My stove came with a blower but I didn't install it. I needed it to fit further back into a fireplace opening than it could've with the fan installed. I blow a table fan towards one side and it blows hot air out the other side of the fireplace. I usually get the stove to at least 500 before I kick the fan on. It seems once the fan is running the stove doesn't get much hotter. Once the stove it hot it definitely puts more heat into the house with the fan running.