Blower speed vs heat output

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soxfan13

Member
Hearth Supporter
Nov 10, 2007
88
eastern MA
I usually keep my blower speed on high but in an attempt to get longer burn times have tried lowering the fan speed. It seems to affect the rate of burning ( lower the speed, slower the burn). Is this true for most of you? ...For inserts or stoves too?

Also, I can't get the thought out of my head that I am wasting the heat output of the wood because when the blower is on low less heat is coming into the room. Am I right, or does the longer burn time for the same amount of wood counter that point?

Thanks for your advice.
 
I've never noticed a corralation between fan speed and burn time. I usually keep mine on low overnight or the place will become overheated. I think that if burn time seems longer with the fan on low, then I would keep it low overnight or other times when when extended times are wanted. We're expecting some cold tomorrow night so I may just leave my fan on high and evaluate what is left in the AM. I'll get back to you after trying my experiment.
Rich
 
AFAIK your stove is not thermostatically controlled. It is controlled by you so if you burn less wood it is because you close it down more. If you cool the stove too much, you could be taking it out of the sweet spot where ideal secondary combustion occurs.

My stove has a thermostatic control and so is affected not only by fan speed but also the icy cold air drawn in through the OAK.
 
As long as you are getting efficient combustion, a load of wood is going to put out the same total amount of heat no matter what the burn rate.
 
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