FRESNO, Calif. — When the temperatures rise, any slight breeze can feel marvelous.

If you're hiding out in your home trying to stay cool, sometimes you can get away with portable indoor fans. Not only can these fans help keep the hot air at bay, they also can be money-saving alternatives to blasting the air conditioner.

A fan "will help cut down your electric bill a little bit," said Karen Marzette, the guest service manager of the bath department at Linens 'n' Things in Fresno, Calif. "You're able to adjust your thermostat a little higher and be able to move the air in the room with a fan."

With several types to select from, you just have to decide which fan will best suit your situation.

"People should realize that portable indoor fans have evolved tremendously since the days of big, boxy, helicopter-blade floor fans," wrote Dave Donovan, an electrical expert for the Web site eHow.com, in an e-mail from Atco, N.J.

"Today's fans are designed not only for function but for style and convenience as well. With an effort placed on maximizing air circulation and minimizing the amount of space used, many of today's high-quality fans can operate behind the scenes, quietly cooling a room without much more than a whisper."

If your aim is to keep your- self cool in a small space such as your home office, then a small clip-on or tabletop fan might suffice. These fans often can be battery-operated or be plugged into your wall outlet. Some will oscillate. These fans often cost less than $20.

To cool a whole room, you have several options.

While there are fans you can install in the window, generally you're looking at pedestal fans, tower fans and fans that sit on the floor. These room fans generally cost $20-$70.

Pedestal and tower fans come with features such as different speed settings and oscillation. Some models also have remote controls or timers.

"That seems to be the new thing — remote controls," Marzette said. "Last year, we had one model. This year, we have three."

Between the two styles, tower fans tend to be quieter and don't take up as much room, Marzette and Donovan said.

Another type is the stationary fan, which sits on the ground. These are often de- signed to recirculate the air in the whole room, Marzette said.

"Most will say 'whole room,' 'vortex' or 'room circulator'" on the box, she said. "You want it to move air and not just blow air."

Blade sizes also can make a difference with air flow, according to Donovan. Look for fans with blades ranging from 4 to 7 inches for desktop areas or kitchens, and blades 12 to 19 inches for larger areas, such as living rooms.

If you're still not sure which fan to go with, don't hesitate to ask if you can give them a test drive, Marzette said.

"Most stores will let you plug them in and try them out," she said.