Heat Powered Wood Stove Fan – Why the Ecofan Is Worth It
If you own a wood stove and want to maximize its efficiency, a heat powered wood stove fan is one of the best accessories you can add. I’ve been using the Ecofan wood stove fan for over eight years, and it’s easily one of the most valuable tools for heating our off-grid home.
Why Use a Heat-Powered Wood Stove Fan?
Unlike electric fans, the Ecofan runs purely on the heat generated from your wood stove. This simple yet powerful design saves energy and money by:
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Circulating warm air faster – pushing heat throughout the room instead of letting it sit near the stove.
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Reducing heating costs – because the warm air spreads evenly, your home heats up quicker.
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Noise-free operation – these fans are virtually silent, so you enjoy the warmth without distraction.
The hotter your stove gets, the faster the fan blades spin. As the stove cools, the blades naturally slow down.
Pictured here is the fan that is sitting on my wood stove – it is an Airplus Eco fan that was made in Canada by Caframo.
Built to Last – Made in Canada
My current fan is the Airplus Ecofan, manufactured by Caframo, a Canadian company based in Ontario. Caframo has been in business for over 60 years and is a leader in thermoelectric fans, overhead stirrers, and specialty fans. Their products are known for durability, and my own Ecofan proves it—still running strong after nearly a decade.
How Does an Ecofan Work?
The Ecofan uses thermoelectric technology. Inside, tiny semiconductors respond to the temperature difference between the base of the fan and the top surface. This creates electricity, which powers the small motor that spins the blades.
It’s a fascinating process—no batteries, no cords, just pure heat-to-electricity conversion.
Where Should You Place the Ecofan?
Placement matters. For best performance, place your Ecofan:
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On the flat surface of your wood stove
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Toward the side or back (not in front of the stovepipe)
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Where it can draw cooler air from behind and push warm air forward
Maintenance and Care
Another benefit of the Ecofan is that it’s maintenance-free. Other than wiping it occasionally with a damp cloth, there’s no upkeep required.
Ecofan Options for Different Stoves
While the original Ecofan is designed for wood stoves with surface temperatures between 85°C and 345°C, Caframo also makes fans for other heating appliances:
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Ecofan BelAir – designed for gas and freestanding pellet stoves (works between 75°C–200°C).
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Ecofan UltrAir 810CAKBX (Mid-Size) – excellent for medium-sized spaces, available for around $129.99 CAD.
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Ecofan AirMax 812AMKBX (Large) – ideal for larger homes, priced around $170.00 CAD.
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Ecofan Original 800CAXBX – the model I’ve used for years, still available for about $83.00 CAD.
All are available on Amazon and other stove accessory retailers.
My Experience
Our home is roughly 3,500 sq ft, and even the original Ecofan does an impressive job moving warm air around quickly. It has saved us money on heating bills and made wood stove heating much more efficient.
If you’re looking for a long-lasting, quiet, and efficient heat-powered stove fan, I highly recommend the Ecofan. It’s an investment that pays off every winter.
One thing I really like about the Eco fan is the non-existent notice. There is virtually no noise when this fan is working.
The pictures above are the new larger Eco Fans – these are more expensive than the original fan, but they push the air far better.
Ecofan 810CAKBX UltrAir Mid-Size Heat Powered Wood Stove Fan, Made in Canada, Nickel
Ecofan 812AMKBX AirMax Large Heat Powered Wood Stove Fan, Made in Canada, Nickel
The Orginal Eco Fan that I have on my wood stove is the one below. It can be purchased for around $83.00 CDN
Ecofan – Original 800CAXBX Fan
I have had the same Ecofan for many years and am very satisfied with it. Our home is about 3500 sq ft and this little fan doesn’t take long to push the heat around this house.
© 2017 – 2025, Teresa. All rights reserved.
Oooh I like the idea of the fan and it seems to work brilliantly and saving you a bunch compared to those very very expensive high energy systems they can install into your ceiling. Awsome idea. I love that its powered by the heat of the fire and regulated by it as well. So cool!
They are excellent fans, we have been using the same one for a long time and no electrical costs associated with using this type of fan.
I will have this on my mind when I start using a wood stove. I am going to buy a wood stove soon.
Thank you for this info.
What a great idea. A heater for your room without the added cost of electricity. This would have come in so handy when I was growing up.
We had a farm we used to visit each weekend, and the winter nights were freezing. We used to heat up bricks in the wood stove to put in our beds.
Imagine how much better it would have been to sit in the kitchen with this wood stove fan, instead of retiring to bed early as it was the only warm place to be.
Hi Michel, we didn’t have those cold winter nights with a wood stove and bricks, but I have when out camping used hot rocks from the fire to keep us warm at night. This fan would have certainly helped to circulate the heat back then.
I’d never heard of these before for wood stoves. However, we’re looking to install a pellet stove in our new home and this looks like a great option to keep the heat circulating into the whole home without using electricity. Definitely sounds like something to look into!
Thanks for sharing this!
These are really great and long lasting. I love ours! It really does help to push the hot air helping to heat the whole house.