior lights only light up the top rack but still looks good at night. This cooler is MUCH nicer than units costing far more. I am VERY particular, so trust me on this cooler. Get one !!!”

Reviewed on NewAir AW-321ED 32 Bottle Dual Zone Thermoelectric Wine Cooler

Additional Review Information:

Reviewer ID:	z9ngxz55x33435rfvs464xowq9
Nickname:	Cabernet all the way !!
Location:	Spring, TX, USA

Thank you again! “Cabernet all the way !!“

We appreciate your feedback and hope to hear from you again soon!

Review: NewAir AC-12100E Air Conditioner

Posted on May 3, 2012

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NewAir AC-12100E portable air conditioner

The NewAir Ac-12100E has a simple, straightforward design and the electronic louvers are a neat feature.

Pro:

Easy to use controls
Remote works flawlessly
Effortless automatic setting lets you set a temperature and walk away
Great price for a powerful 12,000 BTU air conditioner
Rubber isolated compressor is very quiet
24 hour timer lets you set a timer so you don’t waist energy through the night

Con:

Electric louvers don’t remember the position you left them in and simply return to default position when you turn the unit on
Ionizing filter grill is flimsy and difficult to insert
Automatic mode doesn’t turn unit off, simply turns to fan mode when the desired temperature is reached
Once you get over the fancy electronic louvers the design can be a little bit dull

The AC-12100E is one of the latest portable air conditioners from NewAir. It’s 12,000 BTUs of cooling power let it comfortably cool up to 425 square feet of living space. It boasts an impressive feature set including electric louvers, fan only operation, convenient remote, 24 hour timer, fully automatic mode, and dehumidifying “dry” setting.

The AC-12100E was able to cool the 72 degree ambient air down to an impressive 54 degrees, nearly a 20 degree difference. (Notice the high humidity from the automatic evaporation).

A higher energy efficiency ratio means that the unit produces more cooling BTUs per watt of electricity consumed than a less efficient air conditioner. The NewAir AC-12100E has an EER of 8.9. This means that you’ll spend less keeping your room cool than with other portable air conditioners.

The AC-12100E’s rubber isolated compressor is very quiet; in fact most of the noise comes from the fan on the unit. The overall noise is reasonable and will not be distracting on the low setting. A conversation can easily be carried on while standing right next to the unit, even at full power.

An impressively powerful blower fan moved enough air that we could feel a steady breeze even at 15+ feet away. If children or curious pets are frequently going to be around the unit the built in guards in front of the blowers on both sides will help keep fingers or paws from injury. AC-12100E control panel

The electric louvers can be a bit annoying to adjust manually as you have to keep pressing the button or the remote to move them one step at a time. I found it much more pleasant to leave them on the auto “swing” mode by pressing the button for about 3 seconds. This makes for a really pleasant breeze that keeps the air moving around the room by moving the louvers up and down.

Controls on this NewAir portable air conditioner are generally quite straightforward and the auto mode is hassle free. One thing that was a little difficult to figure out was switching the display from Fahrenheit to Celsius (it turns out that holding both temperature control arrows at the same time does the trick).

The remote control was completely painless to use, simply set the temperature on the remote and the unit will match the remote within seconds. Straightforward button placement and clear labeling were a big plus too.

The AC-12100E is easy to move about the room and it’s 7 foot cord and 5 foot exhaust vent make it easy to place exactly where you want. This can be especially important if you have a home with high windows or oddly placed electrical outlets.

Overall the NewAir AC-12100E is a fantastic portable air conditioner that has plenty of cooling power to keep you cool on hot summer days. The only real complaints are the flimsy filter grill and the louvers that always return to the up position when turned on. You’ll be able to cool down without the worry of spending tons to keep cool with the AC-12100E. If your looking for an efficient and feature packed portable air conditioner this summer look no further than the AC-12100E.

Five simple steps that will help you save!

Posted on May 2, 2012

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Ever wondered how much electricity your appliances use? Did you know that every electric appliance is rated in a universal rating called watts? Calculating the cost of using an appliance is surprisingly easy once you know the process and can save you hundreds of dollars a year!

