As much fun as this summer's been, we all know it's going to come to an end.  We like to try to get our corn bin's filled before the current season's crop of corn comes off the field.  This is because sometimes we can find a farmer who has some sub-standard corn that was left over in his bins from last season and that farmer will need the space for this year's crop.

We place our "corn wanted" ad in Craigs List and hope someone finds it.   If we can get a call, we go check the corn.  In our boiler, we need the corn dry like everyone else - but it can be moldy or dirty.  And this is what gets us the best price when we're stocking up for the winter heating season.

It worked out for us this year, and so we've saved about 1/2 the cost per bushel that "good" corn would have cost.  We do deal with lower BTU's this way, but we still feel it's definitely cost effective.

What about you, have you started getting your corn in yet?

What a beautiful weekend for a fair.  It was warm, but a nice breeze to cool you off.  We met some great people and had some more great conversations.  What a diverse community there is in Hutchinson, MN.

The people from American Energy Systems have a great product, they showed their stoves to perfection.  There were three corn burners going and it really caught peoples eyes.   ( But was a little warm to sit by on an August day)

If you're in the market for an indoor corn burner, you have to check these guys out.  American Energy Systems

We're thrilled to announce a joint promotion from both American Energy Systems (http://www.americanenergysystems.com/) and EZBurn (http://www.ezburn.com). 

At the McLeod County Fair, we're offering a Meet or Beat price - any matching competitor's offer will be met or beat.  Come by the booth and check out our products.  Whether you are looking for a nice warm toasty inside corn-burner, or a roaring corn furnace in the yard - we have it there for you.

Here’s a blog about being homeless in the Twin Cities, but this problem is everywhere.

Diary of a Twin Cities White Collar Homeless Man Walking

I'm a 54 white collar professional with over 27 years of mkt. experience, but am now two plus years jobless, now homeless and living out of my car. I am not using this platform to blame others for my misfortune or to seek help for myself, but rather to spread awareness about homelessness. ...

Penn State put out a study on the economics of burning shelled corn back in 2006.  I came across this document today while working on a brochure for our new Outdoor Corn Boiler model, and it seemed to me this is still great information. 

Whether you've been burning corn for heat for years, or if you've just now decided to start learning abouti, this brochure will give you a great overview.  I can't find the original website anymore....  But luckily I took a copy of the brochure,  So, here it is again for you all, I hope you like it.

Burning Shelled Corn

Brrrrr. It's really cold outside. Temperatures are in sub-zero range at night and some days too. I'm sure glad the wind isn't blowing too bad.

We're staying warm. The shop isn't insulated very well, and since the accident last fall there hasn't been anyone to finish insulating the ceiling. SO - well that adds to the corn consumption. Dale turns down the thermostat in the shop to 55 so that helps. (corn consumption)

We did run out of corn yesterday. That would put our usage at 400 bushels over the last three months. We're heating this huge shop (poorly insulated) and our home with that.

At least most of the time, the automatic feed keeps the stove full of corn so there's no bucketing! Corn prices yesterday, (we buy bottom of the bin corn, it's cheaper) was $3.00 bushel. Last fall it was $2.70 bu. Looks like we got some soybean mixed in this time. Soybean is good in the corn, it burns nice and hot and is normally 8.00 bu.

End of my January report. Winter.

We're on Twitter.  We talk about how our stoves are used, what our customers are experiencing.  We provide tips on stove usage and we make ourselves available for questions there.

Follow Us On Twitter!

This is the list of parts we think you’ll need to install your stove.  You can buy this package from the EZBurn Parts Store where you'll receive free shipping. - use coupon code STOVE

These are the parts we sell:  Note:  GT Globe Thermoflex is sold by the foot the manufacturer sells in 100, 150, or 200 foot rolls.

>

	100 Ft 2 X 1" Thermoflex® Evoh Insulated Pex Pipe ,
	Heat Exchanger (UH-140) for hooking into the furnace
	3/4" Mixing Valve – for the hot water hookup, keeps water at a below scalding temperature
	1" 3-WAY ZONE VALVE, bypass valve so when corn stove goes out your house furnace will not heat the corn stove.
	1 1/2" X 3/4 " X 1 Side Arm Water Heater Kit, hot water from the corn stove

 Additional parts you’ll need which are better to buy from your local home center.

• Brass 90 degree 1” elbow – unknown quantity
• Brass Tee – 1”  - unknown quantity
• Compression Rings – tie the pex pipe together on the fittings – unknown quantity
• 1” Crimp to ¾” sweat adapter – used to move from 1” PEX pipe to ¾” Copper Pipe
• 3 – 1 to ¾ reducing couplings, these go to the solenoid valve ( 3-way zone valve)
• 1 – Full Port ¾ “ Ball Valve

Proper maintenance is essential to the healthy operation of an outdoor corn boiler.

This cleaning procedure should take only about 15 minutes. it should be performed at regular intervals, not to exceed 12 days. 

1. Open the top and bottom fire doors.
2. Start with opening the smoke chamber door, and cleaning the ash at the top of the water chamber (you can pull the ash out or you can push it back to the end of the smoke chamber and let the ash fall to the bottom)
3. After cleaning smoke chamber close door and open the back door of the smoke tubes, this is done by turning the lever on the right side to the left (See “A”) then turning the left rod to the left (See “AA”) this will push the door down and allow the ash to go to the bottom of the fire chamber.
4. Take a brush to clean the tubes and push it thru the tubes and go all the way to the back then pull it back and go to another tube until all the tubes have been cleaned.
5. Move the door rod on the left to the right and the rod on the right to the right (this will close the back door to divert the smoke again.
6. Now you are done cleaning the top door of the fire box so you can shut the door.
7. On the bottom fire chamber clean out the ash that has settled on the floor.
8. After cleaning the ash, there are two small round holes in front of the fire pot take the screws out and inspect to see if any ash has settled in the air chamber of the pot. If you have an ash vacuum, vacuum the ash out and put the covers back on.
9. You are done cleaning so take a minute to check the water feeds to the pot to see if there are any drips around the flex pipes.
10. After that inspection go ahead and close the bottom door and the stove should fire up. (do not leave the stove until you see the temperature start climbing up on the controller.)
11. At this time you should open the doors under the hopper and inspect all the mechanical and make sure it is working well.

Dry Corn With Corn Heat