Is it true that electrical fan consumes oxygen in the air?

Question

So that if you closed the windows and doors and slept with the fan on, the oxygen will be all used up and you'll never wake up? This is what I heard.

Answer 1

Noooooooooooo. The fan just displaces the air

Answer 2

Haha, no.  The fan does not consume oxygen.  Rather, it displaces, or recycles, the air.  The oxygen moves from the back of the fan and blows out the front continuously, thus recycling the air.

However, say you were in a metal box; no windows or doors in sight-and no plants or other sources of oxygen.  In this case, you will ultimately run out of oxygen and subsequently, die.  This is because your body consumes oxygen while disposing of CO2, a bodily waste.

Answer 3

Only if it's on fire!  Seriously, what is the oxygen going to react with?

A series-wound motor might produce some ozone and oxides of nitrogen if the brushes are badly worn, but these break down back into oxygen and nitrogen eventually; and anyway, nearly all electric fans use shaded-pole induction motors.

If you sleep in a room with no ventilation then *you* will use up all the oxygen, fan or no fan.