Alderlea owners: question about 'ecofans'

[dochockin]

We are the recent owners of a Alderlea T5 and are very happy with it. Due to the setup in our house, we have one section of our main room that could use some extra air movement sideways from the stove.

I tried my brothers regular ecofan last week and it made a big enough difference that I'd like to get one for our stove. It did require moving the trivets and placing the fan on the main stovetop. I understand that 'gas/soapstone stove' (lower temp) ecofans exist as well. Does anybody have any experience using this style of ecofan on the closed trivets of an alderlea? Does the fan spin quickly enough?

Thanks!

 

[KodiakII]

I made the mistake of listening to a dealer who advised me the t6 didn't need the optional fan. Ended up better off anyway, got an aftermarket one way cheaper than the PE one, and funny thing it is IDENTICAL to the factory one. Point of the rant?? If you don't have a blower on it get one.

 

[madison]

Agree with KodiackII -

the optional blower allows for a lot more flexibility for regulating heat output with various sized loads - ie shoulder season etc as well as all out heating in the dead of winter. We went one yr without the blower, to me, it is was "night and day" difference, especially if you are heating a large area/volume. Ecofan may be all you need if the stove is in a small area - otherwise, it would be my recommendation to add the blower.

 

[dochockin]

I haven't considered the blower for a few reasons. Primarily the area that needs the extra heat/air transfer is perpendicular (sideways) compared to the direction the stove faces. Doesn't the blower blow towards the glass? How would this help get warm air sideways?

I'm also not too keen on a loud fan noise, or using electricity (other wise I could just use a floor fan blowing sideways). We did find the ecofan helped when we borrowed one.

I'm specifically interested in peoples experience with 'gas/soapstone' rated ecofans and the Alderleas.

 

[madison]

the fan is mounted on the bottom back of the stove and blows air up the back and out over the top, hot air exits the via the trivets, IMHO the OEM fan we received is not noisy. The fan assists the convective air flow over the stove body.

 

[Nocattom]

Hey kodiakll. I do not have a fan, was just to much at the time.but am very interested in the aftermarket one. Could you give me a link to to it

 

[jetmech]

I have used the fan that mounts to the stove to cool my pipe and stove top when it gets a little too hot.. it is nice to have if for no other reason.

 

[loon]

Hi dochockin..

Just read your thread here and am in the middle of trying to figure out what is the best way to get this ecofan working right on my T5? Buddy of mine gave it to me yesterday and i like it alot as its pushing hot air into the den which is to the left of this picture. Havent heard of the soapstone fans but will be watching this thread to see how you make out

I might even take the right hand trivet off the stove

Hmmmm! looks like the top could use a good dusting

loon

 

[loon]

Took the grate off and the fan is pulling cool air in and hot air out
But Mrs loon aint too impressed with the look of it

 

[jetmech]

Hey Loon, just so you know.. my T5 door looks just like that during typical burns.. what kind of single wall temps are you getting on reloads, and does you pipe temp sometimes go up like hour or so into burn like a short spike up... thanks, The jet

 

[loon]

Hi jet Still pretty mild here so running the T5 pretty much closed

It does just go into the burn zone then cruise around 250f,trying to remember from last year about the spike? but not sure?
Its supposed to go down to -10c tonite so hoping i can get the afterburners blazing and will keep an eye on it to see if there is a spike
Pretty sure the glass is like that from pulling the coals forward for the reload?

loon

 

[begreen]

Hmmm, my glass stays clear at the bottom. Check your gasket, especially around the bottom. Make sure there aren't any fragments of coals embedded in the gasket. It also might be worth doing the dollar bill test on the bottom the next time the stove is cool enough.

 

[loon]

Was thinking the same thing last week bg and it seemed fine? We still havent had a good day with a full fire as it gets way too hot in the house..

I'll blame Mrs loon for that

 

[begreen]

Sounds like you will be able to fire it up with a full load tonight. If that doesn't burn off, check the gasket seal.

 

[loon]

Will do

How's the T6 running this year?

Not too worried about the soot on the glass as i am pretty sure it has something to do with the coals and slow burn

 

[begreen]

The T6 is doing well. I replaced the door gasket this season. Burning soft maple right now which is not my favorite. It produces lots of ash and not as much heat as doug fir, but it's what we have stacked and ready. I'm not breaking into the hardwood stash unless it gets well below freezing.

 

[KodiakII]

Hey kodiakll. I do not have a fan, was just to much at the time.but am very interested in the aftermarket one. Could you give me a link to to it

Looked and looked, but it appears they have gone out of business. Was under the web site bestfireplacefans.com.