The Wilton Cold Front 3037 Atomized Cooling Fan applies patented Flow Blurring technology, which uses low air pressure and water to produce micro-droplets that evaporate instantly and create cooler air covering 3,161 sq. ft. The Cold Front 3037 runs for more than 10 hours on a single fill-up of its 19-gal water tank. The single-speed cooling fan operates on standard 120V AC/60 Hz current and has independent fan and cooling controls. A dual onboard accessory outlet with GFCI protection is provided. The Cold Front 3037 measures 4' 8" high, and is powered by a 0.5 hp, direct-drive motor that turns the 30" blade at 1,100 rpm. It generates air flow of 8,462 CFM and air velocity of 22.3 mph. Mounted on four 12" wheels with solid rubber tires, the mobile fan rolls through standard doorways and has a standard foot brake control. Made in the U.S.A.
The review
When working in a hot shop environment, an effective cooling fan can improve employee working conditions. Phil Fournier, owner of Phil’s Auto Clinic in Hemet, California, appreciated that the Wilton Cold Front 3037 Atomized Cooling Fan was effective in reducing sweat for him and his employees.
“This unit is very well built,” Fournier says. “It looks like it is designed to last for many years without much maintenance.”
The fan was shipped in stiff cardboard packaging and strapped to a pallet. Fournier notes that there was a brief manual included with the unit, but that the fan was so easy to use that there wasn’t much need of it.
Fournier used the Cold Front 3037 mainly outdoors for working on motorhomes. He says that the interior of the motorhomes gets very warm, and there is no efficient way of cooling that work area. He parked this unit in front of the radiator or at the door, and its air velocity was high enough to get into the motorhome and cool the working area.
“The wheels are very heavy duty, and I like the steering mechanism that also serves to tow [the unit] around,” Fournier says. “[I also] like the brake mechanism that keeps it in place on an incline, though I really don’t have any inclines to worry about.”
Fournier says that while he was familiar with Wilton and knew that they made fans, he had never used one.
“This is the first I have heard or seen a fan like this one with a cooling option,” he notes.
Compared to other cooling units he’s used in the past, the Cold Front 3037 uses less water and still drops the temperature. Fournier’s only question about the unit was about the longevity of the water pump and water pump parts.
“The design is very simple, and the maintenance is probably going to be minimal,” he adds.
As an improvement, Fournier suggests adding a variable speed fan switch and an adjustment for the water volume.
“This unit is noisy,” he says. “We tried it for inside use, but [found] the noise too great. I wish it had multiple speeds and [would like to see] a fan that moved a similar amount of air with less noise.”
When using inside, Fournier ended up parking the fan farther away from the vehicle he was working on to help minimize the noise. He preferred using the unit outside, because the noise was much less noticeable without the walls of the shop containing the noise of the fan, Fournier says.
Overall, Fournier appreciated the quality and the design of the Cold Front 3037.
“I love the quality; the thing is built like a Mack truck, very sturdy, and I’m betting on a very long life.”
“I think if [there was] a variable speed fan and maybe the ability to turn down the water flow to match the fan speed, it would be the obvious choice for durability,” Fournier concludes.
