How Much Corn Will Your Stove Consume?

To address your questions about corn consumption, you first must know how much heat corn produces.  There is approximately 9,000 BTU’s to one (1) pound of corn, at a moisture rate of 13 to 14 percent.  The higher the rate the less BTU’s and the lower moisture rate the higher BTU’s.  There is approximately 450,000 BTU’s to 50 lbs.  Now you can estimate corn consumption by stove BTU’s.

All stoves give the maximum BTU ratings.  All stoves have various settings either room heat settings or 1 thru 10 for comfort adjustments.

For Example a stove that has a rating of 30,000 BTU’s

                1 - 50lb bag will last 15 hours at the highest setting

                Stove settings 1 thru 10 - 10 being the highest

1.                                             450,000 BTU‘s - 50 lb bag

                Divided by               30,000 BTU‘s - per Hour Stove Rating                    

                                                15 Hours Maximum Rating of 10 feed rate - Corn Use

2.                                             450,000 BTU’s - 50 lb bag

                Divided by               15,000 BTU‘s- per Hour Stove Rating        

                                                30 Hours Maximum Rating of 5 feed rate - Corn Use

3.                                             450,000 BTU’s - 50 lb bag

                Divided by               10,000 BTU’s - per Hour Stove Rating          

                                                45 Hours Maximum Rating of 2 feed rate - Corn Use

4.             The Number One (1) setting is the lowest.  The stove may not operate on 1

                because this is a reference point varying on corn moisture.

5.             Corn Stoves operate better when corn is under 14 percent.

Most stoves will not operate at lower than 12,000 BTU’s because it takes heat to burn corn.  Corn will not burn if it cannot get hot enough to pass the threshold.

Your question on how much you will spend on corn varies on size of your home.  You can figure that the 50,000 BTU stove will heat approximately 1,900 to 2,200 square feet.  However, you need to use the BTU corn formula I have provided.  The stove strategically installed for maximum benefit.

Most 24/7 corn burners will use 3 to 4 tons a season.  Less for night only or day only.