Among the biggest cost of electricity are air conditioners and heaters so it’s important to know the efficiency and cost of running your appliances.

NewAir ac-10000e portable air conditioner

The NewAir AC-10000E uses 909 Watts. If used 4 hours a day it uses 3.64 kWh a day. If using the AC-10000E in California (average price: $0.20 per kWh in March 2012), 4 hours of use would cost about 80 cents.

Steps to determine an appliances usage cost:

1: Find out how many watts it uses – most of the products we carry actually list their wattage in the detailed information making it easy to find out how much they use.

2: Determine how many hours a day the appliance is used – this depends entirely on your usage and will vary greatly from person to person.

3: Multiply the wattage by the hours used and divide by 1,000 – this gives you your daily Kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumption.

4: Determine the cost of one kWh – this will depend on your electricity provider but can be found on your monthly billing statements.

5: Multiply the cost of one kWh by the daily kWh usage to get your appliances cost for a day. Multiply that by how many days a month you use that appliance to get monthly usage. You can find your appliances cost of usage for any period of time by simply doing the math!

This is the same process written out:

(Appliance Wattage x Hours Used Per Day) ÷ 1000 x cost per kWh = cost per day

kWh = Kilowatt-hour

1 kilowatt (kW) = 1,000 Watts

Alternately, a list of common household appliance usage can be found here: http://www.cwlp.com/energy_services/eso_services_programs/appliance_energy_use_chart.htm

Figuring your monthly energy usage can be a great way to monitor your energy usage and save money by adjusting your usage habits. Often times utility companies will even have “off-peak” pricing that is cheaper than when electricity demand is high. If you know which appliances use a lot of electricity you can change your schedule to save on your electricity bill.

Blast from the Past: The Water Cooler

Posted on April 27, 2012

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Water is an essential part of everyone’s life. As summertime approaches the importance of having fresh, cool water is quickly remembered by many. Today it’s easy to simply go to the nearest water dispenser or faucet and get a refreshing glass of water.

Clean drinking water is something that has only truly become prevalent in this country in the last hundred years and is still a pressing issue worldwide. The water cooler was a pioneering factor in clean water sale and remains a popular choice for those who want the cleanest and freshest water.

In the mid 19th century water was often sold in large ceramic jugs. Later, glass containers called carboys would become popular.

The water cooler and water companies have been around in the United States since about the mid 19^th century. Poland Springs is credited as being the first company to see widespread sales of bottled spring water.

Early water coolers used ice to cool the water being served.

Interestingly, many antique water dispensers are similar in appearance to today's basic models.

The first electric water cooler was introduced by Haws Drinking & Faucet Company in 1938. Since then the idea of having cold water whenever one wants has become widespread. Water coolers are a staple of the office workplace and a common sight in most homes.

Today's electric water coolers are quieter and more efficient than their early counterparts. This is a 1940's Westinghouse water cooler.

Today’s water coolers come in a wide array of sizes, shapes, and applications. Whether you want to simply serve room temperature water through a basic water dispenser or have filtered hot and cold water served from an elegant pedestal, there are options that will satisfy either.

Aquaverve Celsius Hot and Cold Water Dispenser

A modern Aquaverve water cooler is the pinnacle of water cooler design.

Even though the water dispenser has been around for more than a hundred years the fundamental concept has changed little. Water coolers offer clean, cool water at the convenience of a simple pull of a leaver. This can often seem unimportant but there are few things as welcome as a refreshing glass of cool water on a hot day.

Pictures are thanks to: http://www.baharris.org/historicpolandspring/Packaging/Packaging.htm | http://chestofbooks.com/food/beverages/Adulteration-Origin/Historical-Sketch.html | http://bricolage-julier.blogspot.com/2009/02/fabulous-find-7-vintage-water-cooler.html | http://www.designsponge.com/2010/04/before-after-mias-frame-table-gregs-cooler.html

Going Green Can Save your Pocketbook and the Earth

Posted on April 24, 2012

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Earth day was this last Sunday, how did you spend the day? More than likely you didn’t do anything special, maybe a backyard BBQ or a simple evening at home. Whatever the case, it was all thanks to the wonderful planet we live on.

