Reduced burn times with fan kit on?

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Mustard Tiger

Member
Feb 13, 2024
72
PNW
Just got the stove in the spring and have been using it the last several weeks. CAT has finally "calmed down" and it's no longer doing a 360 in the temp gauge and is a lot more predictable and stable after a few weeks of burning. But one thing I swear is happening is if I turn on the fan kit, burn times are noticeably reduced. Am I crazy or is this really a thing? If so, it doesn't seem to make sense to turn the fan on, even if I'm matching the fan speed to the thermostat setting because turning the fan on just makes the burn times way less, aiming the stove way less efficient and means I have to reload more often.
 
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That would be correct; the fan cools down the stove. The thermostat then "thinks" less heat is being produced and opens up the air.

So only use the fan if you need more BTU per hour than you can get without a fan running.
 
That would be correct; the fan cools down the stove. The thermostat then "thinks" less heat is being produced and opens up the air.

So only use the fan if you need more BTU per hour than you can get without a fan running.
Had no idea about that. If I did I probably wouldn't have added it as a feature along with the useless ash pan! Otherwise, the stove is awesome.
 
You can run it with the fan off, right? I didn't see anything in the manual about having to run it. I just ordered my Princess 32 and the shop strongly encouraged me to get the fan kit, which I did. But I was thinking I could run it without the fan unless I need it.
 
You can run it with the fan off, right? I didn't see anything in the manual about having to run it. I just ordered my Princess 32 and the shop strongly encouraged me to get the fan kit, which I did. But I was thinking I could run it without the fan unless I need it.
Of course you can run it with the fan off. Probably wouldn't have had it added on though if I knew it reduced the burn time is all.
 
Another thing I noticed is despite having the fan on, I didn't notice any improvement in circulation of the warm air to the more distal areas of the house, so for me the fan really offers no noticeable benefit.