Smudge Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 We're considering getting an Ecofan, or something similar that you install on the top of your woodburning stove to circulate the warm air further around the room. It's placed on top of the stove and the temp difference between the base and the tops of the fan blades supposedly causes a small amount of electricity to be generated to turn the blades, so it costs nothing to run. But, all the blurb about them seems to be about stoves that are installed out in a room i.e. not in a fireplace alcove as ours is. So does anyone have any experience of these or know if it will still work with a stove set in a fireplace alcove? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Take a look at this thread from last year. I have one, and mine is in an alcove - as long as you have enough height above the stove, it works perfectly. I believe it's improved the way heat spreads through the room. I can't honestly give you any scientific proof, but I think it's better - my stove is in a corner of the room, and before I got the fan I felt there were cold 'pockets'. I think if anything, it's probably more useful in an alcove because at least it's flushing the heat out of the fireplace itself - you won't feel a breeze or anything like that, though, it's quite gentle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smudge Posted October 25, 2011 Author Share Posted October 25, 2011 Thanks Olly - it's reassured me that it will work ok in an alcove, and having checked out the thread you highlighted it seems it might be the answer to our problem. Our little cottage has a linked sitting and dining room, neither of which are very big, and we were hoping when the woodburner was installed in the sitting room that it would heat both rooms but we've found that whilst the sitting room gets almost over-warm, the dining room still stays cool enough to need to keep the radiator on in there. It does seem quite expensive but I suppose if it works then we should save some money in the long term by reducing the central heating bill. And we're lucky enough not to have to pay out for wood as my husband is a gardener and his clients supply all our needs for free! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 We have atove an alcove, and an Ecofan, and it works really well. You do have to make sure that it will fit though. Obviously it would work even better if it wasn't in an alcove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philious Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 Hi there I have decided to purchase a ecofan for our wood burner, I believe the area it should be placed is on the side but was wondering if I purchased two fans one for each side it would improve the efficientcy of the burner and push the warm air out quicker, what's your views on this or am I totally wasting my money with two? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 I think one fan should do the job on its own - you place them at the back of the stove, and mine has to go on one side because the stove pipe is in the middle. I don't know if two would be twice as effective, because they might interfere with each other - I'm no engineer, so that might not be the case! Interestingly, I've just had my chimney lined and the stove refitted, and the sweep noticed my Ecofan and said how good they are. I've never been completely sure whether it made a difference or not, so I was pleased to hear it confirmed from an expert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
