Vornado 133 Compact Air Circulator

"Leaders in air flow technology."  Beyond a marketing message- this statement defines Vornado's past, and charts the course for the company's future. The Vornado story begins with an inventor's vision to improve aircraft design in the early 1920's. Ralph K. Odor began to experiment with unique aerodynamics that increased the efficiency and performance of standard propeller planes. After many patents and highly successful prototypes, Ralph realized that his findings could change the inefficient electric fan designs that dominated the industry at the time. Ralph met O.A. Sutton, an entrepreneur from Wichita, Kansas and refined his concept for a new "air circulator." Initial plans to build the new "Vornado" fans were delayed by the complete focus of manufacturing resources needed to support World War II.

As the war drew to a close in the mid to late 1940's, the O.A. Sutton Company produced the first Vornado fans. These fans were well received, differentiated from other brands with their unmatched power and unwavering performance. The early "Vornados" served as the foundation for the company's reputation for innovation, product performance and durability.

In the years following the Second World War, air conditioning became increasingly accessible to the average American. Many believed "fans" were destined to move from living rooms to museum display cases - a relic of a bygone era. This would not be the case, as it was made clear throughout the decades that any climate control system could be supplemented and improved with the use of high performance fans or heaters. After a generation full of innovations, Vornado was about to completely reestablish customers' expectation of what a "fan" could do. Like the jet engine following the propeller, "fans" were destined to be promoted to a new level of performance.

In 1989, a new Vornado company was founded in Andover, Kansas – a suburb of Wichita, known as a worldwide hub for aviation design and manufacturing. Inspired by the advanced propeller and jet engine designs that were common products of the community, Vornado engineers created the first "whole room circulator"- taking the traditional fan beyond its previous limitations. These "circulators" benchmarked the successful design behind the Vornados of the 1940's and improved upon it- adding leading edge design, engineering and materials to the equation – with truly remarkable results. Vornado's unparalleled performance can be traced to its signature vortex action; the result of four proprietary components found only within Vornado technology. Initially applied to air circulators and heaters, Vortex Action allowed for Vornado products to affect not just the air around the unit like traditional fans and heaters, but to evenly distribute all of the air throughout an entire room. The effectiveness of these first products propelled the new Vornado back into the position as a leader in air comfort products.

Extensive research and development demonstrated that "Vortex Action" could dramatically impact the performance of other products beyond air circulators and heaters. The same principles that create even distribution of air and temperature are the drivers behind the company's newest offerings. Vortex action elevates a Vornado Humidifier's ability to evenly distribute moisture levels throughout a room. Because air cannot be filtered unless it is first moved, Vortex action makes Vornado's Whole Room Air Purifiers uniquely effective.

The same revolutionary thinking that created a superior fan has been poured into every aspect of Vornado's offerings today. Safer. Quieter. More intuitive. More effective. These aren't just goals for each new Vornado product, these are requirements. Vornado has demonstrated leadership in the past, and Vornado understands that leadership can only be maintained by relentless innovation. Expect more from Vornado. Company engineers are creating the next generation of products that will continue to raise performance standards in a wider bandwidth of consumer product areas. From our ever growing Andover headquarters, American engineers innovate, and American workers painstakingly research, build, test then deliver. Customers can expect to see the most progressive Vornado products ever introduced - but amidst all of this innovation, one thing will never change; Vornado will forever stand for unmatched performance, continuing its legacy as a Leader In Air Flow Technology.

Q: What’s the difference between an “Air Circulator” and a “Fan?”
A: While ordinary or commodity “fans” move air, they simply lack the aerodynamics to circulate air. Specifically, fans have a wide dispersion pattern with no room penetration. Because of this, you must have the fan blowing on you in order to derive comfort.

Vornado Air Circulators are highly efficient air moving devices that make ordinary fans obsolete. The system includes a unique combination of aerodynamic elements (Inlet air accelerator or flow straightener, deep-pitch propeller, blade duct and AirTensity™ grill). The combination of elements results in a room penetrating vortex or “beam” of air. We call this Vornado Vortex Action. Vortex Action excites all the air in the room into complete and continuous motion. This excitation enlivens room air and delivers comfort to all room occupants anywhere in the room.

