Valiant (FIR361) Premium IV 4-Blade Heat Powered Log Burner & Stove Fan, Black

Product Information

Place the stove fan as near as possible to the rear and side of the flue pipe, not directly in front of the flue pipe as this may impair performance The optimum position is on the flue collar, or if not practical, as close to the collar as possible for a stable reliable place for monitoring the stove and flue gas temperature . My review looks at the best and most popular stove fans currently on the market for the winter of 2021, 2033 and going into 2023. I list the features of each model (all very similar to be honest) and explain what it is about them that makes them important and useful.

stove fan 2023: Enjoy heat from your wood burner Best stove fan 2023: Enjoy heat from your wood burner

Had been researching stove fans for a while, but didn’t jump at buying until I could find one that would fit our stove. This is very compact, and possibly one of the smallest (according to Valiant) on the market right now. Out of the box, there is nothing to set up, just pop it on the stove, and within a few minutes, it will start to spin. If you have not yet got one, I would suggest getting a stove thermometer. The fan itself is not totally quiet, you will hear a whirring noise, especially as it speeds up, but its not annoying. There is a bi-metal device on the bottom to prevent it from overheating, should the surface temperature get too hot. It works by literally lifting the fan up off the hot surface, but I would remove it if the safety device cuts in. Does it work? I think it does. At first, we thought its not pushing out much heat, but it works on movement of air – convection, rather than a force blow like a fan heater. The stove might appear cooler, but the room is definitely warmer, I would say by up to 30% more. For us, that is a huge difference. The optimum effect is reached around 200 – 250 degrees C, but it works at much lower temps. The unit is fairly robust, the fan is well made, if anything the unit could be a little on the light side, but its so compact, this will fit on any stove. Its also something of a talking point, as its a mystery to some how it works. With no batteries! 2 year warranty, which is good, and I think, we’ll be putting less wood on the stove, and that’s what really matters.So, you have a wood burner, log burner or multi-fuel stove. It looks fantastic and everyone thinks it’s great… but friends and family alike fight to sit the closest - a little too far away and it’s just not warm enough! A Stove Fan does two things; firstly it keeps itself at the optimum operating temperature, and secondly it drives the warm air into the room, creating improved airflow. Stove fans are designed to create a gentle airflow around the room so that the room will feel more evenly heated instead of being hot near the fire and colder the further away you move.

Valiant (FIR361) Premium IV 4-Blade Heat Powered Log Burner

Its optimum operating range is from 80°C to 250°C which is pretty standard. As with most other fans, the blades of this model spin faster the hotter the stove becomes. Despite the four large blades, the Philips screws on the motor mounting can be accessed on the front of the fan. The replacement of any interchangeable parts doesn’t require a great deal of knowledge and experience in such things and can be accomplished by using everyday tools. The magnetic thermometer indicates the optimum burn temperature for your stove ensure the most effective and efficient heating results I started testing stove fans around 6 years ago and in that time have been able to test quite a few of the best stove fans at varying price ranges. At first, I thought they weren’t much difference between them. However, after trying a few different models for longer periods of time it became clear that they do in fact make a difference, some more than others and it all comes down to the design of the blades.

The robust design and strong magnet of the Stove Thermometer means that it’s suitable for use on any hot steel or iron surface, including stoves, BBQ, ranges, patio heaters, flue pipes or chimineas. If a stovetop gets too hot it can actually damage the stove fan and void the warranty. I recommend you use a stove-top thermometer to monitor the temperature of the stove. Most stove fans have a maximum temperature that they can handle which is usually around 350°C. Stove fans are a fantastic innovation that can dramatically improve the warmth given out from your stove. Whilst your stove may look the part, be easy to operate and be relatively inexpensive to maintain and run, it can take a while for it to warm up a room, especially a big room. Using a stove fan will heat the room up in a fraction of the time, and is a really easy way to maximise the warmth you get from your stove. A stove fan will also reduce the heat dependency from your stove thereby saving you money in the long term on fuel costs. Fuel quality is the single most important aspect of making a successful fire. To burn effectively the moisture content of firewood needs to be less than 20%, whether it’s being used in an open fire or a stove. Freshly felled timber can have a moisture content of between 30% and 60%, which when burnt can cause dangerous creosote build-up in chimneys.

Valiant Premium IV Stove Fan with Magnetic Thermometer

Unlike most stove fans, the Valiant Premium has an ultra-low startup temperature. It activates at temperatures as low as 50 degrees Celsius (with a maximum operating temperature of 340 degrees Celsius). Even better, it pushes air at the tremendous rate of 350 CFM (cubic feet per minute). Best of all, it’s got an extremely low profile, and is significantly smaller than its predecessor, the Valiant 4-blade fan that it replaces. This enables it to fit into low and very small openings, making it more useful and versatile (able to be used in conjunction with a wider variety of wood stoves). The newly designed fan is merely 20cm high, 18cm wide, and weighs a scant 0.55kg. That might sound tiny (and it is), but you should know that this is NOT the smallest fan that Valiant makes, nor is it the fan that pushes the most air. For that, you’ll want the Ventum III, which we cover in another article. The Valiant FIR350 Remora Magnetic Flue Pipe Heat Powered Stove Fan which attaches to the flue pipe also needs to have access to cool air. Don’t place this at the bottom of the pipe near the stovetop, but move it a little way up the pipe. You may need to experiment with the distance as the fan still needs to be near the hot spots of the pipe. How do stove fan work? The Voda 6 Blades Heat Powered Stove Fan may be equipped with six blades but it’s just as quiet as the single three-bladed models. Many stove users consider the four-blade models the best choice for large rooms, but this 6-bladed stove fan takes performance to the next level: it distributes 6 cubic metres of air per minute. When compared with a three-blade circulation device, the 6 Blades Stove Fan increases heat distribution by 90%. There’s a general agreement amongst online reviewers that this model puts out more power than a three-blade model but there is some disagreement as to whether it is as powerful as a four-blade fan, which has larger blades. This is why I still think the 4 blade model I use is probably better. The carry handles enable hassle-free portability. This is a useful feature on this extra-large fan. Finally, this product is covered by a two-year warranty which is in line with the Valiant stove fans. Pros Strong magnetic clamp that attaches to the stove’s flue pipe so you don’t need to have a stove with a flat top.

With the stove fan, the living room feels warm throughout and even the kitchen does too. To give you more of a perspective, my living room and kitchen combined create an L-shape, half in the living room with the fire in and the other half in the kitchen. The VonHaus XL 4 Blade Stove Fan stove fan really works (as stated) and is a great choice for those who have the space for a larger stove fan.