This Simple and Affordable Accessory Makes Your Wood Stove a More Efficient Heat Source

Wood stoves may be a good source of secondary or even primary heat for a home or cabin, but on their own, they aren’t great at distributing the warm air they generate throughout a room. But that’s easy to change by adding a wood stove fan to this rustic heating system. These little fans are designed to sit on top of the wood stove, blowing the warm air created by the stove across the room. And since these fans typically use the heat generated by the stove to power their motors, they don’t require any electricity or batteries to operate, making them a cost-effective way to improve the efficiency of your wood stove.

To make my list of the best wood stove fans, I researched more than 20 different models, comparing specs while reviewing dozens of customer reviews. I also enlisted the help of a wood stove and chimney expert, Tim Smith, owner of Albany, New York–based Actual Chimney Specialists. Read on to learn which of the best wood stove fans may be right for your home.

1. BEST OVERALL: Voda 4 Blades Wood Stove Fan
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Tomersun 3 Blades Heat-Powered Wood Stove Fan
3. UPGRADE PICK: Ecofan UltrAir Nickel Blade Wood Stove Fan
4. BEST COMPACT: Galafire 4 Blades Heat-Powered Wood Stove Fan
5. BEST FOR LARGE ROOMS: Valiant Premium 4 Wood Stove Fan
6. BEST DUAL: JossaColar Dual Motor Wood Stove Fan
7. MOST VERSATILE: Cwlakon Mounting Wood Stove Fan
8. ALSO CONSIDER: Tsendi 4 Blades Silent Operation Wood Stove Fan

How We Chose the Best Wood Stove Fans

I considered several factors when making my selections for the best wood stove fans. Since these fans are exposed to intense heat, I chose models made from durable, heat-resistant materials such as anodized aluminum. My selections also include those that produce enough airflow to circulate warm air throughout reasonably sized spaces. Other important features I looked for were safety mechanisms that protect the fan’s motor in case the stove exceeds the heat rating of the fan. Aesthetics were also a factor, given that wood or pellet stove fans are typically clearly visible. I didn’t choose any fans I felt would detract from the charming, rustic look of the wood stove.

Our Top Picks

The products on the list below reflect the shopping considerations I took into account while choosing the best wood stove fans. These fans produce good airflow, are constructed from durable materials, and won’t turn your wood stove into an eyesore.

Product Specs

• Blades: 4
• Operating temperature: 185 to 660 degrees Fahrenheit
• Material: Anodized aluminum
• Cubic feet per minute (CFM): 240

Powered entirely by heat, Voda’s four-bladed stove fan is durably built, produces excellent airflow, and operates silently, making it one of the best ways to circulate air around your wood stove. It kicks on at temperatures as low as 185 degrees Fahrenheit and can withstand temperatures as high as 660 degrees Fahrenheit. This is one of the larger stove fans out there, and it produces excellent airflow, making it ideal for distributing heat over larger spaces.

Get the Voda wood stove fan at Amazon or Walmart.

Product Specs

• Blades: 3
• Operating temperature: 185 to 660 degrees Fahrenheit
• Material: Anodized aluminum
• CFM: 170

With this pick, Tomersun offers an economical way to add a fan to your wood stove. As with other pricier stove fans, this one features whisper-quiet operation and is made from durable anodized aluminum. If temperatures exceed 572 degrees Fahrenheit, a built-in safety device automatically elevates the front of the fan to protect the motor from damage. The Tomersun stove fan produces an airflow of between 150 and 170 CFM, which, while less powerful than other stove fans, should be adequate for circulating air through spaces that are 400 square feet or less.

Get the Tomersun wood stove fan at Amazon.

Product Specs

• Blades: 2
• Operating temperature: 212 to 650 degrees Fahrenheit
• Material: Nickel and anodized aluminum
• CFM: 125

This stove fan uses high-end materials and a novel blade design to circulate warm air. The curved two-blade design produces up to 125 CFM, which is enough to cover rooms up to 240 square feet. Though the fan isn’t as powerful as others, it’s more compact, and its two-blade design puts less strain on the motor, meaning it should last a long time. Shoppers can also choose from gold, black, and nickel blade finishes.

