Shell corn in a pellet stove ?

[S.Crum]

How does this work out? I put in an England Stove Works pellet stove a few weeks ago and so far really like it. I've been using the premium wood pellets and this has been great. Several people have told me shell corn will burn just as well as the pellets. Ok life's not that easy. What are the down falls? I have shell corn available usually in the 14% moisture range. I cannot find any pro's or con's in the England Stove Works literature that says anything, but they do manufacture corn stoves so there must be a difference. This stove is 10 years old but was used very little, so there's no warranty concerns there. Anyone with experience on this?
Thanks

 

[Brad Buchanan]

I burn pellets in my corn stove at the beginning and end of the season because they don't burn as hot.
Burning corn in a pelllet stove is asking for trouble. Corn burns twice as hot as pellets. You will also find that the piping for the exhaust gases is not rated for corn.

 

[Charlie M]

From what I've seen you need a stove rated for both fuels and some stoves use a different fire box for the different fuels. Your best bet its to get back to the manufacturer of your stove to find out if corn will work.

 

[Gun guru]

The stove has to be a multi-fuel stove. If you do burn corn be sure that it is well mixed with pellets 50/50 at the most. I burned straight corn in my US stove a few years ago but it didnt burn right. I only burn straight pellets now. Besides corn and pellets are the same price now.

 

[Knoxcityfarmboy]

I burned a corn and pellet mix in a pellet stove for a couple of years. To burn straight corn it needs an agitator or it will just burn out because of clinkers, which have to be cleaned out twice a day. I bought a new multi fuel stove, but this year I am burning pellets because they are cheaper than corn.

 

[buickanddeere]

If you can find stoker coal. You will like the results blending a little in with the pellets.

 

[Kevin2]

A friend tried it all in his Quadrafire, pellets, cherry pits, corn and some kind of seed, I forget what it was.
Corn left a heavy glaze in his burn cup that your Englander doesn't have in it, plus he had to clean it all the time. No more corn for him!

 

[Brian Jasper co. Ia]

If it's like my England stove, it won't burn straight corn. Corn burns slower and the feed system can't be slowed enough so it just smothers the fire. Mine wouldn't work on 50-50 corn pellet mix either. The clinker would smother it too. Do yourself a favor and stick with pellets only.

 

[S.Crum]

Thanks evryone for your input. I put this stove in as an alternative to the large outdoor boiler I was going to build. Work hours and life in general pretty well got put ahead of that project and it's likely not going to happen now.
One thing I have noticed, I'm certainly going to need to start running a humidifier in the house a lot sooner than I have in years past when running the oil boiler full time.
Thank You everyone.

 

[paul]

It works well in stoves rated to use corn & other grains, it would be prominent in the fliers & specs.....

If yours is not, then it likey will gum up or not fire right. You may be able to blend a little corn in with the pellets, but all depends and if it's worth it or not for the little bit.

--->Paul