A home with vaulted ceiling or poor air flow will of course not be heated as effectively. Fans that are rated between 90 to 120 CFM can heat spaces up to 20 x 20, and fans over 120 CFM can generally create enough circulation to make a difference in the heat distribution over an area greater than 600 square feet. Fans that are rated at 90 CFM or lower will heat rooms approximately 12 x 12 effectively. If you have a bigger space, you'll need a higher CFM fan. This is the volume of air the fan can move over a minute of time. So, what does this mean? CFM stands for cubic feet per minute. A fan operating on a cold stove can make it difficult for the stove to ever reach operating temperature, making for a low and smoky fire that does not burn efficiently.ĬFM - When searching for fans, you'll see things like "175 CFM" or "CFM: 215". While some owners will contemplate bypassing the thermal switch for faster start up, we advise against this practice. This prevents the fan from blowing cold air while the stove is still warming up. But, the fan will not operate until the stove is hot enough to close the thermal switch. The speed control allows the user to switch the fan between the off position and full speed manually. Most models include both speed control and what is known as a thermal switch. Stove-specific fans that are powered from a wall outlet will operate a bit differently. Different fans do have different operating temperatures, so be sure to check the manual for your fans operating temperature. If the blades don't spin, that's because the wood stove isn't hot enough. When the base is hot enough, the fan blades will start to spin.Īs the stove temperatures climb, the fan blades will increase speed until they reach design speed. After placement, let your wood stove heat up. Typically, you will set the fan on top of the wood stove in a spot specified by your manual. One note here: before consulting this article about how to install your wood stove blower, check the manual that came with your fan for more precise instructions targeting your brand. But, you must also consider that 120-volt fans also move more air than self-powered models.įor many non-conventional wood stove fans, installation is simple. This makes a self-powered fan an appealing option. Noise Control - Fans that run on house voltage tend to produce higher noise levels, while self-powered fans are almost silent. When searching for the right fan for you, keep in mind whether you want to control it's on/off function, or whether you want it to run on its own. And, some fans use an electric motor for power. We'll talk more about how that works in a minute. Those run on heat generated by the stove. You can do this using an infrared or magnetic thermometer.Īutomatic Control - There are some fans you never have to turn on and off. So, you should determine the average surface temperature of your stove before a fan purchase. Stove fans are rated for a range of temperatures. However, if the stove doesn't get hot enough, your fan will not turn on. Temperature Range - When it comes to self-powering fans, the expected stove temperature is essential when choosing the right model because if it gets too hot, the fan can be damaged. Considerationsīefore you spend your hard earned money on a new wood stove blower or fan, there are some things to think about when picking the right one. These added benefits and fuel savings make a strong argument for equipping your stove with a fan. This not only creates an unbalanced heat gradient, but it also prevents you from taking full advantage of your stove's heating ability.Īnd, because fans can distribute the heat into your home efficiently, you'll find yourself burning less wood to achieve the same heat levels. Without a fan, the heat generated by the stove stagnates immediately around the stove and pools along the ceiling. These fans are designed to circulate the warm air to a greater portion of your home. With a stove fan, you'll see that heat warms your room instead, and you'll find yourself comfortable in one spot for longer. Now, you can finally end this annoying back and forth. You get up to move farther away, but after a while, you become too cold, and you've got to get up, again. If you have a wood stove, you've no doubt played this game: you want to warm up, so you sit close to the stove, but now you're too hot. Let's look at the benefits behind the fans and what you should look for when you decide to purchase your fan. In this section, we're going to elaborate further as to why this is not true. Some who buy wood stoves see the fan as an unnecessary purchase.
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