Propane Vs. Corn Furnace

Corn furnaces use shelled field corn to generate heat.

Both corn and propane furnaces offer methods of heating homes or other buildings. The differences between the two methods start with the fact that corn furnaces use a renewable fuel source, unlike propane furnaces.

Description

Corn-burning furnaces burn shelled corn to create heat. The heat is dispersed by a fan that pushes the heat into existing ductwork. The furnace requires an air vent to remove any smoke created by the furnace. Propane furnaces use propane gas to create heat and a blower to push it through the home's heating system.

Fuel

Corn furnaces use bags of shelled field corn, which is carried by hardware or seed companies. The corn requires proper storage in a clean, dry place. Propane fuel for propane furnaces comes from a tank that holds hundreds of gallons of the gas. Homeowners arrange for delivery of the propane fuel to a tank located next to the house.

Expense

Both propane and corn burn with about the same efficiency. However, propane costs substantially more than shelled corn when you compare how much of each fuel it takes to warm a building to a certain temperature.

References

• Green Heat, Inc.: Corn Facts
• Furnace Compare: Propane Furnace
• Iowa State University: The Corn Burner, An Alternative Heat Source; Josh Sievers, et al.

Resources

• Intrepid Creativity: Home Heating with Corn, Wood, Propane Cost Comparison; Brian Mork; Oct, 2010