Get the Ecofan wood stove fan at Amazon, Tractor Supply Co., or The Home Depot.

Product Specs

• Blades: 4
• Operating temperature: 122 to 662 degrees Fahrenheit
• Material: Anodized aluminum
• CFM: 126

This small wood stove fan measures just over 7 inches tall, an ideal choice for smaller wood stoves. Its four-blade design makes it capable of pushing a lot of air. It also starts operating at a low temperature of just 122 degrees Fahrenheit, so it will start circulating air as the stove is

just heating up

. The Galafire also comes with a thermometer you can use to help monitor the temperature of your wood stove.

Get the Galafire wood stove fan at Amazon.

Product Specs

• Blades: 4
• Operating temperature: 122 to 662 degrees Fahrenheit
• Material: Anodized aluminum
• CFM: 420

If your stove is located in a larger room, this fan should be powerful enough to distribute the stove’s warm air throughout the entire room. With its four-blade design, it can generate a whopping 420 CFM, significantly more than most other stove fans. It also starts working faster than most with its low starting temperature of 122 degrees Fahrenheit. A built-in protection system prevents the Premium 4’s motor from overheating, prolonging its lifespan.

Get the Valiant wood stove fan at Amazon.

Product Specs

• Blades: 12
• Operating temperature: 122 to 662 degrees Fahrenheit
• Material: Anodized aluminum
• CFM: N/A

With its two-motor design, this dual stove fan can generate more airflow than single fans can. Though each fan is smaller than a standard single wood-burning stove fan, each has six blades and its own motor. There’s also a built-in protection system that will raise the fan base off of the stove when it reaches extreme temperatures that could damage the motor.

Get the JossaColar wood stove fan at Amazon.

Product Specs

• Blades: 4
• Operating temperature: Max of 644 degrees Fahrenheit
• Material: Anodized aluminum
• CFM: N/A

This versatile four-bladed fan can be used for more than just a wood stove. That’s because it comes equipped with a slot on its base that allows one to secure it to the top of some space heaters. With its durable anodized aluminum construction, it’s also tough enough to survive outdoors, and it can endure being lugged around. Since it’s more compact than most wood stove fans, it’s easy to take on the road for camping trips or for use with a smaller wood stove.

Get the Cwlakon wood stove fan at Amazon.

Product Specs

• Blades: 4
• Operating temperature: 122 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit
• Material: Anodized aluminum
• CFM: N/A

This wood stove fan is solidly built and produces good airflow, helping to distribute heat from your wood stove or pellet stove throughout the surrounding room. It’s made from durable anodized aluminum and has a low starting temperature of 122 degrees Fahrenheit, so it starts blowing air through the room while the stove is still heating up. Affordably priced, the Tsendi also comes with a stove thermometer that allows you to monitor the stove’s temperature.

Get the Tsendi wood stove fan at Amazon.

What to Consider When Choosing a Wood Stove Fan

While performing my own research, I asked Smith a variety of questions to find out what factors are most important to consider when shopping for one of these wood stove accessories. Here’s what I learned.

Blades

The number and design of the blades impact how well the wood stove fan can distribute air throughout the room. Typically, fans with four blades do a better job of circulating air than fans with two or three blades.

But while you might be tempted to get a fan with more blades, Smith points out that fans made with fewer blades and lightweight materials will last longer and spring faster. “A lightweight material such as aluminum would be best so the fan blades will spin quickly without too much stress on the motor,” he says.

The blade design can also play a factor in how effectively the fan moves air. Some wood stove fans utilize curved or angled fan blades to blow air more efficiently.

CFM Rating 

A fan’s CFM rating measures how much air a fan can move per minute. This measurement is important because it indicates how well the wood stove fan can blow air through a room. That being said, while many manufacturers list the CFM ratings of their wood stove fans, they’re not always accurate. Most wood stove fan CFM ratings hover around 130 CFM, which is about enough to circulate warm air through about 400 square feet of space. Also, keep in mind that since wood stove fans have motors that use the stove’s heat for power, the speed will partially depend on the temperature of the stove.

