Levoit 42-inch tower fan (1472 CFM): features, modes and who it suits

The Levoit LTF-F422 is a 42-inch tower fan for bedrooms and living rooms. It pairs strong airflow, up to 1472 CFM by Levoit's figures, with a low-noise sleep mode and an Auto Mode that follows the room temperature. Here is what those numbers mean and how the modes work.

What 1472 CFM and 25 ft/s mean

CFM (cubic feet per minute) measures how much air a fan moves. Levoit says its VortexAir technology delivers up to 1472 CFM, which works out to about 42 cubic metres of air a minute. Air speed is a separate figure: how fast the breeze travels. Levoit lists up to 25 feet per second (about 7.6 metres per second).

Volume and speed together describe the feel of a fan. A high CFM figure means the fan can keep air moving through a whole room, while air speed decides how strong the breeze feels where you sit. Both are maximums at the highest setting.

A fan doesn't lower the room's temperature; it cools people by moving air across the skin, which helps sweat evaporate. That is why airflow direction matters as much as raw power.

Oscillation and tilt

The fan oscillates 90 degrees from side to side, spreading the airflow across the room rather than aiming it at one spot. You can also angle the airflow up or down, to aim it higher for adults on a sofa or lower for children or pets on the floor.

Five speeds and four modes

There are five fan speeds and four modes:

• Normal: you set the speed manually. This is the default.
• Turbo: starts at the highest speed with oscillation to circulate air quickly, slows as the temperature falls, then adjusts to the room temperature.
• Auto: adjusts the fan speed according to the room temperature.
• Advanced Sleep: keeps the current speed at first and turns off the display and sounds after 5 seconds. After an hour, the fan starts to oscillate and slows as the temperature settles, then follows the room temperature.

There is also a timer. When the display is off, the control panel goes to sleep to prevent accidental changes, so you tap a button twice: once to wake it and once to make the change.

Noise and the AC motor

Levoit gives the noise level as low as 22 dB, a very quiet figure, roughly the level of rustling leaves. That figure applies at the lowest speed; any fan gets louder as it speeds up.

The fan runs on an AC motor, the traditional motor type that runs directly on household current.

Moving and cleaning it

A built-in carrying handle makes it easy to move between rooms. The back cover and fan blade come off for washing, which matters because dust on the blade builds up over a season.

When you refit the blade, Levoit's instructions say to align the screws with the flat surface of the motor shaft, not the curved surface; otherwise airflow drops.

What to check before you buy

• Height and footprint: the fan stands about 42.4 inches tall (about 108 cm) on a base of roughly 6.3 x 6.7 inches (16 x 17 cm). Check the spot, including any window sill or shelf in the airflow.
• Noise needs: the 22 dB figure is at low speed; if you sleep with the fan on high, expect more sound.
• Controls: speeds, modes, timer and display are set on the top control panel; check the manual for the details.
• Colour: check the finish you are choosing against your room.
• Cleaning: make sure you are comfortable removing the back cover and blade for washing.

The short version

• A 42-inch tower fan with an AC motor and Levoit's VortexAir technology.
• Up to 1472 CFM of airflow and air speeds up to 25 ft/s.
• 90° oscillation plus an adjustable up-and-down airflow angle.
• Five speeds and four modes, including Auto by room temperature and Advanced Sleep.
• Noise as low as 22 dB; carrying handle and washable back cover and blade.

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