1) What models of MagnuM or Country Flame product can be hooked to a wall thermostat and how do they operate?
a) MagnuM and Country Flame furnaces, fireplace inserts and stoves can be connected to a low voltage or millivolt wall thermostat. The control boards are not designed however to work with an electronic thermostat that requires power from the appliance.
b) When the wall thermostat calls for heat the appliance will go to the heat setting that has been pre-selected. When the wall thermostat has been satisfied (the room is up to temperature), the appliance will go to a pilot fire that is pre-programmed into the appliance. If you have the auto ignition system and are operating on fully automatic, the appliance will shut down completely until the wall thermostat calls for heat and then it will light the unit and run at the pre-set heat setting.
2) How do I know what is the right fuel to burn in my MagnuM or Country Flame appliance?
a) Each product model is certified for the fuels that are approved for that appliance. Those fuels will be listed in the installation and operations manual. It will also be indicated on the certification label on the appliance itself. It is important to only use premium grade fuels that are approved for the appliance.
b) Choosing the right fuel might be determined by where you are living, how close you are to the fuel source and pricing of the fuel. All fuels approved for the MagnuM or Country Flame appliances will work efficiently for you. Corn is usually the fuel of choice because of lower pricing and constant availability but Wood Pellets and other Flex-fuels might be your choice in some areas.
3) I am concerned about the environment and want to do my part, what is the best fuel to use in my MagnuM or Country Flame to help clean up the air?
a) American Energy Systems Inc. has led the industry in designing products that are environmentally clean and efficient. Typically our appliances are up to 10% more efficient than competitors in the industry and lab tests have shown that MagnuM and Country Flame products produce substantially less emissions than the EPA requires for clean burning. Whether you are using Corn, Wood Pellets or other Flex-fuels you can be sure that it is good for your environment.
4) How do I choose the right appliance for my home and what are the differences?
a) The first step is asking yourself “what am I wanting to accomplish”? Do I want to just save money, have ambiance and heating ability, heat an addition or family room or do I need whole house heating.
b) American Energy Systems Inc. has designed a full line of products that can fit your needs. If you have a drafty old fireplace a MagnuM or Country Flame Fireplace Insert will fill your needs. If you have forced-air heating or hot water boiler heating a MagnuM furnace or boiler will take care of whole house heating. A MagnuM or Country Flame free-standing stove will fit any décor and provide supplementary or whole house heating plus give you the ambiance that you desire.
c) With over 60 product model variations and styles you will be able to match your décor and heating needs.
5) How do I determine what is the best heat setting on my appliance and how does the control center operate?
a) Modern Heating experts agree that running your unit on a lower heat setting for longer periods of time is the best. All MagnuM and Country Flame products come thermostat capable and can also be run on a manual heat setting.
b) If you are using a wall thermostat, it is best to set your appliance on a medium heat setting. When the thermostat calls for heat the unit will change from a pilot fire to the medium setting and bring your home up to the desired temperature. If the unit cycles too often or cannot keep up during extreme cold conditions, change the setting to accommodate longer periods of time between pilot fire and heat setting cycling.
c) Typically, a manual operation setting will give you a more stable temperature in your home. Most units will heat the area needed on a medium heat setting rather than going from a lower to higher setting all of the time. When heating requirements demand a little more or less heat simply turn the appliance to a setting that meets those needs.
6) My firepot is filling up with a “clinker” (a condition when fuel bonds together) and overflowing, what is the problem?
a) The most common reason for excessive clinkering would be the quality of the fuel, installation errors or maintenance. If the firepot is overflowing check your venting system, make sure that you have fresh air hooked to the appliance, check your home for negative pressure and clean your firepot out more frequently.
b) If the firepot continues to overflow after just a couple hours it probably is fuel quality related. Check your fuel and if it is bad, replace with a quality fuel source. If the fuel is good, then check the firepot for proper fit, make sure the venting is clean and there are no problems with the draft blower system. Check all cleanout ports to make sure that the heat exchangers are not plugged.
c) There is complete maintenance, installation guidelines and troubleshooting in your operations manual and online at www.magnumheat.com
7) Is fresh combustion air required and important for my appliance to run correctly?
a) American Energy Systems Inc. requires that a fresh air source is brought in from outside of the home and hooked directly to the appliance. It is estimated that 80 percent of the homes in the USA have negative pressure in the home. It is a severe problem especially in lower levels. This means that your appliance may not run correctly, will burn dirty and the safety systems will shut your appliance down.
8) How do I get technical assistance when I need it NOW?
a) Your satisfaction is of high importance to American Energy Systems Inc. We have trained service providers across the nation and Canada to take care of your technical needs. The factory is set up to train and instruct the dealers and service providers and they in turn assist their customers.
b) To get information FAST, consult your owner’s installation and operations manual. If you cannot get the answers needed go to www.magnumheat.com and go to the technical and informational bulletins. We have a new forum also where you can go to ask and receive answers quickly. Only call the factory technical assistance line if you cannot get the right answers through the normal channels. This may take longer than going on-line so please be patient.