Wondering what to look for when choosing the best stove fan for your home? We're here with all the answers along with a round up of the top 10 products around to ensure you get the very most out of your stove this winter.
Log burning stoves, along with multi-fuel, gas and pellet stoves, are all great at heating up a room and a method increasingly being used by homeowners keen to keep an eye on their electricity bills.
Stove fans really maximise the heat given out by stoves, helping it to project further out and around the space. Stove fans are designed to sit on top of the stove and circulate the warm air, distributing it evenly around the space. What's more, because they are powered by the heat generated by the stove, they require no power source or batteries.
If this sounds like a no-brainer to you, read on for our picks of the very best stove fans around to help you decide on a model that is right for you.
The Quick List
Not much time to spare? Here's a quick overview of the stove fans on this list, along with handy quick links that allow to you skip down the page to get right into a more detailed review of the particular stove fan that you like the look of.
Excellent, compact stove fan, perfect for small stoves. Operation is quiet and the design is discreet. It has a lower airflow range than some of the models – something for those with larger rooms to note – but that shouldn't be a problem for those with smaller spaces.
Cost-effective, simple, yet surprisingly effective — plus it comes complete with a highly useful and accurate temperature gauge. Users love how quiet it is as well as its efficient heat distribution capabilities — all despite its attractive neat, compact proportions.
This six blade stove fan really does pack a punch in terms of its ability to distribute heat, despite its size. This model measures just 12.5cm x 11cm, so it is the perfect choice for those concerned about having limited space above their stove or with smaller fireplace openings.
A truly tiny and neat stove fan that is ideal for anyone struggling to find a model that is suitable for an awkward, tight space above their stove. Despite its super small size, the Ecofan Original Mini has a highly impressive maximum operating temperature of 345°C.
The Sterling Ventures Fireplace Heat Powered Stove Fan is an eye-catching, stylish black and gold stove fan. Perfect for anyone who is looking to add a stylish little touch and draw attention towards their stove at the same time as maximising its efficiency.
This is the only twin-blade design in our round-up of stove fans. The 8 Blade Double Mini Heat Powered Stove Fan from UK Stove Fans features a total of eight blades all in all and, as such, has an excellent airflow. Even with its twin design, it doesn't take up too much space.
This is an excellent, compact stove fan that would be ideal for those with small stoves with limited space above — for example those placed in an alcove.
As with all the stove fans listed here, no batteries are required for it to operate — it simply kicks in once the stove reaches 55°C and switches off once it reaches 350°C, getting slower or faster as required. Operation is quiet and the design is discreet.
One negative of the compact size of this fan is that it has a lower airflow range than some of the models on this list (150 - 180 CFM.), which could be an issue in larger spaces but should not be a problem for those with smaller rooms.
If you want a thermometer you will need to buy one separately.
A basic, yet highly effective stove fan. While it has no magnetic base, this fan does come complete with a very accurate temperature gauge — making it a great buy for its very reasonable price.
Users praised it for its quiet operation and its highly efficient heat distribution capabilities, despite its handy compact proportions.
The design of the fan is unfussy and would blend in with any interior scheme and with a range of stove styles.
A little different in its design than some of the other fans here, this is a great stove fan for those who would prefer to keep the top of their stove clear of clutter as it is fixed to the flue pipe. It is also a brilliant option for contemporary freestanding stoves or those designed with sloped forms.
While it is more expensive than some of the other models out there, its airflow range is highly impressive — meaning you will use less fuel for burning in your stove. It also comes complete with a handy thermometer.
Tiny yet effective stove fan — perfect for small spaces
Our expert review:
Specifications
Dimensions: 5.9(D) x 6.8(W) x 7.3(H)cm
Weight: 680g
Blade: 2
Min. operating temperature: 85°C
Max. operating temperature: 345°C
Reasons to buy
+
Super compact
+
Lightweight
+
Quiet operation
Reasons to avoid
-
No thermometer
-
Expensive
This is a truly tiny stove fan that would be ideal for anyone looking for a fan that would fit into an awkward or tight space, such as a little inglenook.
Despite its small size, the Ecofan Original Mini boasts quiet operation and has a maximum operating temperature of 345°C.
On the downside, its airflow of just 85CFM is lower than many of the other models here, largely due to its size and it having just two blades rather than the more common four or five.
That said, users still praised it for upping the heating capabilities of their existing stoves.
