Corn Burning Stoves
Corn burning stoves are simply an alternative to other home heating methods. Corn burning stoves use corn kernels as fuel, as opposed to compacted wood pellets. Corn is a great alternative to wood pellets because they not only burn efficiently, but they burn cleanly as well. Corn burning stoves do not require the use of a standard chimney. In fact, you only need an “L” or “B” double wall vent to be able to vent them outside. Corn burns a lot hotter than wood pellets and corn burning stoves heat homes at 13,000 to 40,000 BTUs. In other words, it can easily heat one to one and a half floors of your home. These stoves are also much cheaper to fuel. From personal experience, wood pellets cost around $215.00 a ton, or $4.50 a bag. Corn however, can either be grown yourself, or can cost around $43 a ton, depending on your distributor. Corn burning stoves themselves cost around $1,200.00 upwards to around $1,900.00, whereas a standard pellet stove can cost anywhere from $1,000.00 to $3,000.00.
There are very few downsides to owning a corn burning stove. The most difficult part is getting the corn to fuel your stove. Most corn stoves are used in the mid-states where corn growing is much more frequent. It is harder to find a farmer to distribute their corn to you than to find a local store to buy wood pellets from. Also, many corn burning stove owners find there is not much difference between corn fuel and wood fuel, other than price. The good and yet, bad news, is that the maintenance of a corn burning stove is not any different than that of a wood burning stove.
In personal experience, I have found the corn burning stove to be very officiant and much cheaper. The stove easily heats the entire house quickly. The best advice for a new corn burning stove owner is to use a fan to help with heat distribution. A fan on the top of the stove, as well as a ceiling fan, can help circulate the heat and bring it to farther ends of your home, as well as a second floor. I have also found that while more difficult to come by, corn is much cheaper to burn. The easiest way to be sure you have enough fuel for the season is to buy the corn in bulk. Buying corn by the ton saves money as well as time. A great plus to corn burning stoves is that when burned, it gives off a great scent. Compared to a wood burning stove, I much prefer the smell of a corn burning stove, by far. I have also found after switching stoves, is that the air is not as dry in my house. Wood burning stoves remove any humidity in your house, making your skin, scalp and hair very dry. Corn burning stoves do not have as intense of an effect. However, if you still find that your house is dry, try placing a bowel of water on top of your stove to incorporate moisture into the air.
Corn burning stoves are becoming increasingly popular. They are cheap, easy to maintain, and very efficient. Corn burning stoves are also great for those who are on their way to a greener lifestyle. With all of the benefits of this particular stove, who wouldn’t want to make the change to a cleaner and cheaper lifestyle?
