Magnum Heat 

If you own a wood burning fireplace or stove, we’ve assembled some helpful resources, ideas, and tips right here. We want you to get the most out of your wood burning experience.

For fireplace maintenance tips, read “Maintenance Tips for Your Wood-Burning Fireplace.”

For ideas on how to build the best fire in your stove or fireplace, read “How to build the perfect fire in your wood burning fireplace or stove.”

For a simple, yet great idea for making wood chopping a little easier, watch this video. The use of an old tire helps keep wood in place while chopping.

For technical questions about your Magnum Countryside or Country Flame stoves or fireplaces, consult your manual, search our YouTube Channel or contact Techcenter1 at 320-227-2902 or email technical@magnumheat.com

If you have a tip or link to a great resource, please share it in our comments section. We love hearing from you.

If you have questions about buying a wood fireplace, you’ve come to the right place. According to Census data, over 2.4 million homes heat with wood and the rising percentage is “faster than any other heating fuel,” as published in USAToday. More people every day begin researching whether this alternative heating option is right for them. With foreign oil prices high and the economy struggling to rebound, it’s understandable that Americans are looking for less expensive ways to heat their homes.

People explore wood fireplaces for a variety of reasons, but the common include:

An ample supply of wood for fuel. If you live in an area where wood is readily available and abundant, a wood fireplace or wood stove may be a good option for you. Not all wood is the same, and it’s not all the best for burning in your home. Learn more about kind, quality, and condition of wood you should burn in a fireplace.

Saving money on heating bills. This is another driving force for most people. Wood burning stoves and fireplaces are not the same as they were years ago. They’ve come a long way in technology, heat efficiency, and esthetics. Heating with wood can save you plenty of money, put out more heat than an older, traditional furnace, and “exceed expectations” as one owner puts it.

Inclement weather. Living in an area with frigid weather, frequent storms, and cumbersome power-outages is often another reason people seek out the reliable heat of a wood fireplace. Wood fireplaces and inserts can keep your house or business warm during a power outage, and we’ve posted more details here.

Whether you want to join the ranks of other American families who are happy with their choice in heat or simply want more information on the differences in fireplaces, American Energy Systems is your “go-to” place for information. You can speak with a heating specialist about your specific questions or concerns, or post them here and we’ll respond.

Gone are the days of inefficient wood burning stoves that create more smoke and ash than heat! American Energy Systems has spent considerable time over the past three decades taking the “work” out of wood burning, freeing up your time and maximizing your heat.

The MagnuM and Country Flame wood burning fireplace, stove and fireplace insert lines are state of the art in high efficiency clean burning technology. We squeeze every BTU possible out of each log that you place into our product. Many areas of the United States require clean burning technology from wood burning appliances; something we’ve worked hard to provide in our modern day appliances. The result is less ash, less chimney cleaning, less hauling in wood and taking out ash.

Need to understand BTU’s a bit better? Check out, “The Truth About Heat Efficiency”.

Do you have a question we can help answer? Leave  a comment below or contact us directly.

Yes. Our Country Flame Model BBF wood stove is approved for mobile home use with back-wall clearances of 3″ (using double-wall black stove pipe), outside combustion air, and 8″ flue. While it’s a relief that mobile home owners have wood stove options, it is necessary to have your wood stove properly installed.  Local codes will govern mobile home installations.

Take a look at our Country Flame Model BFF wood burning stove, and complete our “Great Discounts” form telling us a little bit more about how we can better help you save on heating NOW!

Yes. Our complete line of wood-burning stoves and fireplace inserts are designed for use in cases of power outage… when you need them most. Our wood burning appliances offer the benefit of non-interrupted heat in the event of a power outage.

If you believe a wood stove or fireplace insert is the perfect alternative heating solution for your home and live in an area where power outages are a possibility, talk to us about getting an appliance on order that is right for you. If you haven’t requested your free Buyer’s Guide to Finding the Best Alternative Heating Appliance yet, you will find it helpful in your shopping process.

Do you have another question we can answer? Post your question in the comments below or visit us on Facebook.

The featured product this week is the Ovation 2100 Wood Stove, a non-catalytic wood stove for the modern family. The Country Flame Ovation 2100 wood burning stove is a high quality, dependable means to heat your whole home or supplement your existing heat source. The Ovation 2100 wood stove is one of three appliances currently featured in our special $250 savings offer through November 23, 2011.

If warmth, tradition, romance, and efficiency is what you are after, the Ovation 2100 wood stove is ready to install and priced for any budget when you combine the $250 savings with our offer to pick up half of shipping costs through 11-23-11. Get yours on order today - there’s only a few days left to take advantage of these great savings!

Jumping for Joy

For all the deal seekers looking for big savings on pellet stoves, corn stoves, or wood stoves, we have a brand new savings to share with you starting now through November 23, 2011. The best part is that you can combine three different offers for maximum savings; something couponers know is the best deal.

