Corn Boilers and Furnaces
Corn furnaces and boilers are becoming extremely popular,
especially if you live near a grain elevator where you can buy
corn in bulk for $2.35 a bushel. If you burned 3.5 tons of corn
during the heating season, which is reasonable, the cost to
heat your home would be only $294.
The quality and utility of corn boilers gets better every year,
but a closer look at this relatively new technology should help
you inform your decision.
especially if you live near a grain elevator where you can buy
corn in bulk for $2.35 a bushel. If you burned 3.5 tons of corn
during the heating season, which is reasonable, the cost to
heat your home would be only $294.
The quality and utility of corn boilers gets better every year,
but a closer look at this relatively new technology should help
you inform your decision.
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Amaizeing Corn Boiler
The difference between a corn furnace and corn boiler is exactly what their names imply.
The furnace is for forced air heating and the boiler is used for radiators, baseboard
heaters or hydronic radiant in floor/under floor heat.
Both systems have fuel efficiency ratings of 80-85% and can be installed either as an
add on unit to an existing system or stand alone.
The furnace is for forced air heating and the boiler is used for radiators, baseboard
heaters or hydronic radiant in floor/under floor heat.
Both systems have fuel efficiency ratings of 80-85% and can be installed either as an
add on unit to an existing system or stand alone.
Hopper capacities vary according to manufacturer. The Traeger GBU-
130 furnace comes equipped with a 160 pound hopper, while the
hopper for the similar sized LDJ-620 series boiler/furnace from A-
MAIZE-ING holds 14 bushels, or 784 pounds of corn. Winter time
consumption of corn is around 2 bushels per day.
Both of the systems mentioned above offer variable BTU input rates.
For the Traeger it’s 85,000-130,000 BTU/ hour vs. 80,000-165,000 for
the A-MAIZE-ING. The ability to control the BTU input rate is an
important tool for managing heating costs. Your furnace doesn’t need
to crank out 130,000 BTU to take the chill off your house on a frosty
fall morning.
130 furnace comes equipped with a 160 pound hopper, while the
hopper for the similar sized LDJ-620 series boiler/furnace from A-
MAIZE-ING holds 14 bushels, or 784 pounds of corn. Winter time
consumption of corn is around 2 bushels per day.
Both of the systems mentioned above offer variable BTU input rates.
For the Traeger it’s 85,000-130,000 BTU/ hour vs. 80,000-165,000 for
the A-MAIZE-ING. The ability to control the BTU input rate is an
important tool for managing heating costs. Your furnace doesn’t need
to crank out 130,000 BTU to take the chill off your house on a frosty
fall morning.
Traeger GBU130
The furnace or boiler you are considering should be UL listed. The boiler tank should also
be certified by ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers). A UL listed boiler or
furnace should have no effect on your home owner’s insurance policy, but check with
your agent to be sure.
Corn Boilers
When you’re shopping for a corn boiler, make sure it’s a closed system. A closed system
has many advantages over an open system.
An open system is vented to the atmosphere and needs a constant source of water to
replace the amount lost to steam and evaporation. The oxygen in the water of an open
system facilitates the formation of rust and will cause problems with the water jacket.
A closed system is filled one time with about 18 gallons of water and then sealed. No
oxygen means no rusty water jacket. Boilers operate at 12-15 psi with the safety relief
valve opening at 30 psi.
The boiler will normally maintain temperature between 160 and 180 degrees. This is too
hot for in floor systems which operate at 90-110 degrees and will require the addition of
a mixing valve to bring the water temperature down to the recommended level.
Standard features on the Traeger boiler includes a domestic hot water coil and a
hydronic water pump for in floor/under floor radiant heat. The A-MAIZE-ING unit doesn’t
offer a hydronic pump and the domestic hot water coil is optional.
be certified by ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers). A UL listed boiler or
furnace should have no effect on your home owner’s insurance policy, but check with
your agent to be sure.
