For the past few weeks, I’ve been testing out a bladeless heater fan: Dyson’s new AM05. Before that, I didn’t know that bladeless heater fans existed. That’s Dyson for you—always innovating. In fact, forty-five engineers worked on the AM05, and they’ve managed to rack up 240 patents (along with 170 patent applications pending) worldwide.
So, what is a bladeless heater fan, exactly? Well, it warms air, it cools air, and it replaces blades with air multiplier technology. In effect, this means that you pick your temperature and the AM05 makes it happen.
After a simple installation process (which basically meant attaching a base and plugging in), learning to use the AM05 was extraordinarily easy. The remote (which, as a handy feature, sits atop the AM05 by way of a magnet) lets you adjust the temperature from zero to 37°C, airflow rate, and oscillation.
Of course, I can’t get a new toy without trying to break it right away, so I cranked the temperature to 37°C at full intensity. My bedroom became a jungle within the hour. Assuming that the AM05 could get me out it’s own (really, my own) mess, I turned the device to zero. The temperature plummeted in considerably less than an hour. Icicles didn’t form, but a sweater became necessary.
Using the AM05 like a more sensible person, I quickly discovered it’s most useful feature: it has a thermostat that maintains the desired temperature in a room. When it’s warm enough, the machine turns off. When the temperature drops, it turns back on. Given that spring temperatures have been falling to around zero degrees at night, this particular feature was in use constantly.
I’d be remiss not to mention the machine’s safety. Tip it over, and it shuts off. You also can’t burn yourself touching any of the surface parts—believe me, I tried.
Given that the unpredictability of weather in Canada has become a national punch line, the benefit of a machine that heats and cools is obvious. My household has a dated central air system, plus a plug-in heater and a portable air conditioner for the third floor, and the AM05 can basically replace the two things and work in tandem with the central air—although, to be honest, it’s doing a better job.
AM05, from Dyson ($449.99)
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Photo courtesy of Dyson.
