Abstract: Method and apparatus for heating aggregate in a system which includes a unit for mixing a stream of fuel and a stream of forced air to form a gaseous combustible fuel mixture, and a blower coupled to the unit for supplying it with forced air. The apparatus includes a water-spray device for injecting a fine-particle spray, at an adjustable water-volume rate, into the air-intake opening of the blower. In the method of the invention, the temperature of the heated aggregate is monitored under conditions where the fuel mixture is characterized by a substantially constant fuel-flow rate. The water-volume rate of atomized water spray introduced into the blower is adjusted until a maximum monitored aggregate temperature is observed. The amount of fuel in the moisture-containing fuel mixture is then adjusted to effect heating of the aggregate to a desired temperature.