Those who have experienced heat from a wood-burning or multifuel stove will be well aware that it is deep-seated and very different from “normal heating methods”. The only real issue from time to time is that of cold spots which are created as the hot air rises and in certain areas of your room it will be replaced by cold air. As that cold air increases in temperature so that rises and more cold air is drawn in. There is a very simple, very efficient and free method of circulating stove heat around your room which many people will never even have considered.
Stove fans
The beauty of stove fans is not only the fact that they evenly circulate heat around your room, due to the unique pattern of the rotating blades, but the fact they are powered by heat from your stove. These extremely simple but extremely efficient fans simply sit on the top of your stove with the heat differential between the base of the unit and the top of the fan driving the motor. As the motor drives, the blades rotate which helps to circulate heat across your room thereby eliminating cold spots. This is such a simple but such an effective method of maintaining broadly similar temperatures throughout your room.
The ideal temperature for operating a stove fan is between 205°C and 345°C and ultimately if the temperature does fall below 85°C on the surface of the stove then the fan will stop rotating. It is advisable to leave a 150 mm gap between the back of the stove, where the stove fan should be fitted, and the wall.
Cost savings
It is only natural to feed your stove with more fuel when there are cold spots especially if they are “on top of you”. By installing a simple stove fan there is the potential to save a significant amount of money in the longer term on wood and solid fuels. While the initial saving may be seen as minimal, the cumulative saving over time soon adds up. This plays into the hands of those looking to save money in the longer term and also extending the green credentials of your stove. When you also bear in mind the fact that a stove fan costs absolutely nothing to run, what have you got to lose?
The very light circulating winds from the stove fan will be more than enough to ensure that cold spots become a thing of the past and the temperature right across your room is broadly similar. There will obviously be areas next to doors and windows which may be impacted by genuine cold air from outside, but even these will benefit from circulating warm air.
Conclusion
Any device which evens the air temperature throughout a room which is literally powered by the heat from your stove is something of a no-brainer. This makes for a more comfortable living environment as well as the cumulative reduction in the cost of fuel used.