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As you consider the purchase of a corn-burning stove or boiler, you will undoubtedly have many questions. Below you will find questions that are designed to help you gather the necessary information for making an informed decision. The answers to these questions may vary from model to model, and are also dependent on personal preferences and the anticipated location and function of the stove. However, satisfactory answers to all questions should be received from the dealer before committing to a purchase.

1. Does the corn-burning stove have UL or CSA certification on the testing label?
   
   
2. Does the operator's manual for the stove state that 100% shelled corn can be burned or must the corn be mixed with wood pellets for good combustion?
   
   
3. Are there any other fuels that can be burned in the corn-burning stove? If so, what adjustments or stove modifications are required to burn some other fuel?
   
   
4. How often will the supply hopper need to be filled when the stove is burning at full capacity?
   
   
5. What are the maintenance requirements of the corn-burning stove compared to other stoves? How often do clinkers need to be knocked loose and removed? Must an additive (such as oyster shells) be burned along with the corn to ease the cleaning requirements?
   
   
6. Are sugars from burning corn likely to accumulate in the combustion chamber? If so, what is the recommended way to remove the sugars?
   
   
7. Where can shelled corn be purchased in this area? Be sure to have a plan for storing the shelled corn you purchase for the heating season and perhaps beyond. (See the link on the web site to “Storage Requirements of Shelled Corn.”)
   
   
8. What is the recommended moisture content for the shelled corn in order to get good fuel combustion?
   
   
9. What type of exhaust ventilation system must be provided for the corn-burning stove? What are the local code requirements and insurance requirements for handling the combustion exhaust?
   
   
10. What size corn-burning stove is needed for the intended application? Is the house layout appropriate for the convective movement of the heated air throughout the whole house? You need to decide if the stove is intended to be the primary heat source for the building or if it is intended to serve as a supplementary or back-up source.
    
    
11. Can the corn-burning stove be connected with an existing hot water or hot air distribution system?
    
    
12. How much experience does the dealer have with installing and servicing corn-burning stoves and boilers?
    
    
13. Which stove models are intended for residential applications and which models are for commercial and industrial applications?
    
    
14. What warranty comes with the stove? Under what conditions will the warranty be voided?

Dennis Buffington
Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Penn State University
Email: dbuffington@psu.edu
814-865-2971 (Voice)
814-863-1031 (FAX)