Question for step top owners

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Tallweeds

New Member
Sep 4, 2012
20
south central KS
I'd like to get an Ecofan but not sure if I should go with one for a woodburner or the pellet/gas stove one. In my limited burning of my new stove, it seems the upper level of the step top doesn't get that hot, especially where the fan should be placed. The upper level temp ran 150-200 when the lower level was 400-500 at its hottest spot. The optimal temp range for the gas fan is 250-300 whereas the woodstove ones are 400-650. I'm thinking the gas stove one would work better. I need to burn some more and pay closer attention to temps and I could probably figure this out myself, but the weather has taken a turn for the worse and warmed up a lot. It was 87 today with no cool off in sight.

What are your upper temps like?

Do you have a fan and if so which one do you have?
 
Have you done any searching on here to learn about other burners' experiences with the Ecofans? They have been discussed here a zillion times. Mixed results, that's for sure. Some folks like them, other folks think they're just an expensive toy/decoration/conversation piece. I've never owned one, but in my applications I seriously doubt that an Ecofan would do anything for me. YMMV, of course. Rick
 
I did but I didn't find anything regarding which one for upper level of step top. As you say, results are mixed. I've already decided to get one, just trying to nail down which one would be best. I want to get the one that will work the best given temps. I haven't been able to do any extended burning or real hot fires yet so I thought I'd just throw this out there. Impatient and want to buy more toys I guess lol. I'll figure this out eventually, it will cool off.
 
Yeah man, I understand completely. My recommendation to you would be to try hard to muster up a bit of patience (believe me, I know it's sometimes difficult) and wait until you get some good experience with what temps you're going to see on both levels when you're burning in what you eventually determine your "normal" burning mode is going to be. Put thermos on both levels, burn the appliance to heat your living space, and the stove will tell you the answer to your question. Rick
 
We have the factory blower on the Republic, but it's a little different than yours, the air blows out from between the upper and lower levels. The Heritage Bay we had also had a factory blower (gas stove). I'd say they're even for moving hot air around. No experience with the fan you're talking about.

I'd say you need to do as fossil said and work with burning your stove, we usually cruise at 500 on the lower level, never put a thermo on the upper one nor the gas stoves.
 
And have you tried taking one of your smaller summer use fans and put it on the floor directing cool air from the farther reaches of your home toward the stove? That will get the air moving slowly in your home, and as it pushes cooler air very gently past your stove, the air will pick up some heat and spread it around. i always notice an appreciable climb in temperature when I do this, within half an hours. It spreads the het out pretty evenly. Does use a bit of electricty, won't work in a power outage, but a heck of a lot less expensive than an ecofan, and I suspect at least as efficient. Plus you don't have that ugly ecofan sitting on top of your beautiful new stove....
 
I have the factory blower too and it comes out same as yours, between the upper and lower level. Fan on high can be a bit annoying though. I was thinking about this fan in case power went out.

All points well taken. I do have a couple small fans and have lots of experimenting to do. I've learned a lot from these forums but have much more to learn. I will spend some more time reading as I wait for cooler temps to return.
 
After doing some good burning, the upper level only gets to around 250-300 tops where you could place a fan when then bottom level is around 680, and this is with the blower off. Turn it on and things cool down a good bit. I think the 806 would probably be the best fan for the job. I've come across this issue being talked about elsewhere with regards to lower temps on EPA and step top stoves, as well as gas stoves.
 
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