What is all this talk about BTU input, BTU output, Thermal Efficiency, Overall Efficiency and Combustion Efficiency?

Since the beginning of time boys in particular have waged a war on “mine is better than yours” or “my fish is this big”, and the story got bigger as the day went on. The same is true of Wood burning and may I dare say Corn/Wood Pellet Flex-fuel appliances.

I remember back in 1979 when heating capacity first hit the marketing scene. Some manufacturers would take wood logs, cut them into little itsy bitsy pieces and then stuff the wood stove, furnace or fireplace with as much wood as possible, slam the door shut (a little kick would help) and then take it out, weigh it and proudly announce to the world that their unit had this huge BTU (British Thermal Units, or in layman’s terms heat output) capacity and was better than the next guy. The manufacturer that was trying to make an “honest” living would publish the BTU output capacity knowing that the inefficiency of the appliance would reduce the input capacity. Less than desirable dealers and manufacturers would tout the BTU input and say that the appliance was capable of heating a larger home, etc. etc.

The same would hold true of how efficient their appliance was and the deception continues (maybe a modern day soap opera called “how the wood burns’ is in order).

American Energy Systems Inc., manufacturer of the world renowned MagnuM and Country Flame product line would like to set the record straight on how to understand which unit is capable and efficient to heat your home and place all appliances on the same level field. This is going to be really exciting.

BTU INPUT: This is the amount of heat that the appliance is capable of producing on any given heat setting (if published for multiple settings) or the total heat capacity (this is normally what is done) when the appliance is on its highest setting. Some manufacturers list the minimum heat capacity and the highest heat capacity to give you a range. If it is not printed on the owner’s manual or on the testing label (this is required and must have either BTU input or output listed) then be sure to ask the reseller which he is stating.

BTU OUTPUT: This is the amount of heat that the appliance is capable of exiting into your home after all deductions for fuel moisture, unit heat exchanger design and exhaust temperatures are taken into considerations. It is very rare that a manufacturer or a reseller of the product will publish this because it is hard to determine with so many factors such as fuel quality, installation, venting and maintenance habits. Normally when a “pinstriped” salesperson is touting their unit will produce this much heat they are talking about the BTU input and not the actual output of the appliance. Make sure that you clarify with the person what they are talking about.

THERMAL or HEAT TRANSFER EFFICIENCY: This is where the “rubber meets the road” in a heating appliance. Thermal or Heat Transfer Efficiency is the ability of the appliance to transfer the heat from inside of the appliance directly into your home. This is usually the lowest number on the efficiency scale and very rare is it ever published because there are numerous factors that apply and will change depending on installation, operation, maintenance and home environment. Probably not wise to ask the salesman what this is because we do not want to make him or her feel bad when they have that deer in the headlight look. Typically only the manufacturer will know this information and rarely will release it.

OVERALL EFFICIENCY: This is the average efficiency that an appliance will perform at and the number that qualifies an appliance for the 30% tax credit. Most reputable manufacturers will list this efficiency and identify that it is overall efficiency. It is important to remember that when a manufacturer has to increase the air to a appliance to get it to burn poor quality fuel that the overall efficiency suffers as a result and that means you will burn more fuel, heat less area and have considerably more maintenance.

COMBUSTION EFFICIENCY: This is the efficiency that the fire itself is burning at right at the combustion source. Unfortunately some manufacturers and sales people will tout this efficiency to claim that their appliance is better than another to get you to purchase theirs. You need to show them just how intelligent you are and tell them that taking into consideration fuel quality, fuel moisture, venting configuration, operational and maintenance habits, etc. etc. that there is no way that their appliance can have a overall efficiency of 97 plus percentage.

Here is a typical example of a well designed appliance and how the efficiencies break out:

• Combustion efficiency = 98%
• Overall efficiency = 83%
• Thermal or heat transfer efficiency = 76%

Now you have a well represented, well built appliance that will heat your home.

I know that you are totally excited now from all of this information and ready to try out your new found skills. First step is to go online to http://magnumheat.com to research the best product on the market, compare it to other units on the market and then make a intelligent decision. Do not fall for salespeople that rip down other products. That just means that they do not have the same information that you will have and maybe are a little intimidated by other manufacturers products.

American Energy Systems set the standard in quality products for your home, and we like to tout our honesty and integrity in selling, not rip down someone else. We will continue to help you and answer questions. Do you have a question you’d like answered? Please leave a comment below!

If you liked this article, you might also like: Getting the Most Out of Your Corn Stove

I think we all can sympathize with Anne Murray when she sang “A little good news today”. We live in a world where bad is good when it comes to media attention. Heating your home with renewable energy and saving money is not NEWS while the EPA slamming down on those “dirty” burning wood stoves makes for newspaper sales. Well Anne, there is a little good news today and MagnuM delivers that good news with a lineup of clean burning, environmentally sound wood stoves, pellet and corn appliances and gorgeous fireplaces that will keep you toasty warm and clear the air.