5. Sterling Ventures Fireplace Heat Powered Stove Fan
Eye-catching design that belies its reasonable price tag
Our expert review:
Specifications
Dimensions: 14cm x 8cm x 20cm
Weight: 500 g
Blades: 2
Min. operating temperature: Unspecified
Max. operating temperature: Unspecified
Reasons to buy
+
Stylish appearance
+
Lightweight
+
Quiet operation
Reasons to avoid
-
Only suitable for wood burning stoves
This smart stove fan is ideal for those looking to add a stylish little touch to their stove at the same time as maximising its efficiency.
At just 500g it is lightweight — handy should you want to move it around to another stove in the house (although perhaps easier to knock over than some of the heavier fans we looked at.) You should also note that this is not one for those with gas or electric stoves as it is only suitable for log burners.
Contemporary appearance aside, the main benefits of this fan are its quiet operation, compact size and reasonable price tag.
6. UK Stove Fans 8 Blade Double Mini Heat Powered Stove Fan
Compact yet effective fan with stylish black satin finish
Our expert review:
Specifications
Dimensions: H13.5 x W20 x D11cm
Weight: Unspecified
Blades: 8 in total
Min. operating temperature: 50°C
Max. operating temperature: 300°C
Reasons to buy
+
Quiet
+
Compact
+
Good circulation thanks to twin fan design
Reasons to avoid
-
Expensive
The only twin-blade design here, the 8 Blade Double Mini Heat Powered Stove Fan from UK Stove Fans features a total of eight blades and has an excellent airflow thanks to a maximum speed of 1970RPM, despite its handy compact size.
Operation is praised for being quiet, while the design is subtle and easily blends in with the majority of stove styles, both contemporary and classic.
Another plus is the low starting temperature of 50˚C (lower than many of the other models here), meaning you can make the most of the heat given out by your stove as it comes up to its maximum temperature.
How to choose the best stove fan for you:
When choosing a stove fan that will be right for your home, you need to take into consideration how much space you have above your stove and how big the room your stove is located in is.
Airflow Range
Bigger rooms require stove fans with greater air-moving capacities — something measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). Therefore, stove fans with a higher CFM will mean you will use less fuel for burning in your stove.
Magnetic
Fans with a magnetic base 'stick' to the stove via a clamp that fits onto your flue pipe instead of sitting flat on the stove top. This is a feature that can be very useful if your stove is slightly sloping or has an irregular surface.
Temperature gauge
A temperature gauge is an energy-efficient features which lets you monitor the heat and performance of your stove fan. You can use it to optimise its efficiency which will prevent against damage from overheating.
Blades
Stove fans vary in the number of blades they possess, but a 4-blade fan is widely considered to be very effective.
How we review stove fans
Here at Homebuilding.co.uk we like to get our hands dirty and trial as many products as possible, but in the instances where we aren’t able to, such as the best stove fan, we leave no stone unturned to provide you with the crucial information you need to know before buying.
Our team is passionate about DIY and home improvement (which probably won’t be a surprise) so we already have knowledge about the brands that make these stove fans. Moreover, we have taken into account user reviews when compiling this buying guide.
There's a lot to consider to ensure you buy the best stove, and we’ve scanned the pros and cons of each stove fan in this buying guide to ensure you feel confident in choosing the right product for your home.
Currently being offered with a whopping 45% off, this log burner fan has been highly praised for how quiet it is as well as its impressive effectiveness — what's more it comes complete with a thermometer and buyers are offered a 6-month no-reason-asked money back and a 12-month free replacement policy.
With a faster speed and greater air air volume circulation than five or six blade models, this seven blade stove fan has a noise level of less than 25dB comes with a thermometer and thick pair of heat resistant gloves included.
Just when you were thinking seven blades was plenty, along comes an eight-blade stove fan. This model has a maximum wind speed of 2200r/min and a maximum air volume of 200CFM. The warm air transmission can reach 5 m/196.8 inch, and the room heating efficiency increases by 200%.
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Natasha is Homebuilding & Renovating’s Associate Content Editor and has been a member of the team for over two decades. An experienced journalist and renovation expert, she has written for a number of homes titles. Over the years Natasha has renovated and carried out a side extension to a Victorian terrace. She is currently living in the rural Edwardian cottage she renovated and extended on a largely DIY basis, living on site for the duration of the project. She is now looking for her next project — something which is proving far harder than she thought it would be.
