A wood burning stove is a great investment for any home. Simple to install and easy to operate, you just need to load the stove with some logs, light the fire, and then sit back and relax as your home begins to warm.
The cost of heating a room with a wood burning stove is surprisingly low, meaning you can actually reduce your energy bills with a good wood burning stove. However, there are some drawbacks with log burners – they often struggle to evenly distribute heat.
Heat produced from a log burner doesn’t disperse throughout an entire room, instead rising upwards and remaining there. This often means parts of a room are colder than you would expect despite there being a roaring fire.
Stove fans offer the perfect solution to this problem. A small fan that sits atop a wood burning stove, the heat produced from a fire powers the fan which then circulates the heat evenly throughout a room.
This means the heat no longer sits near the ceiling, instead passing throughout the entire space to make a lot warmer. So, if you invest in a stove fan for your log burner, expect it to become much more efficient at heating rooms – especially larger rooms that struggle to stay warm!
VonHaus 4 Blade Stove Fan
This four-blade stove fan from VonHaus offers the perfect balance between performance and affordability. Available for a great price, the stove fan is one of the most popular stove fans available, being entirely self-powered and eco-friendly.
Like all the best stove fans, it works using an automatic control system where an internal thermoelectric module detects the minimum heat of 50 °C and kicks into action. This is probably the best starting temperature range, with the fan powering up just as enough heat is produced.
Once the module turns on the fan quietly turns the four blades. It is also a self-regulating stove fan, meaning the speed of the fan automatically adjusts according to the temperature produced by the stove.
For instance, the higher the temperature gets the quicker the fan moves to ensure optimal heat regulation. The speed of the fan is very impressive, being capable of circulation between 150 and 190 cube feet of air per minute.
The maximum temperature range hits a high 350°C so the fan shuts off before overheating is possible, although your wood burning stove will struggle to reach such a high temperature unless you’re overloading it with logs!
Boasting excellence construction, the fan is as durable as they come, being made from durable aluminium that won’t warp or melt even when your stove gets very hot. The only downside is that it may not be big enough to operate in the largest rooms.
That said, there is an XL model available for not much more and this can certainly do the job for bigger spaces, although this probably only needed for massive open plan rooms.
- 4 blades
- 50 °C-340 °C temperature range
- Quiet operation
- MAXIMISE YOUR STOVE PERFORMANCE: Use your VonHaus stove fan on top of your...
- SAVE ON ENERGY BILLS: Thanks to the built-in thermoelectric module, your log...
- SELF POWERED & REGULATING: Your heat powered fan automatically starts spinning...
Small Silent Wood Stove Fan with Thermometer
This compact stove fan is packed with useful features that make it a great investment for anyone looking for a budget-friendly fan for the stove. This smaller fan is suitable for more confined spaces, so won’t function optimally in larger open space rooms.
Even though its on the smaller side it still packs plenty of power, capable of circulating 40 cubic feet of air per minute. With a 50-350°C temperature range, the stove fan comes to life when the bi-metallic strip at the base of the fan reaches the minimum temperature.
The strip works well to regulate the performance of the fan, which automatically adjusts depending on the heat of the stove. For example, if the surface temperature gets too high then the strip bends to raise the fan slightly off the surface, ensuring the module isn’t damaged from overheating.
Overheating shouldn’t be a problem with most stoves however, but just to be on the safe side the stove fan comes with a handy magnetic thermometer. Simply attach this to the stove chimney and you can monitor the temperature in real in real time.
Should you leave the fan unattended for a while and the temperature gets quite high there is no need to worry, as the fan is made from very durable adonized aluminium, which can withstand direct temperatures of up to 200°C without being damaged – your stove won’t get this hot in most cases anyway!
The fan performs very well in most rooms, although it is designed for smaller spaces so bear this in mind. Anything too large and the heat may not get evenly distributed. Operating is smooth and makes virtually no noise, while the fan automatically speeds up and down according to the room temperature.
- 4 reinforced blades
- Made from durable adonized aluminium
- Includes a magnetic stove thermometer
- 【Compact Design】If you happen to have your wood heater installed in a...
- 【Eco-Friendly and Self-Powered】Thermoelectric module acts as a small...
