Knowing where to place a stove fan involves more than simply putting it down anywhere that you think is appropriate. Instead, some extra thought has to be involved.
A stove fan positioned incorrectly will mean you cannot get the most out of your wood-burning stove. You do not want that to happen, so we will make this entire process a lot easier.
Also, we are talking about using a stove fan on any type of stove. That includes even a gas stove, as it’s all connected to how these fans are powered. Most fans use different maximum temperatures for a power source, and they are a fantastic innovation.
However, before discussing where to place stove fans, we need to run over and understand their functions.
The Role of a Stove Fan
Let’s look at the role of stove fans. A stove fan is used to circulate the air and heat from wood-burning stoves. It helps them to warm a room with their hot air.
However, that’s not all.
A number of stove fans will also work to make sure those wood-burning stoves are capable of working at whatever their desired optimal temperature may be. It means you can stove using that stove thermometer as much to keep an eye on things.
A stove fan clearly plays an important role, but as we said at the outset, the positioning of the fan is important. Get it wrong, and you may start to wonder why your room is not filling with that delightful warm air in the way you anticipated.
How Stove Fans Work
The role of stove fans is pretty basic. Also, it doesn’t require any batteries in order to power it. Instead, stove fans are heat powered, so not only do they circulate heat, but they also use it to get themselves all fired up in the first place.
This is all because they take the heat from the smooth flat surface of the woodstove, and then the difference in temperature from here to the top of the cooling fins on the stove fan is what powers it.
But that’s not all. The cooling fans on the rear help keep the stove fan at a lower temperature. That means it brings in cooler air from behind to keep that heat differential at the optimum level.
When you see how a stovetop fan is heat powered and requires cool air to operate, it becomes more evident why positioning it perfectly on the stovetop is so important.
Warning: Stove Fans Get Hot
Just before we get into the positioning part, we need to mention one important point: the fact that stove fans get hot. It can actually get too warm, and that is because you have positioned it incorrectly.
However, we will help prevent that from becoming a problem.
The Flue Pipe Is Key
To position your stove fan to allow it to circulate warm air effectively, you need to pay close attention to the flue pipe. In general, you want your stove fan to be positioned as far away from your flue pipe as possible.
But even here, there’s another point, and it all depends on the wood stove you own.
If the flue pipe comes out of the top of the woodstove, or even a multi-fuel stove, then here is the key for your stove fan.
For this, you want to be pushing your stove fan more to the edge of the stovetop. The surface temperature of the stovetop will be highest in the area immediately surrounding the flue pipe, and that is what you want to avoid.
The same approach applies if the flue pipe exits from the rear of the stove. Actually, with this option, the hot surface will spread over a larger area on the top of the stove, so you have fewer options with the positioning of the stove fan.
Remember the Temperature Difference
As different fan models are all heat powered, you need your log burner to generate a minimum temperature to get the process started. The heat generated kicks the fan into action: you need a temperature difference to spread the warm air created, or you’ll end up with an inefficient system.
That is why you cannot place the stove fan with the flue pipe behind it. You need the fan to draw cooler air into the system, and having the flue pipe behind the fan on the stovetop makes no sense.
At the same time, you should not place your stovetop fan tight against a wall. It needs space to function.
Final Key Points About Positioning Your Stove Fan
As the thermoelectric motor in the fan is entirely powered by the difference in heat, just placing it anywhere won’t work.
You need the fan to circulate the warm air, and in the process, it will reduce fuel consumption, and less fuel in your wood stove means you save money. Now, most stove fans are not the most aesthetically pleasing, but they perform an important function. So, keep in mind that they will be prominent in the room.
Position the fan in such a position so it can take in as much cool air as possible from the rear rather than just the high temperature coming from the flue. However, do try to push the fan toward the rear of the flue, but try to keep around 15 cm of space wherever possible.
It is designed to strike a balance between pushing the nice warm air out into the room without the fan heating up too much.
And if you were wondering where to place a stove fan, now you should have a good idea. Do follow the tips and advice above carefully. It will make a difference in getting that warm air into your room. Stove fans have a key role to play, so making sure it’s in the best position possible is important. You will certainly be happy when you feel the hot air circulating the room and the temperature rises on those cold winter nights.