We all love being comfortable and air conditioning is one of the best ways to enjoy your home when it’s hot outside. However, air conditioning uses a lot of energy and can really be a strain on the environment if used irresponsibly. Comfortable living doesn’t have to be wasteful and expensive though.There are simple steps that you can take to you can take to ensure the energy you use is effective at keeping you cool. Here are some simple ideas and tips to keep you comfortable without the waste!

Use electric fans to stay cool without needing to turn your AC on
Set your thermostat to 78 when at home and leave your AC off when your away
Run your central fan without turning the AC on, you’d be surprised how much cooler your hose can get just by circulating the air!
Plant trees to give your house natural shade, believe it or not shade can actually reduce your cooling costs by 30%!
Have your house scanned with a thermal camera (or rent one yourself) to identify areas that need to be better sealed or insulated
Use an evaporative cooler to keep cool without needing to run your AC; evaporative coolers use 4 times less energy than an air conditioner and can provide similar cooling power in the right environment
Remember to turn off lights and other electrical equipment when not in use, they all produce heat and cost you money
Use a dehumidifier to take excess moisture out of the air, often times the natural dehumidifying of air conditioners is one of the reasons that it feels so cool
Keep your curtains closed when sunlight is shining through
Make sure your AC unit isn’t in direct sunlight, a simple guard or bushes will keep the sun off of the unit and let it cool your house quicker and use less energy
Plan chores for later in the evening when its naturally cooler so you don’t get hot and feel the need to turn on your air conditioner
Have your AC system checked every spring to make sure it’s running at it’s best and not wasting energy
Consider lighter colors the next time you paint your house, they absorb less heat than dark paints
Close vents in rooms you don’t use so you don’t waste energy cooling empty rooms
Find fun outdoor activities that keep you cool such as swimming or taking a walk along a shady path

If we all take small steps to be more efficient in our daily lives we can significantly reduce our impact on the planet. In fact, since the ban of CFCs we have already made great progress in reversing the widening of the ozone hole.

Helping the environment doesn’t have to mean drastic changes or expensive investments. In fact, you can often save money when living smart. With energy savings helping the planet and your pocketbook, doesn’t it make sense to think green?

Blast from the Past: Electric Fans Then and Now

Posted on April 20, 2012

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Comfortable living has long been the goal of many inventors. In 1982 Schuyler Wheeler invented a device that would forever change how people stayed comfortable. Wheeler’s invention was the electric fan.

Schuyler Wheeler's 1892 fan

With the growing popularity of electricity in the average home electric fans soon became the must have appliance of any home during hot summer days. Early fans of the 1890′s through 1920′s often featured incredibly robust construction and little in the way of protection. As time progressed fans soon started featuring many of the details we expect today. In fact by the 1930′s most fans were already at the peak of fan technology. Many of the features that buyers look for when buying a window fan today have been available for almost 80 years.

This restored 1930's window fan still runs and is used regularly!

A modern Lasko window fan is fundamentally similar in almost every way to fans of the 1930's

While these two fans share many of the same design elements there are also some interesting differences that highlight the changes in manufacturing technology over the years. The heavy metal construction of early fans has yielded to the cheaper-to-produce plastics of the 1970′s. Many fan collectors prefer the solid construction and overbuilt mechanicals that have allowed the fans of the past to survive the test of time. The grills of modern fans have become safer to prevent accidental touching of the fan blades.

Interestingly, fans today feature nearly identical operation as fans of the past including multiple speeds, reversible directions, and window fitting guards to maximize air circulation.

This unrestored 1949 Air King fan is still used every day! A real testament to the construction of early fans.

These early fans were designed for heavy use because at the time they were the only option for staying cool in hot weather. As technology advanced and air conditioning soon became an affordable option for mainstream homeowners the days of the fan as a necessary appliance became numbered.

However, the fan is still an integral part of the air conditioning process and without it we would not have air conditioning at all. Comfort in the 20th century has been revolutionized by the invention of the electric fan.

Interesting fact: in the 1970′s fans became such a draw on the electric grid in South Korea that it is rumored that the South Korean government started spreading rumors that a fan left on overnight could kill you.

