Congratulations on the purchase of your renewable energy-fueled appliance. You have joined an ever-expanding group of individuals who are doing their part to lesson the USA's annual dependence on over 700 billion dollars worth of foreign petroleum products. Just think of how much stronger our nation's economy would be if those dollars stayed here instead of going overseas!

SPARKS FARMS hopes your investment in an alternative fueled heat appliance will be a pleasing and rewarding one, and with that in mind we offer the following suggestions before installation of the unit in your home.

1. Consider local building codes, flue, electrical, air circulation, corn storage and refueling, and all manufacture's instructions in choosing the best installation location in your home.
2. If at all possible have your unit professionally installed. Many appliances retailers offer this valuable service as part of their business operation. As an alternative you must follow all recommendations from the manufactures owner installation and operations manual. Failure to adhere to established procedures for installation may result in decreased performance of the unit, or much worse, present a fire or other safety hazard to you, your family, and your home. Your stove dealer and we at SPARKS FARMS want your corn-fueled experience to be a SAFE and pleasant one, so read and follow all recommendations!
3. Use quality corn as a fuel source. At SPARKS FARMS we plant, grow, harvest, store and burn our own corn for heat in our large 1850's era farm home, and have been doing so as part of our farm operation for years. As a result we have learned the following valuable lessons:

Corn used as fuel must be dry. Corn stored in bins by farmers or at the local mill has too high moisture content (usually 15% to 17%) to burn efficiently in most stoves and furnaces. Slow rate of burn with less heat output, and excess soot and fly ash causing additional unit maintenance result from corn that is too wet.

Corn used as a fuel must be clean. Modern combines are very efficient at gathering the crop but even best machines with proper settings leave some foreign material, cob and stalk parts, in the corn which can slow or stop the flow of corn to the burner.

Good luck, feel free to ask us questions, and may you bask in the warm glow of your unit and in the knowledge of all those petro dollars you are not sending overseas.

With warm (pun intended) regards,

Mike & Jenny Sparks
SPARKS FARMS
Connersville, In