Corn Boilers
When you’re shopping for a corn boiler, make sure it’s a closed system. A closed system
has many advantages over an open system.
An open system is vented to the atmosphere and needs a constant source of water to
replace the amount lost to steam and evaporation. The oxygen in the water of an open
system facilitates the formation of rust and will cause problems with the water jacket.
A closed system is filled one time with about 18 gallons of water and then sealed. No
oxygen means no rusty water jacket. Boilers operate at 12-15 psi with the safety relief
valve opening at 30 psi.
The boiler will normally maintain temperature between 160 and 180 degrees. This is too
hot for in floor systems which operate at 90-110 degrees and will require the addition of
a mixing valve to bring the water temperature down to the recommended level.
Standard features on the Traeger boiler includes a domestic hot water coil and a
hydronic water pump for in floor/under floor radiant heat. The A-MAIZE-ING unit doesn’t
offer a hydronic pump and the domestic hot water coil is optional.
Corn Furnaces
Corn furnaces, like conventional furnaces, are available as
updraft or downdraft units. Updraft units are used when the
furnace is installed in the basement, below the heated floors.
Downdraft units are used when the furnace is installed on the
same floor as the one being heated.
Horizontal, or lowboy installations, where the furnace is laid on
its side, are also possible with corn furnaces.
Corn furnaces, like conventional furnaces, are available as
updraft or downdraft units. Updraft units are used when the
furnace is installed in the basement, below the heated floors.
Downdraft units are used when the furnace is installed on the
same floor as the one being heated.
Horizontal, or lowboy installations, where the furnace is laid on
its side, are also possible with corn furnaces.
Amaizeing Corn Furnace
Corn Furnace or Boiler Venting
Proper venting is very important to the health and safety of your family. Keep the
distance from furnace to vertical flue as short as possible. The rule of thumb is 15 feet
max.
You can use inexpensive black flue pipe between the boiler/furnace and chimney, but in
damp basements it corrodes quickly and will probably have to be replaced every 3-4
years. A permanent but more expensive solution is double wall stainless steel black
stove pipe.
Your chimney will need a stainless steel or crack-free clay lining. Galvanized steel or
aluminum won’t work because the condensation from burning corn is more corrosive
than from gas or oil. The prices for stainless steel chimney liners start at $450 for a 25
foot kit.
How Much Does A Corn Furnace Or Corn Boiler Cost?
The price of a corn furnace or boiler depends on its size measured in BTUs. A 100,000
BTU furnace should sell for around $3,600. The larger, 165,000 BTU furnace is $4,200.
Add $1,000 to these prices for corn boilers.
Once you’ve decided which brand of boiler or furnace to buy, make sure it’s the latest
model available. Don't buy last year's model and pay extra for optional equipment that
might come standard with this year's model.
Proper venting is very important to the health and safety of your family. Keep the
distance from furnace to vertical flue as short as possible. The rule of thumb is 15 feet
max.
You can use inexpensive black flue pipe between the boiler/furnace and chimney, but in
damp basements it corrodes quickly and will probably have to be replaced every 3-4
years. A permanent but more expensive solution is double wall stainless steel black
stove pipe.
Your chimney will need a stainless steel or crack-free clay lining. Galvanized steel or
aluminum won’t work because the condensation from burning corn is more corrosive
than from gas or oil. The prices for stainless steel chimney liners start at $450 for a 25
foot kit.
How Much Does A Corn Furnace Or Corn Boiler Cost?
The price of a corn furnace or boiler depends on its size measured in BTUs. A 100,000
BTU furnace should sell for around $3,600. The larger, 165,000 BTU furnace is $4,200.
Add $1,000 to these prices for corn boilers.
Once you’ve decided which brand of boiler or furnace to buy, make sure it’s the latest
model available. Don't buy last year's model and pay extra for optional equipment that
might come standard with this year's model.
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