What’s more, the ability of a Vornado Air Circulator to move air over long distances affords you a variety of uses including air exchange between rooms, up the stairs or down the hall. No ordinary fan delivers comfort like a Vornado Air Circulator.

Q: How is the new Vornado Air Circulator I own different from the old Vornadofan® my parents owned?

A: Although both are based on the same basic aerodynamic elements, the new Vornado Air Circulators are actually more efficient air movers. Beginning with the introduction of our first Vornado Air Circulator in 1989 and, more recently with the introduction of the new 500, 600 and 700 Series Circulators, we improved output through the fan head by tweaking elements of the system. The result is astounding performance from devices that are considered “small” by some people and considerably more efficient than the original Vornadofan of the 1940s and ‘50s.

Additionally, the grill design of the new Vornado meets today’s finger probe and related safety requirements. Finally, today’s Vornado is considerably more rugged and attractively styled.

Q: So, how do I best utilize my Vornado Air Circulator in summer?
A: In summer, we recommend running the unit on “High” and aiming the beam of air so that it hits a wall across the room roughly halfway up. This will allow for the establishment of a high speed circulation pattern in the room.

Here’s a helpful hint: Always make certain the vortex travels across the room unobstructed. This is required for proper circulation.

Q: I have air conditioning. How does moving air with a Vornado Air Circulator make you feel cooler and save money?
A: It has been shown that circulating air raises your threshold of discomfort. That means if you’re comfortable at a 72-degree thermostat setting with NO air moving, you can enjoy the same level of comfort at a higher thermostat setting, say 77-degrees. That 5-degree increase of the thermostat can translate into as much as a 10% savings on your electric bill. (Energy savings vary by part of the country. Savings estimates are provided by the Department of Energy.)

Q: You speak of year-round use. Why and how do I use a Vornado Air Circulator in winter?
A: Why? To better utilize available heat in the room. As you know, hot air rises and cool air falls. Without air circulation, heat is simply trapped at the ceiling and, therefore, wasted.

How? Select a low-speed setting and point the adjustable fan head toward the ceiling. This forces the hot air off the ceiling and mixes it with the cooler air near the floor resulting in an even distribution of heat throughout the entire room. This can save you money.

Q: Is there any advantage to having more than one Vornado Air Circulator operating in a single room?
A: It depends on the size and shape of the room as well as how you direct the airflow. In larger rooms, a second Vornado Air Circulator can provide additional comfort as long as the Vornados are not pointed directly at each other effectively canceling one other.

Q: I have ceiling fans. Can I use a Vornado Air Circulator too?

A: Certainly, but you may need to experiment as the strong downdraft of the ceiling fan may create enough of a disturbance in the room as to minimize or negate the benefits of the Vornado Air Circulator. Interestingly, we have had a number of consumers tell us they quit using their ceiling fans because the circulation and comfort delivered by Vornado is gentler and more complete.

Q: Why doesn't your Tower Circulator oscillate, when all other tower fans do?

A: The tall, narrow shape of a Tower fan creates a limited, vertical path of airflow. Traditional tower fans have attempted to distribute air in a wider range by oscillating. Anyone who has experienced oscillation knows that the airflow (and the comfort it provides) is only felt for a few moments at a time. Vornado engineers also found that oscillation limits the distance air can travel because the fan itself is constantly moving, and never pushes a steady current of air in any one direction.

The Tower Circulator takes a different approach. Using uniquely shaped air ducts that contour across the product, the Tower Cirulator pushes air across a wide range. Because the Circulator is stationary, it maintains a steady airflow pattern that travels farther than the air from an oscillating tower fan, and establishes true whole room circulation. This patent-pending design is unique to Vornado, and is called V-Flow™ Circulation. (Consider the shape of the air as it leaves the circulator- it makes a perfect 55º "V")

Q: We spend as much of the summer season as possible outside on our patio. Although we have a canopy over it, there aren’t any walls. Would a Vornado Air Circulator help keep us comfortable?
A: Yes, but the Vornado Air Circulator must blow directly on you since the space is not enclosed and, therefore, prohibits circulation. However, please remember that Vornado products are not recommended, nor are they listed with UL, for outdoor use.

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