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.

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.

Using a wood burning fireplace to heat a home is a great option for many people. Fireplace efficiencies have come a long way, and while some people prefer the modern conveniences of pellet stoves, others still like to burn wood the “old fashioned way”. If splitting wood still appeals to you or smelling the sweet sent of a wood fire, then The Inglenook, The Smart Fireplace, or the Magnum ZC wood burning fireplaces are some great wood burning options.

If you buy before the end of 2010, you can still take advantage of the Energy Tax Credit which you can read about here.

According to Kirk Stover, a MagnumZC owner, the fireplace has exceeded his expectations. “I just wanted to let you know how pleased we are with our Magnum ZC fireplace! This unit has exceeded our expectations regarding its quality, performance and appearance. Since installation, our LP furnace has not run at all. The fireplace keeps our 2000 square foot Northern Minnesota home well over 70 degrees, even when it has been 30 below zero. Although we are burning predominately softwood (aspen, some birch), we have enough coals in the morning to start a new fire.”

If you have questions about the Magnum ZC wood burning fireplace or other wood burning options, please contact us at information@magnumheat.com or fill out our Great Discounts form for more info and savings.

You remember your Mom and Dad burning wood when you were young and the smell of burning wood still brings back fond memories. Then we get a reality blast when the compliance police drive down the street making sure that your wood is stored properly and there is no smoke coming out of your Chimney. I can hear the faint cries of HELP!!! coming in and American Energy Systems is coming to the rescue with tips and answers to your burning questions. There is more valuable wood burning information on our web site www.magnumheat.com so please feel free to take a peek.

Can I safely burn up that old Elm tree that the forestry guys have just informed me has Dutch Elm Disease? The answer is yes, with some caution. Some cities, towns and even rural communities require that if you are going to burn a diseased Elm tree that you strip the bark off of the wood and discard that and then you can safely store and burn the wood. It is best to check with your local authorities to be sure what is required in your area.

If you have old wood stacked up but it has not rotted and does not have mold on it, you can certainly burn that wood. If you pick up the wood and it nearly falls apart in your hands it is time to get rid of it and do not bring it in your home. Wood with mold or insect infestations on it should be discarded at a proper landfill and NOT burned.

I can hear it coming. We just added a new addition onto our home or built a new home and I have all this scrap lumber that I can pile into my wood stove and burn up. I don’t want to pour water on your flame of excitement but PLEASE be careful. Most construction materials are not allowed to be burned in a wood stove or fireplace. Construction wood, plastics and cardboard are typically treated with chemicals and that can ruin Catalytic systems, stain glass permanently and even warp the inside of your appliance. Do not burn construction plastics, vinyl’s and other materials that you do not know what they are in the wood burning appliance at all. Small amounts of scrap lumber can be burned but NEVER pile it high and watch it burn hot. That is a recipe for disaster. Our best advice is let the construction people haul all of the debris away and only burn good well seasoned wood in your appliance.

Before you go out and purchase your red flannel shirt, wool cap, chain saw and favorite pickup truck you might want to take a look at the real price of cutting your own wood versus going to your local wood supplier and have them deliver your winter’s supply. Many times the investment in equipment and time is substantially higher than you think. It is estimated that FREE wood that you gleam out of your own woods actually costs about $35.00 per cord. Throw in a few broken back windows in your truck, chain saws and bumps and bruises and buying your wood “ready to go” might look real appealing. But if you are the industrial type, just remember to get the facts on proper downing of trees, cutting, splitting and storing your wood, and you’ll be  ready to go.

Elm Tree photo credit: DubyDub2009

Wood Pile photo credit: euphro

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