- 【Whisper Quiet】Newly Designed Blade,Larger Air Volume,Lower noise.You don't...
JKsmart Mini Stove Fan for Small Space
The JKmsart mini stove fan is a great stove-top fan for smaller rooms – you may need to buy two if the room is on the bigger side! That said, there aren’t many stove-top fans designed with compact use in mind, making this a very useful option for anyone that has their stove in tight space, such as an alcove or fireplace.
Although it is on the smaller side the fan has surprising amount of power, producing an impressive top speed of 2200rpm. This is much more speed than similarly sized stove fans, so if you’re tight on space and still want a powerful fan that can distribute heat then this model is well worth checking out.
Like all good stove fans, it is automatically controlled by the temperature of the stove, with a starting temperature of 50°C and maximum temperature of 340°C. So, when the surface area reaches 50°C the fan powers up and will increase its speed, going faster the hotter the surface gets to distribute more heat.
There is al a bi-metallic safety strip on the base of the fan that ensures there is damage from extreme temperatures. This works by bending the metallic strip as the temperature rises, slightly elevating the fan to avoid damaging the internal motor.
The smaller size of the fan helps its performance too. For instance, because there is a shorter distance between the case of the fan and the internal motor, heat conduction occurs much quicker so the fan powers up faster than larger sized fans.
It certainly works well, as the fan kicks into life as soon as the minimum temperature is reached, which you can measure with the magnetic thermometer, speeding up as the temperature rises. The performance remains consistent through various temperatures while remaining virtually silent.
- Compact fan with four blades
- Includes a magnetic stove thermometer
- Bi-metallic safety strip for increased safety
Galleon Fireplaces Stove Fan - 8 Blade Heat Powered
Many people decide to buy two fans for their stove as it provides even more air distribution, which is often necessary for larger rooms that have more space to fill with warm air. While two fans is a good idea for achieving this, you can instead buy a dual fan such as this 8-blade fan from Galleon Fireplaces.
It’s more affordable than buying two individual fans of similar size and has the exact same function, making it a great investment for anyone with a bigger stove or with an open plan room that needs more heat.
The dual fan results in even more warm air distribution, producing an airflow between 45.2-59 cubic feet per minute. This is a bit higher than most 4 blade fans, so anyone that wants increased airflow for a larger space or stove should certainly consider this fan.
Despite there being double the number of fans they still function in silence. This is certainly impressive considering it’s double the size of most stove fans!
Each fan starts once the minimum temperature is reached, which is the standard 50°C found in most stove fans. Maximum temperature is 350°C, so expect the fans to reach very high speeds once the stove begins to heat up.
As an automatic control fan, the blades rotate at higher speeds the warmer the surface temperature gets, although you won’t need to worry about it reach as high 350°C as this would require a lot of fuel on the fire!
- Double fan function - 8 blades for increased circulation
- Automatic control with a temperature range between 50°C and 350°C
- Silent operation
- Heat Powered 8 Blade Stove Top Fan - no batteries or electricity required.
- Eco-friendly Fan - creates its own electricity from the heat produced by your...
- Stove Fan starts automatically and adjusts speed with the stove's temperature....
TOMERSUN 3 Blades Heat Powered Stove Fan
The idea of buying a stove fan may not be appealing to everyone initially, especially when the prices are not quite in your budget. While there are many cheap fans that are low-quality because of their lower price, this 3-blade fan from TOMERSUN offers the perfect balance between affordability and performance.
As a budget-friendly fan you can buy this to see if stove top fans are for you – we’re sure you won’t need to buy another one after this though! The fan performs as well – if not better – than many fans that are double the price, so don’t be fooled into thinking the lower price means it’s not good quality.
Using thermoelectric technology to power the fan, it starts to turn once the surface temperature reaches around 55°C, although its optimal performance is usually between 60 and 85°C, which is when you really notice the impressive heat distribution the fan produces.
Maximum temperature before damage occurs to the module is around 350°C. However, the bi metallic safety strip with kick into action before the surface reaches that temperature (which is quite rare anyway), slightly elevating the base of the fan to avoid damage at around 300°C.
The only real drawback is that the fan isn’t quite silent like some other models. That said, it remains very quiet and you probably won’t hear it unless there is no other noise in the room, so it will be unnoticeable when the TV is on or if you’re talking with someone.
