I do a weekly clean out where I shut down the stove and vacuum out the burn chamber and the heat exchanger, I decided to empty the bin so I could inspect the feed auger. I vacuumed out the fines from the bin and the auger chamber. Does not take long at all less than an hour. It will be interesting to see how the stove does with the sub zero highs coming up, I have a feeling it will be just fine I have not had to turn it up past 40% yet. I am amazed how much less dust and dryness there is and the even heat is awesome.
Oh it does really well I still have not turned the corn feed past 6 and the blower speed past 5. Pros, even heat 24/7. So much easier than wood it is cleaner. The indoor air quality is so much better less dust, more humidity. Cons are you have to empty the corn burn bin every day and a half, you have to shut the stove down and relight. The other is weekly the stove needs to be shut down and cleaned, I use the shop vac to clean the inside of the stove and it goes pretty quick. Will see with this months electric bill if it was like it was last month most of the corn cost will be covered by the savings in electricity cost. I am very glad I bought my corn stove over a pellet stove my corn stove is very simple with 2 thermocouples 1 for the corn feed and 1 for the heat blower, no circuit boards, no vacuum sensor like they have on the pellet stoves.
E-Bay you can get a corn stove for $999 free shipping, I got in early on that deal and got my stove for $799 free shipping.
-4 outside 72 inside. A little more than that buying corn closer to home paying more but it is cleaner.
Kinda digging what your saying Sota. No chainsaws,splitters,bugs,mess.whats not to like. Will say, I really do like cuttn wood on a nice sunny/ no wind day in 10-20* temp days. Peaceful
I used to love to run a chainsaw, I loved cutting down trees that were on fire, I was "lucky" enough to be saw qualified when the blowdown happened in the BWCA. I ran a saw all day every day for 2 weeks at a time and loved it, then 2-3 years ago the thrill was gone. I used to run a saw like I was not held enough as a child I could rip thru a tree or clear a path fast as hell. Can't do it anymore. At one point I was one of 250 people that ran a chainsaw in the BWCA, seems like a long time ago.
This was about 1990ish. Worked for MN forestry division in Detroit lakes. Worked fire suppression. We got called to get to Duluth asap for some training. Can't remember what the emergency was? I didn't go because of some family matters. Yes, smoke chaser is a better term, my bad.
They were taking pick up crews to go west, the mob center is the Natl guard armory there in Duluth, slept many a night there waiting for the crew to show and travel out. I have to quit talking about fire, makes me miss it.
Still $0.59/bu above market price. Find a local farmer! Edit: Just realized this post was a month ago, but still!
So I tried a 3-1 mix 3 parts corn 1 part pellets. Really did not notice a difference in extra heat or longer clean out schedule.
So I spend a little over $200 a month on corn, my electric bill has been over $200 less per month. Best investment I have ever made in the house. I think I have my wife talked into putting $100,000 into the place, kind of a love it or list it kind of deal. Putting $100,ooo in would still be cheaper than the amount it would take to be on a lake. Can you tell I really do not want to leave?