Corn vs Wood Pellet vs Gel Stoves

[Scotty370]

I've got two Jamestown Pellet stoves. One here in Buffalo, and one in an East Otto Summerhouse/deer camp. I love them both, even though there 15yrs old, and (I'm sure) are old technology. In Buffalo, I've also got a Heatalator, fireplace that I no longer use. I cut/scrounged, wood for years for the fire place, pallets, hardwood etc. My home has and open staircase, and with the pellet stove at the base of the stairs, it heats the whole house. I rigged up two thermostats, and set the gas furnace a couple degrees lower than the pellet stove . If the pellets run out, the furnace will kick on. In the cottage, we have a 5' open hearth fireplace. Dad's old homestead! I blocked it and put in the Jamestown insert. Pros: Even heat, unattended for 8-12 hours! No tramping in wood, bark, snow, from trips to the wood pile! No billowing ash with cleaning (its almost 'sand' consistency) Cons: Pellet supplys have varied over the years, but I think its better now. $5- a bag, You do need power! I'm unfamiliar with the battery back-up approach. But it's clean, rodentproof, fuel. I have had to replace the exhaust blower in each unit, and Jamestown isn't the most responsive vendor. I'd check E-Bay. Bought my insert on EB, and had to drive to Allentown PA, but saved some cash. ~Scotty

 

[schmism]

I'd go with wood, I have heard of many corn/pellet stoves that break after a year or two.

I have no personal experience with burning corn but I have read it draws moisture.

i just helped a friend that has a 4 year old corn burner. stopped working after the second year. mosture seems to have killed both the intake air blower and auger motor.

his was about $3K. And is an insert type.

a stand alone unit may last longer and have less issues with mosture IDK. just speaking from his experience. (took us about 2 hrs to pull the motors off the back)

 

[BarryinMN]

Your 100lb corn bags may be feed corn -- NOT CLEANED!! Corn stove bags are typically 50 lb. Corn stoves must have cleaned corn repeat cleaned corn.

I've been burning corn in a Bixby corn pellet stove. 24/7 since before thanksgiving. ~1/2 - 1 1/2 bags day depending on outside temp. At -33 outside it keeps the basement +45 or so, mainfloor 70+@ full output. This week I've started mixing a cup of wood pellets in with the corn and it has eliminated jammed klinkers.

Bixby is probably the most complex computer controlled machine on the market. I clean it about once a week takes 15 mins to take apart wash parts with warm water & while the parts air dry I vacuum out the firebox area. There is a USB port to noodle & fine tune the burn real time.

Starting is simply push the ON button. The machine fills the burn pot & runs a hot air pump to light the flame.

My propane boiler went from primary heat to not lit this year.

I bought the machine used on craigslist for $1k including the chimney parts. At first I bought a ton of corn from a local farmer but my temporary storage wagon tarp ripped so now I buy a few bags at a time from the co-op in town while doing other errands. The co-op also gives $0.50 credit for returned bags.

Propane heat gets me 62-65f and costs $1600. Corn will cost about $450 and 10f higher house temps this season. Bulk wood pellets are about $20/ton cheaper than bagged corn but I like the convenience.

 

[yooperdave]

I already have a fuel oil furnace in the basement which provides reliable heat.

I did not like the smell of the house when burning logs in the fireplace - the flue was not venting properly, and way too much smoke in the house.

I just wanted ambient fire which could also be used for heat if so desired.

It is a shame to have a fireplace and not use it - especially deep in the woods.

Regards,

Yooper Dave

 

[Scotty370]

Going back to my previous post: I failed to mention venting. When I installed the one in Buffalo, it was simple! A 3' double wall pipe w/thimble, thru the wall! In the fire place insert install, I had to run a 4" stainless liner (pricey) up to the top of the 'beastly' 30' chimney. No smoke from either. As an aside, and to throw out some 'Flaming-Bait', I've just got a personnal problem, burning 'food'! Thus, I'm not a Corn advocate. I've got the same feeling with Ethanol, But, my son ranches cattle, and the spike in feed prices, may lead my views, to be skewed with those of others! ~Scotty

 

[20 20]

Scotty370; there was a time when the native indians ate tree material, wonder if they had a problem with burning food . I say if it is renewable and done properly why not?

As far as ethanol goes it doesn't save the customer anything{opposite IMO}but makes $$$ for the oil companies. My opinion about ethanol, tears apart our engines and brings MPG down, so how does that help?

 

[dave1949]

I already have a fuel oil furnace in the basement which provides reliable heat.

I did not like the smell of the house when burning logs in the fireplace - the flue was not venting properly, and way too much smoke in the house.

I just wanted ambient fire which could also be used for heat if so desired.

It is a shame to have a fireplace and not use it - especially deep in the woods.

Regards,

Yooper Dave

Sounds like what you really want is a fireplace Maybe a rebuild of the existing fireplace would be something to check into?

If you could get a mason who knows how to build a real Rumford fireplace, maybe that would do the trick for you. You get some heat and lots of ambiance plus a place to toast marshmallows, pop popcorn, etc.

Dave.

 

[Luremaker]

...As an aside, and to throw out some 'Flaming-Bait', I've just got a personnal problem, burning 'food'! Thus, I'm not a Corn advocate. ... ~Scotty

I heat my shop with a true multi fuel burner. I can burn wood pellets, corn, wheat, rye, oats etc. Most years there is grain available which is not suitable for either human or animal consumption. Its available cheap and produces nice heat. Right now I am burning low quality corn mixed with a few wood pellets. Last year I burned mostly poor quality wheat that I picked up for $30.00 a tonne.

 

[charlz]

I just wanted ambient fire which could also be used for heat if so desired.

Well, a pellet stove has all the ambiance of a blast furnace.

 

[forgeblast]

In our basement we have two 3brick lp burners. they work great on low to take the chill out of the air and keep the well/water pipes warm. Get a snowman tank and you will be good for a month even on the higher sections (larger tank bigger then the 100#'s look like a snowman).

anyone have a gel stove?