
Wood-burning stoves have been used for centuries and they are still very popular today. Some people use them as their main source of heating (and potentially for cooking too) and many people keep them as back-ups, in case they have issues with their central heating (especially these days when electric heating is becoming more common).
Anyone who’s ever dealt with a traditional coal fire will know, wood-burning stoves are massively easier to clean and manage. They do, however, suffer from one of the same problems as coal fires, which is, left to their own devices, wood-burning stoves will send most of their heat upwards rather than outwards.
This is basic physics. Wood-burning stoves heat the air, hot air rises and then sinks again as it cools. Basically, by the time it reaches the bits of the room that matter, i.e. the bits at standing and seated height, it will have lost most of its heat. What’s more, the heat from the wood-burning stove will be concentrated around the stove. It won’t go far into the room - at least not without help. That’s where stove fans come in.
Stove fans work by converting the heat from the stove into electricity to power a fan. These days most stove fans use a peltier device which means that there needs to be a hot side and a cool side to create the necessary voltage. This means that they need to be placed to the side of the flu pipe and as near the back as possible so they can draw in the cool air from the back of the stove as well as the warm air from the front.
There are now a handful of stove fans which can be attached to the flu pipe itself, but these are a very niche market and we don’t cover them here.
Stove fans will have a range of operating temperatures and going above the maximum temperature can actually damage them. Because of this, it’s useful to keep a thermometer near your stove fan, so you can take action if the temperature gets too high (although you will probably notice it anyway, even without a thermometer as you will be way too hot).
Never, ever use a regular fan on top of your stove, not even a battery-operated one. It is unsafe to expose batteries or electrical wiring to the sort of heat a wood-burning stove can generate. Proper stove fans do not need an electrical power supply of any sort. That is why they are safe to use on wood-burning stoves and even then you need to watch the temperature. If you forget, however, the worst that will happen is that your stove fan will be damaged, not that it will explode and potentially cause someone a serious injury and/or start a fire!
There are six main considerations to choosing the best stove fan, these are: size, durability and build quality, heat-sensitivity, suitability for your stove, warranty and noise. Let’s look at these in more detail.
All other things being equal, the best stove for you is the biggest stove fan which will fit comfortably on your stove. Bigger stove fans have bigger fan blades and bigger fan blades move more air and hence heat more space.
If you’re going to be relying on a stove fan, it’s usually worth paying a bit extra for one with decent build quality. It may cost more up front but it will generally be more reliable than a cheaper alternative, plus you can expect it to last longer.
Basically you want a stove fan which will operate within a decent range of temperatures. This means you won’t have to wait for hours for it to warm up or be constantly on the watch in case it overheats.
For the most part, your stove needs to have a level top, which conducts heat and which has enough space to place the stove fan so that it is clear of the flu pipe. If you cannot meet these conditions, for example, you have a “cool-touch” stove-top, then you will not be able to use a standard stove fan and will need to look for a niche product. These are not covered here.
Ideally, you want a stove fan from a brand which is known for backing its warranties. This generally means that you will be able to get spare parts for your stove fan after the warranty period expires. Motors don’t last forever but if you get a good stove fan, you will just be able to change out the motor and keep going.
Very few stove fans are genuinely silent, but the best stove fans are reasonably quiet and again bigger stove fans tend to be better here as the blades move more slowly. For the sake of completeness, if your stove fan is noisier than you expected, there’s a good chance that something is causing it to vibrate and if you sort this it will quieten down. If that doesn’t work, it may be you have a defective stove fan but this is very rare (if you’ve bought a decent brand).
This stove fan review contains our five top picks based on overall value, so basically performance as compared to price. They are all of a decent build quality, although some are better than others here, specifically the Caframo and Valiant are both of premium quality while the Lumamu and the Voda are both solid rather than brilliant.
The Valiant Premium IV is a heat-powered stove fan designed to optimise heat distribution throughout your room efficiently.
With its unique 4-blade design and self-regulating operation, this fan adjusts its speed based on the temperature of the stove, ensuring even warmth and reducing cold spots—ideal for larger spaces or rooms with uneven heat distribution.
We recently put the Valiant Premium IV stove fan to the test, and we must say, it lived up to its promises, particularly impressing us with its stellar performance in evenly distributing heat.
This feature is especially valuable during the chilly days when warmth is most needed throughout the room. The design of the Valiant Premium IV is notably compact and discreet, effortlessly fitting atop most stoves without dominating space—a major plus for any user.
