I’ve been using my new wood stove fan for the past week, and I must say, I think it makes a difference!
I was a bit skeptical when I first saw it, and even more skeptical once I had it running. However, the heat-powered fan does seem to help heat the parts of the home that are furthest away from our wood-burning stove.
My stove fan has 5 blades/fins, and it’s about 8 inches tall. You can see me unboxing it and getting it started in the video down below.
First, here’s the range of best-selling thermo-electric wood stove fans.
Wood Stove Fan Reviews
My 5 Blade Wood Stove Fan |
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VODA 4 Blade Heat Powered Fan |
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CRSURE 8 Blade Heat Fan |
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Ecofan Wood Stove Fan |
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Mini Wood Stove Blower |
| View On Cubic MiniView On Tiny Wood Stoves |
Woodstove fans are used to help with air circulation in the home.
They are very quiet and do not require batteries or other electrical input. They are powered by the heat from the woodstove.
When placed on top of your wood stove they help to push the warm air out into the room, rather than letting it rise straight up to the ceiling.
Some wood-burning stoves come with blowers already installed, so a fan is not usually necessary for these models. However, radiant wood-burning stoves can really benefit from one (or two)!
Our wood-burning stove does not have a blower but solely relies on radiant heat to warm the house. There are definitely parts of the house that end up less warm, which is why I decided to buy a heat fan.
This is the model I purchased, but check out the following video to see what it’s like in action!
I said in the video that it was probably made of steel, but I’ve since learned that it’s made of Aluminum Alloy.
They come all ready to go and there is no setup required. If you watched the video, you’ll have seen that the most difficult part is getting it out of the box!
Stove Fan Specs And Features
Most of the wood stove fans have a very similar design.
They look very much alike and many of the features and specs are basically identical.
One big difference between them all is that they have a different number of blades. Some of the listings say more is better, but I don’t really believe this.
The Ecofan, for example, is one of the most expensive and most effective products, but it only has 2 blades.
The overall construction could be considered superior, and those 2 blades are large (depending on which size you get). This likely makes it better than an 8-blade wood stove fan.
The Cocoon Fan is another very popular model that’s more on the pricey side, and it has 4-blades, but I think it would rival my 5-blade model!
Personally, I’d say it is the size of the blades that is more important than the number of blades, along with the overall build and component quality.
The specs of my heat fan:
- Made of aluminum alloy
- Weighs 1.4 lbs
- 5-blades
- 35 dB sound
- Works up to 660F or 350C
- Handle for moving even when hot
The speed of the fan varies depending on the temperature of the fire, but it starts operating soon after lighting it.
It has a built-in system to stop it from overheating, a satin anodized efficient blade design, and virtually silent operation.
Wood fans are powered by transforming heat into energy, without using any battery or electricity.
I don’t know this from experience (thankfully), but you can damage your fan if your wood stove gets too hot. Best to remove it if you have a roaring fire.
You can also buy a wood stove thermometer to help monitor the temperature of your wood stove and keep it within that ideal operating range.
Wood Stove Heat Fan Review
The temperature has definitely dropped here, and we’re lighting the fire every day now.
That means I’ve been able to really test out my heat-powered wood stove fan.
Overall, I’m really impressed with it!
It was one of the cheaper models available but it seems to perform well.
The fan has made a noticeable difference to the time it takes to warm the house, and it also warms certain areas to an extent they were never warmed before!
It’s very quiet – you can’t hear any noise from it at all unless you’re right up close and paying attention. And, it’s a pretty cool design as well.
I really like seeing it spinning away doing its thing – it’s sometimes the small things that are most exciting!
Pros:
- Very quiet
- No set-up required
- Pushes warm air through the house
- Seems to be solid durable construction
- Lots of fun to have going in the background
Cons:
- Perhaps a larger fan would make even more difference
Thermo-Electric Fan FAQs
Are wood stove fans dangerous?
They can be if used incorrectly.
Make sure you use them within the temperature parameters they are designed to be used at.
Also, they are not to be positioned before or near the chimney.
Can you move a heat fan once it’s running?
My instruction manual says not to move it once it’s operating.
However, it does have a handle that does not get hot so that I can move it if absolutely necessary.
For example, when the woodstove gets too hot.
Do wood stove fans really work?
Yes, mine does!
As stated above, I was skeptical at first, but it has made a noticeable difference. The other side of the house away from the wood stove is much warmer now.
Where is the best place to put a fan on a log burner?
Put the fan on top of the stove away from the chimney.
Every woodstove is different, but usually, this means placing it at the front left or front right.
Are 2 stove fans better than one?
Yes, 2 stove fans are better than one.
You can put one on each of the front corners of your burner and point them out in different directions. This is a common method of heating the entire house with a wood stove.
How many blades should a stove fan have?
The number of blades really doesn’t matter too much.
Rather, it’s the size of the blade. 4 small blades will likely be less effective than 2 large blades.
There are very good heat fans with 2 blades, and there are very good heat fans with 8. It’s about the overall quality of the product.
How do you use a wood-burning stove fan?
Simply place the heat fan on the top of the woodstove away from the chimney.
Once the fire has started to warm up, the fan will start operating automatically.
There are no switches to turn it on or off, nor does it require any batteries.
Heat Powered Wood Stove Fans
Wood burner fans are great little devices – they don’t have to cost a lot, but they do make a significant difference.
Plus, if you’re into wood stoves, you’ve got to try out all the different accessories, right?
It’s rude not to.
Whether you have a regular stove, a mini wood-burning stove, a wood cookstove, or even an antique stove, one of these fans can likely help you heat your home better.
I imagine they would even work well with a coal-burning stove as long as you’re keeping an eye on the temperature.
Let me know if you have any questions below, and feel free to share your experiences with wood stove fans – I’d love to hear them!