Corn Burner Stove Uses

Those little corn kernels pack a lot of heat.

Initially, corn stoves were designed to burn corn alone, but some modern stoves are multi-fuel appliances that will also burn wood pellets and other fuels, such as cherry pits. They require more hands-on maintenance than a traditional furnace and fuel must be transported, stored, and then transferred from storage to stove. However, corn burners consume readily renewable resources and offer the potential for decreased energy cost.

Heating Capacity

The amount of heat produced by a specific corn stove is expressed in British thermal units. Btu is a measurement of heating capacity that is used to determine the best type and size when selecting a heat source. The higher the Btu, the greater the heating capacity of a corn burner. Corn stoves are typically rated for 7,500 to 200,000 Btu.

Zone Heating

With zone heating, various areas in your building are heated separately. The smaller corn stoves that produce 7,500 to 8,000 Btu on the low setting may be suitable for zone heating. A sunroom, one-room addition, or other enclosed area in a home or business may be a candidate for corn stove heating. The size of the room and the heating capacity of the specific stove will dictate whether burning corn is suitable in a given situation.

Supplemental Heat Source

You can use corn burners as supplemental heat in homes that already have central heating installed. The thermostat for the traditional furnace can be set a few degrees lower than the optimum temperature. If the corn stove is unable to provide the optimum level of heat, the furnace will kick in to give it a boost. The goal in supplementing your heating system with corn is often the potential savings as utility costs increase. The cost of corn fluctuates, as well, so the amount of savings may vary from year to year. Stoves with mid-range Btu of 50,000 to 100,000 are suitable as supplemental heat, depending on the size of your home.

Primary Heat Source

Large-capacity corn burners (sometimes called corn furnaces) can replace traditional gas, propane, or electric furnaces as your primary heat source. Existing duct work can be used to distribute the heat produced by the corn burner. Corn stoves designed for whole-house heating have greater heat output (as much as 200,000 Btu) than those used for zone or supplemental heating. In small homes, a smaller stove in a central location may be able to heat the entire living space without ducts and vents.

Special Uses

In addition to providing cold-weather comfort for homes and businesses, corn stoves can be used to heat greenhouses, workshops, and garages. Large structures and those with low or non-existent insulation will require higher-Btu corn burners. Corn stoves are also a less expensive alternative to a fireplace, as they do not require the addition of a chimney.

References

• Iowa State University: The Corn Burner, An Alternative Heat Source
• Alternative Heating Info: Wood Pellet vs. Corn Stoves: The Choice May Be Out of Your Hands
• PennState College of Agricultural Sciences: Burning Shelled Corn -- A Renewable Fuel
• University of Connecticut: Corn -- A Home Grown Heat Source

Resources

• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: Burning Shelled Corn as a Heating Fuel