Heat Your Home With Corn!

1. Do you have a problem with mice or mold?
   

Mice- If you keep things swept up and tidy mice are not a problem. When
        we stored our corn in bags then, yes we had mice.
   

Mold- If you store corn in a damp place like a basement for a long
        period of time, like over the summer, than, yes, mold will develop.
        We have found that it is best to use up all the corn at the end
        of the heating season to avoid this and other problems.

 

2. How do you store your corn?

 

Corn can be stored in plastic cans or crates.  This could be a storage bin or a trash can.  Some people store their corn in grain bins that gravity feeds the corn down into the basement. The corn is delivered by truck with bulk prices.
 

3. How much do you buy at a time?

It depends on how much you can store at one time.  Some people store a week at a time and some store in bulk.

 

4. How much corn do you use yearly on average?

The amount of corn used each year depends on how cold the winter is.  Just like any other fuel the colder the more fuel you use.

5. What quality of corn do you use?

The corn used comes from the local grain elevator and is the same field corn that is fed to horses, and other farm animals--shelled corn.  The elevator dries the corn to 14%, which is just fine for our purposes.

 

6. Is it true that you can't have cobs or other debris?

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.   
Debris that is as small as corn kernels are okay, as long as it can be augured.  We have had rabbit pellets, sticks, bits of cob, and small stones.  BUT, it is the dust that can be a problem for the auger. It builds up, then binds up the auger, and builds up at the bottom of the fire pot.  Not good.  There is going to be some dust, but the less dust the better.  If we find a load of corn is pretty dusty we use a screen as we put it into the hopper.  It takes a little time, but not that much
more than normal to move the corn.

7.  Are the clinkers that build up a problem?

Yes, clinkers can build up and turn rock hard then block the corn feeding into the bottom of the fire pot.  The remedy is simple.  Run a clinker tool around the inside of the fire pot and break them up regularly.  The hotter the fire, the more the clinkers build up. 

8. How often does the hopper have to be filled up?

Again, that depends on how cold the weather is--the colder it is, the more fuel will be used.  Some people have gone away for a week at a time in March and in April and there was no problem.  Try doing that with a wood stove!!

9. What is the worst part about having a corn burner?

It can take time to get the hang of keeping the fire going.  The draft has to be right.  But like a wood stove, corn burners take some adjustment.  Once you get it figured out it will burn all winter just fine.

10. What is the best part about having a corn burner?

It is so clean!  Nothing can be seen coming out the chimney.  It is a clean, renewable source of fuel which costs about the same as buying firewood.  It is great helping our farmers too!!