Are there blowers/fans built in? My son has a similar set-up in their fireplace and it has a blower that really drives heat when he's got a good fire going. Not sure how hot an insert gets inside the fireplace... must get perty warm?
The fans are not built in. They appear to be add-ons inside the bottom grills, cords and all tucked inside and not hooked up to power. Also they are so small and the blades feel lighter than a diet coke can!
Interesting info on them is scarce and hard to find, as I heard there are alot of these.?. Apparently a canada stove manufacturing brochure of a different brand instructs DO NOT cover them. So I won't.
Even though it was in need of major maintenance, it kept us warm in -29*F last winter. Keep yours if you can!
Have you plugged those in to see if they work? The lightness of the fins sounds like they may be quiet too. From what I've seen with my son's, I'd rig those babies up for sure...
I have not used the fans, they were raw wires tucked in the holes when we bought the home.... We asked our electrician to come back sometime to put an outlet closer to the stove so the blower cord is not strewn across the room, I'll ask him how or see if he will do it. Are the fans at your son's in the bottom vents? Logic tells me if they are on the bottom vents they should blow in. Or should they be in the upper vents blowing out? No idea why but they were both facing out in the bottom vents when we bought the place. Thanks Stinny You are sweet.
Aw... ... I think the fans draw air into the air duct/chamber in the lower vents because it would keep the fans cooler (lower area being cooler than the top)... sending the heated air out of the top vents. I think you're logic is right on. If yours are not "pointed" in that direction, maybe switch it?
Mine is a 1984 model that was here when we moved in in 2011. It had been lit maybe 10 times before we got here....pretty low miles for its age.