For more information on antique fans take a look at http://www.afcaforum.com/

Many thanks to Michael Mirin of http://www.wiskeylizard.com/ for providing pictures

It Came From Air & Water: Interesting Products

Posted on April 17, 2012

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Since opening our doors in 2002 our website has grown to include a huge variety of products aimed at satisfying any appliance need you may have. From air conditioners to wine coolers and everything in between, we aim to carry anything that makes your life easier.

Our selection of products has become vast, so vast in fact that we often find items buried in our website that genuinely surprise us. Some are wonderful, some are odd, some are just plane confusing. Whatever the case may be I’d like to highlight some of my favorite unusual items from deep within the Air & Water site!

The mainstay of the backyard bbq, hot dogs are a sure fire way to make any day feel like a great day at the local fair! The Nostalgia Electrics HDR-565 is a kitchen appliance in the loose sense of the word, it does cook, it just does it with a lot more flair than most of our appliances, that’s why we love it!

To be honest, I didn’t even know this type of product existed until I ran into it on our website. If you need to dry dishes and don’t want to wait for the water to evaporate naturally you can use the Sunpentown SD-1501 dish dryer. Truth be told it seems like an odd product if you ask me but if you want your dishes extra dry then I’m sure its great!

There are few treats as refreshing as a snow cone on a hot day. The Nostalgia Electrics SCC-200 snow cone maker will instantly make you feel like you’re a child again. It’s an appliance in the loosest sense of the word but it’s definitely one of my favorites from our site.

This interesting little invention is one of the least expected things I’ve found on our site. Truth be told I didn’t even know that someone made a rechargeable hand warmer. A great idea for those in colder climates, the Sunpentown SH-113FB seems to be a fine little invention, if not a little unusual.

Blast from the Past: Air Conditioning

Posted on April 12, 2012

Hello and welcome to our new weekly blog series, blast from the past! This series will offer a look into the history and splendor of inventions that have evolved to ease the burdens of life and let you live comfortably without the hassles of yesteryear.

Air Conditioning

The advent of air conditioning has been rated one of the most influential innovations of the 20^th century and it’s not hard to see why. Without the process we know as air conditioning, modern manufacturing processes that allow the production of pharmaceuticals and microchips would not be possible. In addition, air conditioning makes the skyscrapers and cities so many of us live in habitable. Air conditioning is even credited with creating the thriving tourist destinations that blanket the warm southern United States.

Early air conditioning was invented by Willis Carrier in 1902 with the goal of regulating the humidity in a printing press to allow more accurate alignment. Throughout the U.S., businesses started finding the benefit of using air conditioning to keep cool. By 1925 the first movie theaters to feature air conditioning were opening. The first air conditioned office building was opened a year later.

In 1914 the Charles gates mansion in Minneapolis became the first residence to feature air conditioning.

Carrier continued to innovate and developed increasingly smaller and more practical applications of his fantastic invention. As time went on Carrier’s air conditioning units would be adapted for airplanes, automobiles and a host of other applications never dreamed possible before.

Willis Carrier in 1922 with his first centrifugal refrigeration system.

Today we enjoy the cool, comfortable air that air conditioning give us almost everywhere we go. Rarely do we have to spend more than a few minutes in a hot climate before we are again cooled by the wonderful effect of Carrier’s invention.

Willis Carriers early centrifugal air conditioning unit.

Modern NewAir portable air conditioner.

Over a hundred years of innovation have taken us from room sized centrifugal chillers to portable air conditioners that sit unobtrusively in the corner of any room. Air conditioning continues to be a reliable and effective way to cool any space and allows people the luxury to live comfortably in any climate.

Photographs courtesy of Carrier Corporation and Minnesota Historical Society

Bubbles in the Morning!

Posted on April 5, 2012

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At Air-N-Water we try are best to get shipments out the door and in your hands as quickly as possible. This requires serious dedication and a rigorous schedule. Luke, our founder and CEO, likes to come in early and make sure things are squared away for the day.

We were a little surprised this morning when Luke walked in much later than usual until he showed us what his morning had been like.

When a four year old and a bottle of bubble bath mix the result is apparently a bathtub sized wall of bubbles! We couldn’t help but laugh, even though it took Luke the better part of the morning to clean it all up.