Anyone used and have an opinion about the heat operated stovetop fans? I have never seen one in person to see how well it works, but the idea seems great. Just don't want to drop $100+ on a maybe. Thanks in advance!
We need a review or a sticky or something, this has come up a few times. I did the same as you, started a new thread, because that one is really hard to find through the search tool. Greg
Have 2 on our cabin stove. They do a great job of pushing the heated air back 20' and under the loft area. Tried one first and knew 2 would be perfect to send the air at 2 angles. They will not work as well unless your top surface gets good and hot and you can set the fan at the rear edge, pointing across the hot surface toward the area you want to heat. The base of the fan has to get as hot as possible while the fins up behind the blades can draw cooler air from behind the stove. It's the differential that creates the elec power.
I have two of them. One on the down stairs stove and one on the upstairs stove. I like them only because they are an item of interest but as far as pushing the air I do not believe they do very well. Another thing I like about them is they do indicate a certain amount of heat coming from the stove. If the fan is turning then it is hot so be carful.
I have one and it works well for us. Don't expect it to blast out hot air but it does enough to improve heat distribution throughout the stove room and house. In fact I have been tempted to get a second one too...
I have one on my stove as well. It was given to me by my in laws who got rid of their stove. As bushpilot says some like them and some dont. I dont think it moves much air at all but I'm sure it does a bit. They are fun to have and are off the grid so why not? I just wouldn't spend the money thinking it will benefit you much but its probably worth it just because they are so darn cool!
They tend to stir/disrupt the atmosphere in the house. Sometimes that's enough to get the heat moving into places it usually doesn't want to go. Like through distant doorways. I think a lot of people who try them expect more power like an electric cooling fan moving large amounts of air. They don't do that.
Yes, there have been many threads on this. Try looking for eco fans or something like that. It depends on how much air you want to move. Just bear in mind and look at the size of the fan blades and you can realize they will move some air but not a whole lot. Very little actually. Nice toy to talk about or nice in a very small cabin or tent. But if you want to move some air seriously, then a small desktop fan (setting on floor) running on low speed blowing cool air toward the stove room will be the ticket you need.