American Energy Systems Inc., manufacturer of the world renowned MagnuM and Country Flame line of renewable energy product participated in several EPA wood stove changeout programs where consumers were paid to take out that old dirty burning wood stove and replace it with a efficient and clean burning wood stove, pellet stove or corn stove. American Energy Systems Inc. won an award for the Libby Montana project where it was proven that we CAN clean up areas where the air is polluted and also improve the indoor air quality of your home.

You can go to hpba.org to read several articles on wood stove changeout programs and the amazing results where we have cleaned up the air to bring the area into air quality compliance, improved the air quality in the home and provided an economical means of saving precious energy. There are numerous changeout programs coming up so you will want to be checking in with us to see if you qualify.

Extra! Extra!

Maybe someday soon the headlines will read: MagnuM and Country Flame clear the air while providing safe affordable heating for your home. Homeowners go on vacation with the savings. Now that’s news!

If you liked this article, you might like: Saving Money on Heat Bills Isn’t Just for Your Home

photo credit: TheTruthAbout…

The 4th of July is coming and all of a sudden you have become patriotic and want to heat your home the American way, that is with CORN. You have researched very carefully and have made a wise decision to purchase a MagnuM or Country Flame Flex-fuel CORN stove. You are a genius! Now to prove to all mankind that you really are a smart dude you need to be equipped with the answer to the burning question “ what is a Klinker”?

To Start With…

Because you have purchased the internationally renowned Flex-fuel Corn stove from American Energy Systems, you can impress all your friends and family with the variety of fuels that your appliance can burn. The most popular of course is shelled corn but your appliance will be able to burn wood pellets and wheat along with other specialty biomass fuels. Your MagnuM or Country Flame stove is equipped to change fuels simply by increasing or decreasing the fuel stirrer speed, adjusting the air settings and just pouring in your favorite fuel of choice.

What is a Klinker?

But what about that little buildup that you see on the fingers (that is the fuel stirrer that you see turning in the firepot) and also a buildup starting in the firepot? That my friend is what we affectionately call a “Klinker” But what is this annoying buildup and how can I get rid of it? If you are using the self cleaning firepot system with the fuel stirrer it typically takes care of itself and by adding in a little oyster shells (you can purchase this at a local farm store, or steal some away from the chickens (they like to eat it) ) it will dissolve the Klinker and burn it up. You also can mix in about 10-15% wood pellets and it will help.

If you have the Biomass firepot system you simply roll the Klinker out of the firepot with the cleaning tool and a pair of tongs and you are good to go. You can eliminate or greatly reduce any buildup of the Klinker by making sure that your corn is free from dust, dirt, corn fines, pieces of stalk and other debris. Having your fuel at 11-12 percent moisture will also help out in reducing the Klinker buildup.

But what if I have the fingers on the fuel stirrer solid with buildup and the firepot is full? I have tapped on the Klinker and it has not fallen off? Don’t worry, this is not a big problem. You can cure this in a couple ways. One, let the unit cool completely down for about an hour or so and the Klinker will soften and almost fall off of the fuel stirrer fingers and will be loose in the firepot. If you are in a hurry to get back to heating with corn, you can simply soak the firepot and fuel stirrer in cold water and it will dissolve and fall off. Please do not take a 10 pound hammer and beat on the firepot system as this will just frustrate you and the Klinker will win the battle.

If you have a consistent problem with excessive Klinker buildup it could be that your home itself does not have enough fresh air to allow clean burning of the fuel. This can be fixed by proper makeup air for the home and the appliance. This is a job for a qualified technician to make sure that everything is right. Be sure to check out our technical center online at Magnumheat.com for more answers to these burning questions.

photo credit: mrvogon

With the recent tax incentives and heating costs predicted to go to all time highs, consumers are looking for alternative ways to heat their homes and asking the question “ when is a wood stove the right option for my alternative heating needs?” The answer to this question starts with researching the expansive information located on AES’s website www.magnumheat.com and the www.hpba.org website.  From there let’s take a look at what is right for you so that you can make a wise decision.

Is a wood stove or fireplace right for you?

The first question to ask yourself is “do I really want to have a wood fire and can my lifestyle accommodate the investment of time”. Most people love a wood fire, the romantic glow and the cozy warmth that will warm you through and through but forget to realize how much work goes into having a wood stove. If the answer is YES to having a readily available wood supply or like dressing up like Paul Bunyan and swinging an axe (or chainsaw), YES to having a safe place to store your wood and dispose of your ashes, YES to fitting in the time to maintain your wood stove and chimney system then you are ready to invest in a cost effective environmentally friendly wood stove, fireplace or fireplace insert for your home.

