Heating with renewable fuel fits with many buy local campaigns. There is an eco-friendly “green” movement that many community members find important both for our environment and local economy. When we are able to keep dollars within our own communities, so many people benefit. Renewable fuel is another way people are moving toward local spending.

Buying foods grown locally can reduce costs and increase quality standards, and renewable fuel is no different. You can buy fresh, dried corn or wheat from a local farmer to burn in several of our multi-fuel burning pellet stoves like the Countryside and Baby Countryside.

Is shopping local important to you? Have you heard of the new “Cash Mobs” to local businesses?

Saving money is critical to most Americans and the rising price of oil is very concerning. Where will oil prices go in 2012? What will we be looking at for heating costs in only a few short months?  Even though Spring is here and warm temps have us breathing a sigh of relief, we know that another winter will be here before we know it and planning is imperative.

So how much can you save on fuel for a pellet stove?

What is the least expensive fuel to use?

Your fuel costs are often determined by where you live, rather than the fuel itself. Sometimes corn will be less expensive than wood pellets and then the opposite may be the case. For those who grow renewable fuel or have it readily available, it can mean even more cost savings. It is best to determine first what the most reliable fuel source is and then negotiate the best price. Corn is usually the best overall bargain (it burns hotter) and is usually available anywhere in the country. Wood pellets are normally the most convenient, but a variety of renewable fuel centers are springing up around the country making all fuels convenient and available. It is nice to know that companies like American Energy Systems make Stoves that will burn a variety of fuels instead of just Wood Pellets.

You can compare fuel and find out the national averages of each fuel cost. Finding out the best fuel source is a step toward determining the best heating appliance for your home too; get your free guide today.

Extra sweatshirts. Two pairs of socks. Blankets on every couch and chair.

Life doesn’t have to be that way inside your own home on cold days. Gail Howell of Hemingway, South Carolina recently wrote about her experience with  her new Magnum pellet stove and how much she loves the “warm glow and soft flicker of an open flame.”

Gail is a customer of Alternative Heating Systems and Supply of Coward, SC. She went on to share her appreciation for her new appliance saying, “The gentle summer-like breeze. Ahhh…to be warm inside when it’s cold outside. The much lower electric bill is also very nice. You were right; just add a little corn with the wood pellets, and I’m in short sleeve tees instead of being all bundled up. Love it!”

We love to hear from Magnum customers willing to share their stories. Do you have a story to share? We’d love to hear from you! Make sure you visit American Energy Systems on Facebook: Heating Your Home with Alternative Energy

It’s Earth Day on the 22nd, and if you are looking for ways you can help keep the air clean, you should consider heating with renewable fuel.

Concerned about the environment?

Want to do your part to keep the air clean?

American Energy Systems Inc. has led the industry in designing products that are environmentally clean and efficient. Typically our appliances are up to 10% more efficient than competitors in the industry and lab tests have shown that MagnuM and Country Flame products produce substantially less emissions than the EPA requires for clean burning. Whether you are using Corn, Wood Pellets or other Flex-fuels you can be sure that it is good for your environment.

If you have questions for us, please call us, email us or use this contact form.

Have you switched to renewable fuel? We’d love to hear from you! Leave us your comments below.

Alternative Heating Systems and Supplies, LLC is a family owned business located in Coward, SC. They are dealers of our MagnuM Countryside appliances, and share their story of how owners, Mack and Karen Evans began searching for a better way to heat their home that was more economical and Eco-friendly. After researching online as well as reading everything they could find on the subject, they traveled to examine other heating systems. Finally, they came upon what they had been searching for – Magnum and Countryside Heaters. Alternative Heating Systems and Supplies offers on the spot financing and go out of their way to insure their customers are happy.

They recently shared this customer story with us, highlighting one customer’s savings over the past eight years!

“I purchased my Magnum Baby Countryside Corn and Pellet stove heater eight years ago and it has served me well. It has worked trouble free; all I have to do is keep it clean and keep the fuel clean and dry.

My Magnum Baby Countryside heater has cut my heating costs in half over the years. I fill it once a day and let it work.

It’s safe! If I open any doors on the unit, it will shut off (except the feed door.) There is no smell inside or outside of my house and there is no smoke; just clean heat. My heater heats all five rooms!” Jerry McRae

Anyone in the Coward, South Carolina area looking for corn or wood pellet burning stoves and fireplaces should stop in and see Mack and Karen at Alternative Heating Systems and Supplies on Hwy 52; directions and map.

Do you know what a clinker is? If you own a corn stove, you do! A clinker is a condition of fuel bonding together during the burning process. If your firepot is filling up quickly and you have overflowing clinkers, it’s likely that one of a few things is happening.