While the fan shines in many aspects, it's fair to mention that some users have felt the airflow wasn't as potent as expected, and questions about its long-term durability remain (although these points are minor compared to its benefits).
Overall, the Valiant Premium IV stands out as a top-tier choice for enhancing your stove’s heating efficiency in an eco-friendly manner.
Operating quietly and requiring no external power, it brings significant value, particularly in saving on energy costs. Despite a couple of drawbacks, we highly recommend it for anyone looking to improve their home's heat distribution effectively and sustainably.
The Ecofan UltrAir is a mid-sized heat-powered fan designed to enhance the efficiency of wood stoves by circulating more warm air across rooms up to 240 square feet. With no need for electricity, this fan converts heat into energy, offering a green solution to heat distribution.
We recently tested the Ecofan UltrAir and were truly impressed by its exceptional ability to warm a room up to 31% faster, particularly enhancing heat distribution from freestanding wood stoves. The fan operates silently and efficiently, contributing to both comfort and energy conservation.
Although minor issues like initial squeaking were reported by some users, these were quickly resolved, indicating responsive customer support.
It’s important to note that the fan is optimised for freestanding stoves and might be less effective with fireplace inserts. Despite its higher price point, the long-term savings on fuel costs and its durable construction justify the investment.
The Ecofan UltrAir stands out as a superb choice for anyone seeking to enhance their wood stove’s efficiency in an eco-friendly way. It meets and exceeds expectations, offering a perfect blend of functionality and sustainability.
When the chilly months set in, an effective heating solution becomes a must. That's where the VonHaus 4 Blades Stove Fan comes in. Designed to maximise your stove's performance, this fan sits atop your stove, evenly distributing heat throughout your space.
We recently tested the VonHaus 4 Blades Stove Fan and found it to be an excellent accessory for boosting our stove's efficiency. Easy to set up, it starts working as soon as it detects a temperature of 50°C, quickly distributing warm air throughout the room and eliminating cold spots.
Though generally quiet, some users have noticed a slight noise in particularly quiet environments, but this is minor. Be sure to measure your stove, as the fan's 22cm height may need extra clearance.
Overall, the VonHaus fan is a practical, cost-effective solution for enhancing your stove's heating capabilities. It not only improves heat distribution but also turns your stove into a more effective heater, making your space more comfortable.
For those seeking an efficient, budget-friendly way to upgrade your stove’s performance, this fan is definitely worth considering.
The Ecofan 810 is one of the most compact stove fans around. It comes in at just 222mmX141mmX93mm. In spite of its dinky size, it moves an impressive 3.5 cubic metres of air per minute and can reduce fuel consumption by up to 14%. It’s also practically silent in operation. The Ecofan is intended for operating temperatures from 65°C to 345°C.
Caframo is a Canadian brand which has been around for years, which means you can rely on the warranty support and since their products are intended to last long past the warranty period, it’s easy to get spare parts for them.
This is basically the bigger version of the previous model. It’s 248mm high and moves about 5 cubic metres of air per minute and can reduce fuel consumption by up to 18%. As this model is slightly bigger, it takes a bit more heat to move the blades and so it operates at temperatures between 85°C and 345°C.
The Lumamu comes in at 187mm*180mm*93mm and can move between about 7.5 cubic metres of air to about 10 cubic metres of air per minute, depending on the heat of the stove. It works at temperatures of between 50°C and 340°C and can reduce fuel consumption by up to 28%. We’d say “silent operation” was a bit of an overstatement, but we’re happy to go with “very quiet”. For example, we’d say you could watch TV at a normal volume without being disturbed by it.
We have to say that, in our opinion, this option from Voda doesn’t look as nice as the others, but it’s the performance that counts and it gets the job done. It’s 22cm high, including the handle and can shift up to 6.5 cubic metres of air, with an operating temperature of 85°C to 350°C. We haven’t seen any statistics on potential fuel saving, but it definitely does a good job of distributing the heat around the room. Again, it’s quiet rather than silent, but the noise is well within tolerable levels.
The best stove fan overall is probably the Valiant since it is the most powerful and still comes in at a reasonable price. The two Caframo models, however, are probably the most visually appealing and still put in a very impressive performance for their size. The Lumamu and the Voda don’t offer the same level of performance, but they are both more affordable and hence either of them could be the best stove fan for people who have smaller spaces to heat.