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.

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

In the past, purchasing a solid fuel appliance for your home meant increased insurance costs, possible no-burn days and problems on where to store the fuel. Today’s high-tech clean burning appliances have eliminated the need for expensive chimneys that cause most fires and have brought a smile to most insurance companies faces with the reduction in claims.

American Energy Systems (your flex-fuel, corn, and wood stove experts) has been instrumental in providing seminars to insurance companies around the nation to prove that modern day appliances are safe and do not have the problems that the old fireplaces and stoves once had.

Some insurance companies do not charge extra for adding in a Flex-fuel stove, fireplace insert or furnace, while some will charge a small yearly fee. If you are having trouble with your insurance company you can find another insurance company that will write you a policy. There are plenty who would love to work with you and your choice for alternative heating.

It is usually required to contact your insurance company before purchasing a solid fuel appliance. Being proactive will ensure proper coverage of your home and eliminate problems should a problem occur. Your insurance agent will be able to answer your questions and ensure proper coverage.

photo credit: drewgstephens