Here in Tassie especially in some old pubs with older 12ft ceiling heights some use ceiling fans which spin in "winter mode" and direct the heat down. Also some guys put corregated iron panels screwed to the walls near the stove that protrude out 2 inches which act as a radiant heater of sorts. The air circulates around the piece of metal from on sides and gets very hot which adds a secondary heating effect. Sort of like a way a hydronic set-up would work. Im thinking about these things to try to get the most out of my wood. Is it worth the hassle and is there better ways?
Being on solar I don't want to run a fan in winter because it takes away much needed power in a time of low solar generation. Does anyone know of other ways to get more efficiency?
The consensus here is that they are not worth it. I posted a thread last week enquiring about them actually but they received a poor review.
I always thought that the sheet metal held off the wall trick was a way to make a heat shield when you don't have sufficient clearance from a combustible surface. That was our intention when we did it in our camp. We put a piece of sheet metal on the wall and another piece set off the wall with a little air gap.
It would protect the walls as well no doubt but some do it anyway just for the added heating effect even with suitable clearances.
Not from me... I love em. Now, if we had power at the cabin, we'd use a muffin fan. But, a fan that doesn't even need batteries...
I have ~18ft ceiling where my stove is. Running the ceiling fan doesn't do much. Even at -20* the air 2ft off the floor is within a few degrees if the air at the ceiling. Seal and insulate.
I used to tell the ladies. "Have you ever had a Tassie kiss?" "No. What's that?" "It's like a French one but it's down under "
Yes, it can work but to work the best, pull the air up in winter and push it down in summer. That is usually called working with nature. Something like rowing with the flow.