Operating Temperature

Smith says that when selecting a fan, it’s important to pay attention to the temperature range of the unit, including the minimum temperature that is required to start its motor and the maximum temperature it can endure without suffering damage.

“Wood stove fans that are specific to the appliance usually have a temperature switch or a snap disk that senses a specific temperature before it will send power to the fan,” Smith says. “The temperature [the fan starts at] is usually between 180 and 220 degrees Fahrenheit.”

As the temperature of the stove increases, the fan will continue to speed up until it hits an optimal temperature, which is usually between 450 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Most wood stove fans have safety features that will raise the base of the fan off of the stove when the wood stove’s temperature exceeds 600 degrees Fahrenheit. This is done to prevent a fan’s motor from overheating.

Noise

Since wood stove fan motors are powered solely by heat from the stove, they tend to operate very quietly. Expect a wood stove fan to operate at decibel levels between 25 and 30, which is about the same noise level as a whisper. A fan’s build quality can also affect its noise level. Poorly made wood stove fans may have loose parts that create rattling or clicking noises while the fan is operating.

Materials 

Wood stove fans are usually made from anodized aluminum that can withstand temperatures of up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. While virtually all wood stove fans are made from this material, more durably built models use heavier-gauge aluminum than cheaper alternatives.

The Advantages of Using a Wood Stove Fan

A good wood stove fan can improve a wood stove’s ability to distribute heat, making it more efficient at heating your home.

“The advantage of adding a wood stove fan is you will push more heat quicker and be able to heat a larger area in a much more efficient manner,” Smith says.

And since it uses a motor powered by the heat of the stove, it doesn’t require electricity to function. Unlike fireplace blowers and other types of fans, wood stove fans make very little noise, so they don’t detract from the rustic appeal of a wood stove.

• Makes a wood stove more efficient by helping to distribute warm air
• Doesn’t require any electricity or a battery to operate
• Operates very quietly

Safety Tips for Using Wood Stove Fans

While a wood stove fan can help make a wood stove more efficient, it can also be a safety hazard. First, when positioning the fan on the stove, make sure it has enough clearance to accommodate the spinning blades. Wood stove fans get as hot as 600 degrees Fahrenheit (and sometimes even higher). And since the spinning fan blades are exposed on most models, they can cause injury to anyone who comes into contact with them. As such, it’s important to keep children and pets away from the fan. If you need to reposition the fan while it’s in use, be wary of the blade and wear a stove glove to avoid getting burned. Also, use the handle on the top of the fan to move it.

• Make sure there is enough space around the fan to accommodate the blades
• Keep children and pets away from the fan
• Use an oven mitt and grab the fan’s handle to reposition it while it is in use

FAQs  

Still have questions about how wood stove fans work and whether they’re right for your home? Read on for answers.

Q. Are two stove fans better than one?

Two stove fans are better than one when it comes to airflow. Most wood stoves are large enough to accommodate two stove fans. By adding one on each side to the stove’s top, you can maximize the circulation of warm air throughout the room.

Q. Do stove fans improve efficiency?

Stove fans do make wood stoves more efficient. By circulating the warm air outward, preventing it from rising directly to the top of the room, stove fans decrease a wood stove’s heat loss, thus improving the stove’s ability to heat a room. And since the stove fan doesn’t use any electricity, there’s no additional cost to operate it.

Q. How many blades is best for a wood stove fan?

Most wood stove fans have three or four blades. The more blades, the better the fan is able to disperse heat throughout a room, though the blade length and shape will also have an impact. More blades typically result in better performance, but a large number of blades also puts more drag on the motor, which can cause it to wear out more quickly.

 

Save Energy While Staying Cozy

Today’s energy-efficient space heaters warm individual rooms, so users needn’t heat unoccupied areas of the house. We tested the most popular space heaters on the market to find out which ones performed the best.