The Holmes HT38RB-U is slimmer and shorter than many of the best tower fans in our lineup, but it can still cool a small or midsize room efficiently. It is by far the least expensive fan we reviewed, and while it’s not the most powerful fan we tested, it has a nice feature package. The Holmes stands just over 3 feet tall, which is plenty of height to blow air over most furniture and beds. This affordable fan also has the second longest warranty of any device in our lineup at three years.
Holmes HT38RB-U tower fan: Main features
In our tests this unit performed well from up to about 10 feet away. The coverage from 10 to 15 feet was decent, but slightly below average and then dropped off quite a bit after that. This fan will effectively cool a small to midsize room or office. It looks good and fits discreetly in the corner. It is a little more compact than other fans we tested, which is another feature conducive to a smaller space.
One of the best things about this fan is its dual-oscillating feature. While most fans only rotate 90 degrees in one direction and back, you can stop the Holmes fan at any point in its oscillation cycle and reverse its direction with the push of a button on the remote or control panel. This saves you the hassle of having to manually reposition the fan if you want it to blow in a different direction.
This tower fan comes with a small remote control that includes the same options as the main control panel on the fan. The remote allows you to choose from three airflow speeds, set a shut-off timer from one to eight hours, choose which direction the fan oscillates and turn the power off and on. There is a small shelf just above the fan’s integrated handle where you can store the remote. One thing you might find a bit annoying about this fan is that whenever you press a button, the fan emits a beep.
Like many of the tower fan remotes we’ve seen, the Holmes fan remote is simple with cryptic symbols representing each of the fan’s functions. The oscillation button is pretty straightforward, but since the symbols aren’t universal, you just have to learn what they mean by using them, which takes getting used to. Not even the on and off button is universal. Since we were testing many fans, we had to relearn it each time. Other fans, like the Seville Classics UltraSlimline, have their own symbols on the remote, but they quickly become intuitive, unlike this fan’s remote.
Holmes HT38RB-U tower fan: Warranty
If you ever have a problem with your fan, you can contact Holmes customer support by phone or email. There is no option for live chat, so if you need immediate support, a phone call is your best option. This fan comes with a three-year limited warranty, in contrast to the standard one-year warranty most fans have. You can download the owner's manual from the product page and get answers to general questions about your Holmes fan on the support page of the company website.
Should you buy the Holmes HT38RB-U tower fan?
If you need a cool breeze to help the airflow in your bedroom, kitchen or study, the Holmes HT38RB-U is a good pick. The dual-oscillation feature lets you change the direction of the flow of air anytime. It’s not the most powerful fan we reviewed, but it is affordable and quiet – and it comes with a generous three-year warranty. It’s a good choice for a small or midsize room.
