Black & Decker 9-Inch Twin Turbo Fan

Why I reached for a simple twin window fan

I spend a lot of time chasing practical ventilation—purging a shop after soldering, clearing kitchen heat in the evening, and pulling in cool night air to give the AC a break. For that kind of work, a straightforward twin window fan is often the right tool. I’ve been using the Black & Decker twin window fan (the 9-inch twin fan) in a double-hung window and occasionally on a bench with its legs, and it’s the kind of uncomplicated, mechanical design that rewards you with reliable airflow and very little fuss.

Setup and fit: quick, light, and secure

Installation is as straightforward as these fans get. At 4.5 pounds, it’s easy to handle, and the built-in carrying handle actually sees use when you’re moving it between rooms. The accordion expanders bring the minimum width out to fit most standard double-hung windows; on my tape, the unit body measured roughly 23.5 inches wide by 12.5 inches tall by about 4 inches deep, with the expanders stretching to cover wider openings up to about 33 inches. If your window is wider than that, a simple plywood filler panel solves it.

Tips that helped:
- Add a strip of foam weatherseal along the top and sides to improve the seal and cut outside noise/bugs.
- If your sill has a pronounced slope, sit the fan on a thin shim for a level install and better fan bearing life.
- The included legs are genuinely useful for freestanding use on a counter or bench, but the unit still ventilates best when placed in a window.

It’s designed for double-hung windows. If you have casement or slider windows, plan on a bracket or a custom panel; as-is, it won’t seat neatly.

The 6-foot cord is adequate for most kitchen and office setups, though you may need an extension in older homes with sparse outlets. The fan is ETL certified, which I appreciate when using it in humidity-prone spaces.

Controls and features: mechanical by design

There’s a simple three-position power knob—Off, Low, High—and a manual intake/exhaust selector. No thermostat, no remote, no digital timer. I like this approach for two reasons:
1) It’s predictable and durable; there’s very little to fail.
2) It works well with a smart plug. Because the controls are mechanical, it will resume its last setting after a power cycle, so scheduling overnight intake is easy.

There’s no independent control of the two fans and no “exchange” mode that runs one fan in and one out. If you want that level of control, you’ll need a different class of window fan. For a lot of everyday uses—purge or pull-in—the single-switch reversal is fine.

Airflow and real-world performance

Without a published CFM spec, I judge airflow by what the fan does in the room. On Low, it creates a steady, gentle column of air that’s excellent for overnight intake; it pulled cooler night air through a 12x12 bedroom without waking light sleepers. On High, it’s noticeably stronger and works well for clearing a kitchen after cooking or helping a garage dissipate fumes and solder smoke.

A few practical observations:
- Exhaust mode shines for quick odor and fume removal. In my shop, the twin fan cut the lingering scent of flux and contact cleaner far faster than a single 9-inch desk fan could.
- Intake is most effective when you create a path. Crack a window on the opposite side of the space and you’ll get a cross-breeze that outperforms the fan by itself in a sealed room.
- This is not air conditioning. It won’t “cool” a closed, steamy bathroom the way a ducted bath fan does, but it will move air and assist drying if you give it an intake path.

Noise is where this fan shows well. On Low, it’s a soft whoosh with a modest motor hum, the kind of sound that blends into background noise. On High, it’s audible but not shrill; there’s no harsh edge or rattle on my unit, and vibration is minimal. The fan sits securely in the window without buzzing against the sash—helped, again, by a foam strip.

Build quality and durability

The housing is plastic with a rust-resistant treatment on the key hardware. After some damp mornings in the window and a couple of weeks parked above a kitchen sink, I’ve seen no corrosion, and the fan still runs smoothly. The expanders aren’t tank-like, but they slide cleanly and lock in place well enough for daily use. The mechanical switches have a defined click and don’t feel mushy or vague.

Freestanding, the included legs snap on and keep the fan stable on a countertop or bench. Just remember that you’re not getting oscillation or directional tilt; it’s a straight-through airflow path. For window duty, that’s ideal. For room circulation, it’s serviceable but not a replacement for a pedestal or oscillating fan.

ETL safety certification is a plus, especially if you plan to run the fan unattended at night. I still avoid leaving it in a window during heavy rain. Rust-resistant isn’t the same as weatherproof, and water and electrics never mix well.

About the “9-inch” size and the published dimensions

Window fan sizing can be confusing. On my unit, the fan guard opening measures right around nine inches, and the blade sweep is essentially the same—it’s appropriately a “9-inch” twin. Where things get messy is in the overall dimensions. I’ve seen conflicting numbers on packaging and product pages; my physical measurements (about 23.5 x 12.5 x 4 inches for the body) line up with what you’d expect for a twin 9-inch layout. If you’re trying to fit into a tight-height window, measure your opening and plan on roughly 12.5 inches of needed height. The depth is a hair under 4 inches, which lets many sashes close down snugly on top of it.

Maintenance and use habits

• Dust builds up on any intake. A quick vacuum with a brush attachment and a microfiber wipe through the grille keeps airflow consistent.
• If you leave it in a window for a season, pull it every few weeks to check the expanders and the seal. Dust and moisture can collect along the sash.
• Don’t run it in the rain. If a storm blows in, either flip to exhaust (to reduce incoming moisture) or pull the fan and shut the window.

What I like

• Quiet, usable Low speed and a meaningful High when you need it
• Simple mechanical controls that work with smart plugs and survive power blips
• True reversible operation for intake or exhaust
• Light, easy install with expanders and a helpful carrying handle
• Freestanding legs expand its usefulness beyond windows
• ETL certified; rust-resistant materials hold up in humid spaces

What I’d change

• No thermostat, no remote, no timer; folks who want set-and-forget will miss those
• No “exchange” mode or independent fan control
• Accordion expanders could seal better without DIY foam
• The published dimension specs are inconsistent; clearer documentation would save buyers a headache
• The 6-foot cord is fine, but a foot or two more would simplify some installs

Who it’s for

• Renters and homeowners who want to purge heat and bring in cool night air without running the AC
• Hobbyists who need quick fume exhaust in a small shop or electronics bench
• Cooks who want a little extra help clearing kitchen heat when the range hood isn’t enough
• Anyone who prefers durable, mechanical controls over digital features

Who should look elsewhere

• If you need a thermostat, remote control, or programmable operation built in, you’ll want a different model
• If you have casement windows and don’t want to make a panel, this won’t be a plug-in fit
• If you’re expecting air-conditioner-like cooling in a closed room, this is the wrong tool

Recommendation

I recommend this twin window fan for anyone who values simple, reliable airflow with minimal noise. It installs in minutes, runs quietly on Low for overnight intake, has enough muscle on High to purge fumes and kitchen heat, and the manual reverse makes it genuinely useful in both intake and exhaust roles. The build is sensible for the price, the ETL certification inspires confidence, and the mechanical controls both simplify the user experience and play nicely with smart plugs.

It’s not a feature-packed, thermostat-driven unit, and it won’t solve every ventilation challenge. But as a dependable, rust-resistant, reversible twin fan with honest performance and low noise, it’s a smart, budget-friendly addition to a home or small shop.