Ok, so now your excited and ready to jump in your truck (or gas saving hybrid car) and go find a wood burning appliance and have it installed before the weekend. But wait, have you checked to see what the requirements are in your area for emission codes and local burning compliance? Cleaning up our environment and making our planet a safe place to breath is of vital importance. The EPA, appliance manufacturers and local governments have teamed up to make sure that the future of the air we breathe will be clean and healthy. It is important to make sure that your choice of wood burning equipment will meet the requirements of local burning codes so that you will not install that beautiful stove only to find out that there are days that you cannot burn it. So give your local authorities a call to get up to date information on wood burning compliance. MagnuM and Country Flame wood burning appliances are certified to comply with the strictest of air quality standards and our wide variety of product features will certainly complement your home.

Now that you are armed with information on what you can install in your home where do you go from here? There are so many choices, so many different looks and features. Your head is already spinning and everyone seems to have the “right” product for your home. You are asking yourself “how do I find the right product for MY home”? This is where American Energy Systems can help you. Our team of product specialists along with a national network of qualified resellers will be glad to assist you in finding the wood burning appliance of your dreams. It all starts by going to MagnumHeat.com to get your journey to warm nights, cozy beginnings and assurance that you are doing your part to conserve our natural resources and clean up the air we breathe. Now doesn’t that just make you feel warm all over?

photo credit: seantoyer

Warm days are quickly approaching, but like every summer, the season is over way too fast. With cool days extending into May and starting again by September, we are often left with just a few short months of warm weather.

Why is summer a great time to buy a wood fireplace, a corn stove, or a flex-fuel furnace?

We’ll all work our way through a list of “to do” items that beg our attention. If you’ve made the decision to save money next fall by heating your home with alternative fuel, then now is the perfect time to add the purchase and installation of an alternative energy appliance to your list of summer projects.

There is no better time to install a corn stove or switch out an inefficient gas fireplace than during the hot days of summer; the days are long, offering more free time to get things done. Round up friends or family to help get your projects done! The weather is great for garage sales to sell your old fireplace unit. The weather is also perfect for working inside and out to vent your new stove or fireplace, and other tasks that keep you busy.

Right now if you buy online, shipping is free; What a Hot Deal!  With rising fuel prices and projected high heating costs for 2010/2011, alternative heating MagnuM appliances are HOT! Shop now, save on shipping, and enjoy later when others are scrambling to find and install products when the cold weather hits.

photo credit: holmanphoto

Do you have a question about your corn stove or wood burning fireplace? Maybe you’d like to talk to an expert technician on a specific topic. If you own a Magnum or Country Flame brand heat source, here is a great forum where people often find answers to their questions before even asking.

Here’s a break-down of topics you’ll find on the American Energy Systems Forum:

• Video Tutorial Library
• MagnuM Biomass / Corn / Multi-fuel Product Line
• Country Flame Biomass / Corn / Multi-fuel Product line
• MagnuM & Country Flame Wood Burning Product Line
• 2nds for Sale
• Qualifying your home, lifestyle and product purchase
• Fresh Air for your Appliance and Home
• Draft Issues for MagnuM & Country Flame Wood Burning Appliances
• Fuel Quality, Fuel types, How to find the right fuel
• Venting requirements
• Fireplace Door Systems

Each of these topics have many sub-categories and get quite specific. The forum has grown into a wealth of information, that many of our heating appliance owners appreciate and rely on.

Never hesitate to contact us. We want you to get the most out of your alternative heating choices!

Question: Should I buy a stove with lots of automatic features like auto ignition?  What are the
benefits?

You might have heard this recently; “my stove is better than the other guys because ours lights automatically”. Is this really true and is this what I should look for? The answer to this burning question is really quite simple. If you would rather pay to have the electrical company light your appliance go for it. They really enjoy getting a check at the end of the month. Honestly, there are so many great features available today that will make your life easier, and you need to decide if they are right for you.

Do not, however, get led into thinking that these features mean that the appliance is better.

Do you want an appliance that does not meet your needs,  but starts itself ?  Not where you want to be I am sure.

Manually lighting a corn or pellet stove takes about 3-5 minutes. Automatically lighting a corn or pellet stove takes about 3-5 minutes. The difference is manually you use a match and automatically you are replacing the match with a form of an electronic match. Sometimes the difference is simply your preference. To weigh the benefits you need to decide if it is important to have the appliance light while you are away from home or if you would rather be there to light the appliance.

The MagnuM and Country Flame product line come in both styles.

We feel that if you are trying to conserve our natural resources, you should light the appliance manually to save electricity. If you don’t worry about that sort of thing we have optional auto ignition systems to allow automatic lighting of the appliance. The economical and efficient method is to manually light your appliance, use the manual or thermostatic operation mode to evenly balance your heating needs and enjoy long burn times between lighting your appliance. Most auto ignition systems on the market today incorporate a full shut down feature and should your home require frequent lighting of the appliance (sometimes 15-20 times per day), you will experience premature failure of the auto system.

The difference with MagnumHeat.com company and products is that we care about your needs and taking the time to help you make the best choice for your situation.

photo credit: blumenbiene

Have you had a chance to watch this wonderful video with Rob Trott about saving a ton of money on your heating bills and using “home grown” renewable energy? To watch the video in its entirety, start with the video at the top of the screen and work down, through all three.