BURNING SOLID FUELS (shelled corn and wood pellets)
Unlike petroleum and natural gas products, solid fuels such as corn and wood pellets create ash as the fuel is burned. Even with the highly efficient flame your Countryside stove will produce, the solid fuels used will produce ash. This ash will have to be cleaned out of the stove from time to time. The cleaning procedure will be discussed later in this manual. You can minimize the amount of cleaning required and maximize the efficiency of your stove by maintaining the correct draft settings.
The draft setting on your stove may have to be changed from time to time to accommodate your specific burning conditions. Proper draft setting will be discussed later in this manual. The point we wish to make here is that your Countryside stove, due to the nature of solid fuels, will require brief periodic attention. Please do not expect to light your stove and walk away from it until you want to shut it off in the spring. A few moments of adjustment and cleaning from time to time are an important part of burning solid fuels.
The Countryside stove has been designed to burn shelled corn or wood pellets that meet the Association of Pellet Fuel Industries standards. Since both of these fuels vary greatly in quality and consistency, AES cannot be responsible for damage done to your stove due to fuel problems. The following are guidelines to using and selecting proper fuels for your stove.
SHELLED CORN (11-12 percent moisture recommended)
9Store your corn supply in a dry place and keep the bags or container sealed to prevent your corn from absorbing excess moisture. Test the moisture content periodically to maintain the proper dryness.
Check your Corn for foreign objects. Your stove warranty will not cover damage done to your stove due to foreign objects in the fuel supply.
9Do not carry your corn supply over into the next heating season if possible unless properly stored. If you carry over your corn supply make sure to check the corn for proper moisture content.
9DO NOT BURN “TREATED” SEED CORN IN YOUR STOVE. Seed corn is treated with chemical pesticides that are harmful or fatal if swallowed; therefore, seed corn is dangerous to have in the house, especially where children can reach it. Burning treated seed corn in your stove will void the warranty and will destroy the exhaust system on the unit.
9Corn must be 14% or less moisture content. Wet corn will cause rapid plugging and deterioration of the stove and exhaust system, lower the heat output and will void the product warranty.
9Corn must be cleaned and free from debris. Corn right from the field will often have stalks, sticks, bolts and cob debris, which can plug the auger and/or cause damage to the auger and motor. Damage caused by dirty corn and other foreign objects are not covered by the product warranty. Ask for clean corn when you purchase it from your local corn supplier. Clean corn can be purchased in bulk or bagged from most elevators, feed stores or even your local farmer.
ALWAYS ASK FOR CORN WITH
If you are having trouble finding clean Corn, contact your local Countryside Reseller and ask them to get you an “Energy Sifter” corn cleaning system. Cleaning your corn with the Energy Sifter from American Energy Systems will assure clean corn and a more consistent burn rate. It is also important to vacuum out your hopper once a month to assure trouble free auguring of the corn.
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