[center12]

After a month of research, the Ballenger family decided to purchase a Harman Pellet stove. My house is all natural gas and I don't figure the price of a therm is going to go down so we figured we'd invest in an alternate heat source. Does anyone else use a pellet stove as a whole house heating unit? I'm too far into the game to back out, but thought maybe someone might have some helpful hints. Thanks in advance to any replies.

 

[Chris]

Charlie
My aunt had something similiar to the pellet stove. The unit sat outside, it looked like a shed and you loaded it up full of wood and it pump the heat through out the whole house. It keep her house very warm during the winter time.

Chris

 

[center12]

Chris, I looked at those but I'm getting to old and lazy to do eveything involved with wood,hehe.

 

[center12]

I'm buying from a very respected company(Harman) and saftey is my first concern. This stove will also burn up to 50% corn in it, so I could fall back on that a bit if needed. I have no fireplace in my house so decided this free standing stove would be best. I also remember all the crap my dad used to drag in the house when he brought wood in for the fireplace..........no thanks. Currently I can purchase pellets at 145$ a ton, should take 2 tons to get me through the heating season...........bets the heck out of natural gas!!

 

[bearcat]

Hey Charlie I have a friend that has a pellet stove and uses half corn. He has had it for 4 years and still loves it. His LP bill is very cheap. Heats his 1500 square ft home with it.

I am looking into geting a outside corn burning stove for my house. I can also hook it to my hot water needs and heat my shop with it.

Corn is fairly cheap you may check into that if you have a farmer close or a eleavator. Some seed corn companies give old seed away for free just to get rid of it. If you know someone that sells seed corn you may look at that.

 

[center12]

Thought very seriously about corn, in fact that's what got me started looking for an alternate heating source in the first place.

My problem with corn was the storage issue. Pellets come on a 4x4 pallet which I can deal with, but I don't know where I'd put 3 tons of corn in the garage. Pellets are in a sealed plastic bag and can be stored covered outdoors. I've also read that the stove manufactorers don't recommend seed corn as it is treated and could be a concern if burned indoors...........I don't know anymore than what I read. You will also need to screen your corn for stalks and grit, guess it plays hell with the feed auger. In the end I went the pellet route, wife will have to tend it when I'm on the night shift so have to make it as trouble free a process as possible. If you've got the resourses though, I'd be all over it.........cheaper heat for sure!!

 

[coalminer78]

This year corn is bad. I average 200 bushel an acre, this year it looks like 120 bushels an acre thanks to the summer drought. It could push corn prices up.

 

[bearcat]

Hey Coal miner. I am from nokomis. The corn down this way is ok. Early harvest results have been 120 on the light ground to 200 on the good ground. We are going to start shelling corn tomorrow. I tested some yesterday and it was 16.5 percent moisture. It is amazing how fast it has dried down. I will let you know how harvest goes.

 

[Kittyhunter]

HMMM. a stove that burns corn......Ain't that a still? So is that what y'all are telling the revenuers, "I'm a heating my house with it officer". "Them there coils is for the radiant heat in the floor." LOL!!!! Just kidding. I would think you would have to be careful with the corn though. They are bound to treat it with various chemicals, so when you burn it inside, wouldn't that be dangerous?

 

[bearcat]

The only corn that is treated with any kind of chemicals would be seed corn. All other corn can not be treated in any way with chemicals. If you do it has to be destroyed and not sold. Corn is very safe and efiecent heating source. Corn has 4 times the BTUs of propane. Plus it cost , at todays prices, 1/4 of propane.

 

[center12]

Just an update..........gas furnace hasn't kicked on yet this season(other than a test run). At last count I've burnt right at 140$ in pellets so far this season.........stove will pay for it's self sooner than I thought.

Will just have to be sure and buy pellets early next year, guess there is quit a demand!!

 

[jaycool]

Hey guys all i use is corn now and its clean works as good if not better then the pullets. Cost half of the pullets too .

 

[Little Mac]

Dad, cousin and Myself are discussing going to the multi-fuel pellet stoves. burns wood pellets,corn or biomass which I am guessing is a bit of everthing compressed into a pellet. Only concern we have is getting pellets. Buy them in the off season because as this winter has shown, they run out fast. We have burned with wood for as long as I can remember, but the mess, and the work involved is gettin to be a bit much for me to handle. Not to mention the what wood smoke is doin to my sinuses. LOL I was going to go total electric, but am thinking serously about this stove.

 

[center12]

A guy at work has a multi-fuel stove and he really likes the corn, only problem is that it has to be light. My stove is pellet only, but will turn itself off and on on it's own. I have better temp. control than him but he run's cheaper and it sounds like clean-up is also easier..........he did notice his flu pipe was very dirty with corn???????????

I don't think the pellet manufactorers were ready for this seasons rush, I'm betting they will stockpile this summer. I bought 3 tons at 130 a ton last summer..........hope I'll do the same this year. Either way, I'm betting I work up a sweat unloading pellets in August!!!

 

[TDawgNOk]

One of my parents neighbors sells the pellet stoves. He's been using them to heat his house for a couple of years and has dropped his average gas usage bill to less than $50. That's with heating water and cooking.

 

[bearcat]

There are different styles of corn stoves. Some are self igniting and self cleaning. I am still looking for one. Just havent decided which way to go.

On corn storage. If you are in an area with livestock. Check around with the local farmers and see if you can find a small bulk bin. Most of the time you can get one for a couple hundred or less and they will last for along time.

Glad to hear your pellet stove is working out good.

Around here the corn pellet stoves are sold out for the season.

 

[Ol Man]

I have burnt corn for two winters to supplement my primary heat source (nat. gas) here in West Central Illinois. It has cut my gas consumption in half, but I haven't taken the time to factor in the cost and maintenance of the corn burner. I clean the stove once a week. It takes about 15-30 minutes. I have to remove the clinker once a day. It burns about a bushel a day, and the corn is cleaned of stalks, cobs, and fines. I have a gravity wagon I purchased for $100 for storage. My cost per winter is approx $360. Not a whole lot of difference in the work involved in maintenance between it and a wood burner. Over all, I like it.

 

[center12]

Just got the gas bill today.........stayed in the mid $60's. Everyone else I've spoken to that uses nat. gas had a bill in the mid $200's...........plus we keep the house in the 70's. Paying for it's self real fast!!

 

[loop]

Guys just a word to the wise get your pellets early.
I work at Lowe's we went thru two trialer of pellets fast that was a month ago an haven't been able to get anymore.The demand far out weights the supply.
Loop

 

[TDawgNOk]

Yes it does loop. Buy in bulk and store it up.