Anybody burn corn?

[GenghisJon]

I know alot of pellet stoves can burn corn as well but it doesn't seem like many people do, am I right in assuming it's not cheaper?

I know they seem a lot more expensive but I have no idea how they burn compared to pellets.

 

[tsmith]

When I started burning about 4 years ago it was cheaper, but a lot more work. Right now it is not worth the extra work for the price of corn. I'm not so sure I would go back at all any more.

 

[rona]

I know alot of pellet stoves can burn corn as well but it doesn't seem like many people do, am I right in assuming it's not cheaper?

I know they seem a lot more expensive but I have no idea how they burn compared to pellets.

I farm so my situation is different then a lot on here. I started burning corn as it was a lot cheaper then fuel oil. I started with a PC45 Harman which will burn corn or pellets. After a year I switched to a Quad AE as it advertised 60,000 btu instead of 45 like the Harman and I needed more heat. Then after a season of problems I bought a Bixby. These 3 stoves are advertised as multi fuel units and will burn pellets or corn or a mix.
Corn is priced about 4.15 now which is cheaper then pellets around here. The last few years seen corn 5.00 to 8.00 so pellets were cheaper.
If you can get clean dry corn from a farmer I like a mix as it gives the best advangages of both. One other bit of wisdom is don't carry over corn from one season to the next. If you have some left over I would sell it or feed it to the birds etc. You can get bugs or moths in it if it gets wet or goes out of condition

 

[Bioburner]

Corn is about 145 per ton at today's market. I bought my supply of pellets for the season at 188 per ton. The newer better multifuel stoves can burn straight corn very well. One needs to be setup with the ability to handle bulk with corn. I could probably have corn bagged and would be about the same price as pellets. I put our leftover corn in covered drums with a hand full of moth balls to keep all the critters away. Waiting for another derailment or truck accident to get more corn. Have enough to last with the blending to last a year or more. You get a more blue flame with the corn. Stove needs to throttle down the air through the pot as ignition temp of corn is a lot higher. We have used corn or blended pellets since 2001.

 

[GenghisJon]

I farm so my situation is different then a lot on here. I started burning corn as it was a lot cheaper then fuel oil. I started with a PC45 Harman which will burn corn or pellets. After a year I switched to a Quad AE as it advertised 60,000 btu instead of 45 like the Harman and I needed more heat. Then after a season of problems I bought a Bixby. These 3 stoves are advertised as multi fuel units and will burn pellets or corn or a mix.
Corn is priced about 4.15 now which is cheaper then pellets around here. The last few years seen corn 5.00 to 8.00 so pellets were cheaper.
If you can get clean dry corn from a farmer I like a mix as it gives the best advangages of both. One other bit of wisdom is don't carry over corn from one season to the next. If you have some left over I would sell it or feed it to the birds etc. You can get bugs or moths in it if it gets wet or goes out of condition

Thanks, I appreciate the reply. Just looking online it's looking like most 50 lb bags of corn are about $8 in CT. Here's hoping it gets down at some point.

 

[briansol]

Corn has only gotten more expensive in the past few years. my stove can take 50/50 mix so I looked into it. its not really cost effective.

If you do, make sure your piping is rated for multi-fuel. there's different emissions with different burns.

 

[Bob Sorjanen]

I know alot of pellet stoves can burn corn as well but it doesn't seem like many people do, am I right in assuming it's not cheaper?

I know they seem a lot more expensive but I have no idea how they burn compared to pellets.

I burnt some corn and a mix with pellets when it was real cold here. My stove is a corn burner but I burn pellets most of the time. Will most likely buy some corn for this winter to go along with the pellets.

 

[GenghisJon]

I burnt some corn and a mix with pellets when it was real cold here. My stove is a corn burner but I burn pellets most of the time. Will most likely buy some corn for this winter to go along with the pellets.

Do you get better heat if you mix corn with your pellets?

 

[Bioburner]

Yes, but remember corn has a higher density too. I get some blue flame with corn.

 

[Bob Sorjanen]

Do you get better heat if you mix corn with your pellets?

Yes better heat with the corn and the corn mix in my stove, but remember my stove is a corn burner.

 

[Bob Sorjanen]

One other thing if I were to do it again would get a multi fuel stove and would burn pellets. But what I paid for my stove couldn't pass it up. It has been very good. If I was going to buy again, and I will, I would look at the Englander multifuel stove.

 

[Lowarea]

Yes better heat with the corn and the corn mix in my stove, but remember my stove is a corn burner

Yes, but remember corn has a higher density too. I get some blue flame with corn

So it sounds like corn burns hotter; but I don't hear that the difference is that big. Correct?

My Cumberland is multi-fuel.

 

[Bioburner]

It's like the hardwood vs softwood pellet debate. They have their merits. I can get four days out of a fill of corn vs three days of pellets. I started burning corn when it was less than $2 a bushel.

 

[Bob Sorjanen]

So it sounds like corn burns hotter; but I don't hear that the difference is that big. Correct?

My Cumberland is multi-fuel.

Well in my stove noticeable more heat. If I was using a multifuel stove like you have I would be burning what ever was cheaper. Your stove is made to burn wood pellets, while mine was made to burn corn.