- Automatic control with a temperature range between 55°C and 350°C
- Bi-metallic safety strip protects the fan if temperatures exceed 300°C
- One of the best priced models available
- Compact size: 22 x 17 x 9.2 cm, made of aluminium.
- Works without batteries or electricity -- the fan uses heat from the stove...
- Long service life -- There is a bimetallic safety device in the fan base.If the...
Buying Guide
If you’re thinking of buying a stove-top fan for your log burner there are certainly no shortage of options to choose from. Some are well worth your money while others aren’t going to offer much improvement, so it helps to know what features to look for to make sure that you choose the best stove fan possible.
Here are some things to think about before you buy a stove fan:
Automatic Control
This is an essential feature in any log burning fan as it means you don’t need to worry about turning it on or off depending on the temperate of the stove. With this feature, the fan automatically turns on and off when the stove reaches specific temperatures, making it very convenient as you can leave it to work itself.
Temperature Range
You should always check the temperature range of a stove fan, which is basically the temperature the surface of the stove reaches before the fan starts to work. There are varying temperature ranges available with stove fans, with most starting at around 50 °C and reaching upwards of 340 °C.
It’s a good idea to have as wide a range as possible to ensure the fan works in various temperatures. You want it to work as soon as the temperature reaches a suitable level, which typically starts around 50 °C, otherwise its wasting valuable heat by not turning on sooner.
Better still, if the temperature range is self-regulating it means that the fan automatically adjusts the fan to suit the stove temperature, ensuring you always get optimal heat distribution.
Durability
Given the extreme temperatures that a stove fan faces, you want to make sure there are suitable measures in place to protect it from damage. For example, metals like adonized aluminium can resist high temperatures and avoid warping, melting, and other issues associated with high temperatures.
See what materials the fan is made from and how durable these are against high temperatures!
Noise
A wood burning fan isn’t always quiet – sometimes they make a lot of noise that many people find distracting. This becomes even more of an issue if their stove is in the living room, so you need to consider the noise that the fan is going to produce.
Most manufacturers will advertise the noise the fan produces, so look for products that are advertised as silent or quiet! Also, be aware that many of the powered wood burner fans make more noise.
Size
If you’re heating a larger room with a stove-top fan then you will want to make sure that the fan is big enough to distribute the heat. Larger stove-top fans tend to have more blades, meaning they can move more heat around the room. If you’re heating a larger room you want at least 4 blades on the stove fan, although more may be better depending how big the space is.
FAQs
Are stove fans any good?
Yes! Stove fans are very effective at evenly distributing the heat produced by a wood burning stove. They help to recirculate the warm air and stop it from sitting upwards near the ceiling, resulting in more efficient heating.
How do log burner fans work?
Log burner fans are powered by the heat generated from a log burning fire. You sit the fan on top of the stove and whenever there is heat produced from the fire it starts to move fan blades through a process called thermoelectric power.
Most fans have automatic contorl, meaning they turn on when the temperature reaches a certain amount. When the fan blades are moving, it helps to evenly distribute the heat produced from the log burner, spreading it throughout a room rather than sitting near the ceiling.
Powered V non-powered?
A non-powered stove-top fan requires no electrical source as it uses thermoelectric power to operate. This means that the heat from the fire is used to power the fan. Powered fans are the opposite, being plugged into a mains power and turned on or off as needed.
Non-powered fans are usually the best option for a stove fan. They automatically turn on or off based on the temperate of the log burner, making them much more convenient, while they don’t use any excess power so are cheaper to use – they may even save you some money!
How do you install a wood burner fan?
A wood burner fan is quick and easy to install. Some require minor assembly, after which you simply place it on top of the stove.
Where should you place a stove fan?
It should be installed somewhere around the middle or back of the stove, as this allows it to draw cool air from behind and even spread the heat around the room. You should avoid installing it too near the sides or fron0 of the stove as this won’t be as efficient.
Will log burner fans work on all stoves?
Yes! Log burner fans work on all types of stoves, whether they use wood, coals, pellets, or even gas. Providing the stove has a flat surface to position the fan and produces enough heat to power the fan on then it will work fine!
Last update on 2024-10-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