First, the most common reason for excessive clinkering would be the quality of the fuel, installation errors or maintenance. If the firepot is overflowing check your venting system, make sure that you have fresh air hooked to the appliance, check your home for negative pressure and clean your firepot out more frequently.

Then, if the firepot continues to overflow after just a couple hours it probably is fuel quality related. Check your fuel and if it is bad, replace with a quality fuel source. If the fuel is good, then check the firepot for proper fit, make sure the venting is clean and there are no problems with the draft blower system. Check all cleanout ports to make sure that the heat exchangers are not plugged.

There are complete maintenance, installation guidelines, and troubleshooting in your operations manual. You can also visit our online forum.

Can’t find your manual? Check our online manuals.

Yes, Magnum Countryside and Country Flame furnaces, fireplace inserts, and stoves can be connected to a low voltage or millivolt wall thermostat. The control boards are not designed however to work with an electronic thermostat that requires power from the appliance.

When the wall thermostat calls for heat the appliance will go to the heat setting that has been pre-selected. When the wall thermostat has been satisfied (the room is up to temperature), the appliance will go to a pilot fire that is pre-programmed into the appliance. If you have the auto ignition system and are operation on fully automatic, the appliance will shut down completely until the wall thermostat calls for heat and then it will light the unit and run at the pre-set heat setting.

If you are ready to buy, but have some very specific questions for us, we’d love to help you get the answers you need. Call 1-800-495-3196.

Finding good advice you can trust has multiple advantages. When it comes to the helpful advice Revolution Heating offers its customers, the benefit is clear. They recently contacted American Energy Systems regarding a very happy customer, knowing that advising customers to 1) buy quality hard wood pellets,2) service their appliances annually, and 3) ask for advice when needed, makes all the difference!

It is our pleasure to share the comments Revolution Heating received, and the impressive savings a Countryside owner has recently experienced.

“I bought a Countryside Insert in 2008 and love it. It’s overall value really impressed me, and the savings are amazing! For the 2011-12 heating season, I paid $1250 for 5 tons of pellets (the best hardwood pellets from Revolution Heating). My savings in Kerosene at this year’s prices alone were about $2000!! I can count on Rick and Laura at Revolution Heating Products for all my biomass heating needs – can’t get better than that!”

Scott Wheeler, Chateaugay, NY

We’re pleased that Mr. Wheeler was able to spend less on his heating bill and put more money back in his wallet!

Revolution Heating is a Magnum dealer in Brainardsville, New York, servicing the northern part of the state. Revolution Heating is only about an hour and a half south of Montreal, Canada! If you’re in the area of Revolution Heating, stop in and talk to Rick and Laura about your heating needs.

We love hearing from our customers and sharing their experiences with you. We know that customer stories are important to share, as people consider important decisions to switch to alternative energy. We know that as you make your selection of appliances, it is helpful to hear from other alternative heating appliance owners.

We recently heard from Eugene, owner of a Country Flame Little Rascal pellet stove. Here is what Eugene had to say when he wrote the owner of American Energy Systems:

“I would like to tell you how much I enjoy my Country Flame Little Rascal pellet stove. The stove not only looks ‘homey’, but does a really great job of heating for its size. I did not realize how much heating oil it was saving me until it got its auger jammed by a drill bit. I now appreciate the job it has been doing. When I called you for parts and assistance, the two ladies I spoke to  Vicky and Laurie went above the call of duty by tracking down my stove from its origin to my ownership, to make sure I had the right parts for it. I then spoke to you. I have never been treated so well and courteously, as by you and your staff; which only shows the quality of your product. Even more, your staff is very knowledgeable of product and needs.”

Thank you for your kind words Eugene, and for taking the time to write to us. We’re pleased that you are happy with your Little Rascal pellet stove, as well as our customer service. All our best!

Hearing of chimney fires in the news?

It’s important to take precautionary measures to keep your family and home as safe as possible, and that’s why we’re pleased to see the proactive email recently distributed by Scott and Gwen Keefer of All Points Chimney, Stoves & Fireplaces to their customers. Scott and Gwen are MagnuM appliance dealers located in Sylvania, Ohio serving the Toledo, OH area.

Their email referenced a recent, local incident involving a chimney fire that caught the attention of fireplaces and stove owners. Their gentle reminder reads, “Just a friendly reminder that fireplaces, wood and pellet stoves should be cleaned annually. If you have not scheduled yours, please call us today. For those of you who have had any kind of installations done, manufacturer warranty’s require yearly cleaning to keep in good standing. Don’t let this be you!”

Nicely done All Points Chimney, Stoves, and Fireplaces! It is important to properly maintain your stoves, fireplaces, chimneys, and vents. If you can’t locate your owner’s manual, you can check our online downloads now.

If you live in the Toledo, OH area be sure to check out the Winter Special All Points Chimney, Stoves, and Fireplaces is offering; $20 savings on sweeping service.