This is one match-up deal you don’t want to miss if you’re shopping for a pellet or wood stove, considering a switch from traditional heating to alternative heating, or wanting to add a pellet stove or wood stove to your heating mix.

Deal One: Save $250.00 on the purchase of our Country Flame Little Rascal Pellet Stove, Harvester Multi-Fuel (corn burning) Stove or our Ovation 2100 Wood Burning Stove!

Deal Two: Save $175 on shipping costs. That’s 50% off freight! Combined with the $250 off of the pellet stove, corn stove, or wood stove mentioned above, that’s a $425 savings.

But wait, the savings don’t end there!

Deal Three: Before the end of 2011 you can take advantage of a Tax Credit incentive that will provide you with additional savings when you select an appliance that qualifies. For more details, contact us today.

Take advantage of these special alternative energy savings today, and be sure to pass this information along to anyone you know may be interested. This deal ends November 23rd, so don’t wait. Be sure to hit the Facebook “Like”,  Google+ button and Tweet this post to your friends. And remember,  we pay for referrals (details here).

photo credit: JavierPsilocybin

• What is a catalytic wood stove?
• What is a non-catalytic wood fireplace?
• Which kind of appliance do I want; a catalytic or non-catalytic?

The term catalytic and non-catalytic are types of combustion used by stove and fireplace manufacturers.

Catalytic Wood Stoves and Fireplaces

A catalytic stove typically offers higher efficiencies and longer burn times. The exhaust (smoke) is drawn from the fire and sent through a honeycomb shaped converter (catalyst) built into the appliance. The ceramic coating causes a chemical reaction that allows the smoke to burn when the stove’s surface is only 500°F. The smoke gases and particles when re-heated and allowed to burn, result in a cleaner fire, longer burn times and more even heat. Catalytic appliances, because of this exhaust “recycling” emit less pollutants and increases overall use of the fire’s energy producing a higher efficiency (73% or more) appliance. Catalytic appliances cost a little more than non-catalytic appliances and require a little more maintenance. The catalyst must be cleaned regularly, and garbage or dirty wood burned in a catalyst appliance will result in faster degradation of the internal parts. With proper care, catalytic stoves or fireplaces can last for many years.

Non-Catalytic Wood Stoves and Fireplaces

Far more common and less expensive, non-catalyst appliances are typically a little less efficient but simpler to maintain. A non-catalytic appliance will have a large baffle system that results in a very hot flow of gas which brings the smoke up to 1200°F to burn off the pollutants. Unlike a catalytic appliance, the smoke is not cleaned by a combustor, resulting in slightly higher pollutants and less even heat. Burn times are typically 10% less than a catalyst appliance resulting in a little more fuel being burned.

Choosing the Right Stove or Fireplace

If you’re not sure whether to choose a catalytic or non-catalytic appliances, consider the amount you’re willing to spend and how much maintenance you’re willing to do versus the type of fire efficiency you want. Those who are interested in maintaining their stove or fireplace and like the idea of efficient fires with little waste and less pollutants will want to invest in a catalytic appliance. Those who appreciate the roar of a good fire but don’t want to spend as much should lean toward a non-catalytic appliance. Either way, make sure that the stove or fireplace you choose is of good quality and is designed to meet all emission standards. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established emission standards to ensure pollutants are not emitted into the environment resulting in cleaner air for all to breathe. The EPA along with the American Lung Association is currently promoting action to strengthen these emission standards which may result in manufacturers providing only catalyst appliances to be sold in the future.

Still have questions about catalytic or non-catalytic stoves and fireplaces; contact American Energy Systems today! 

Shop our entire line of renewable energy products here.

Will the BBF be your new BFF?

Many Wood Stove owners of the Model BBF find their stove is like their new best friend, keeping them safe and warm throughout the winter.

About the Wood Stove Model BBF

If burning wood logs is how you want to heat your home, then this safe, efficient wood stove is the perfect solution. The BBF Wood Stove features a powerful, built-in fan that circulates warm air throughout your home. This is our largest model which has a maximum heating capacity of 3,000 square feet. Watch logs burn up to 12 hours and enjoy a heat efficiency of 72%. Burn logs up to 29 inches long, and enjoy this stove as an insert or as a free-standing wood stove.

Wondering what wood stove or other alternative heating appliance is right for you? We now offer a Free, no-obligation Buyer’s Guide to Finding the Best Alternative Energy Appliance that will help answer any question you may have.

What a stormy spring and summer it’s been. I wonder what the fall will bring. All the storms have meant many toppled trees and downed limbs for property owners across the country.

Following each storm, the hum of chain saws was a common sound. While some people paid to have the trees removed, others volunteered to help cut wood for future use in their wood stoves and fireplaces.

If you heat with wood, is your wood pile ready for this winter? It’s never too early to plan.

If you are interested in switching to a wood fireplace or wood burning stove or upgrading to a more efficient appliance, we can help! You can shop our selection of wood burning appliances or fill out our Great Discounts form for more shopping help and money saving details.