Using the right firewood will increase your heat output, increase burning time, and prevent unnecessary damage to your wood stove. Using the wrong wood may result in poor performance:
Slow starting, smokey, and short fires
Low heat outputDirty glass
Excessive build-up in the flue and chimney
Unpleasant smells
Our Recommendations
We use a mixture of 12-18 month seasoned birch and beach logs, all with a moisture content of less that 20%. We find these types of logs generally burn hotter, and for longer.
Hardwood vs. Softwood
Hardwoods are generally better for burning than softwoods. Hardwood logs are heavier than the same sized softwood log, so they will provide you with much more heat output. Using hardwood logs means having to fill the stove up less often than they would with softwood logs.
Seasoned vs. Unseasoned Wood
Seasoned wood is thought to give you approximately 50% more heat output than the equivalent unseasoned log! Use dried, fully seasoned chopped wood logs with a moisture content of less than 20%. Ideally wood should be seasoned outdoors for between one to two years – the harder the wood then the longer the seasoning. Logs should be stacked off the ground with plenty of space between the logs to allow air movement. The top should be covered to keep rain and snow out. Read our blog on wood stores to find out more about the best ways to store wood!
How to identify Seasoned Wood
Wood which is well seasoned makes a distinctive ‘clack’ rather than a dull ‘thud’ when knocked together.Seasoned wood feels much lighter than an unseasoned log.The bark may be peeling away, and you may see cracks across the annual rings of the log.
Descriptions of Wood
Birch
Good fire starter
Good heat output
Burns quickly
Bright lively flames
Pleasing smell
Best mixed with other slower burning logs such as Elm, Ash or Oak
Cherry
Medium heat
Good heat output
Slow burning wood
Sweet burning aroma - great at Christmas!
Sparks a lot
Chestnut
Burns and splits easily
Reasonable flame
Reasonable heat output
Burns at a low heat
Heavy Smoke
Elm
Burns well but slowly
Long-lasting heat output
Difficult to split
Not quickly seasoned due to high water content
Best mixed with a faster burning log to help it get going
Maple
Hot burning
Difficult to split
Oak
Hot-burning
Slow burning
Nice flames
Long-lasting heat output
Not quickly seasoned - at least two years
Pine
Makes good kindling
Burns fast
Bright flames
Burns messy
Excessive use may cause problems in the flue system
Do not use exclusively; it is best mixed with other woods
We'd love to hear from you - let us know what works best in your stove in a comment below!
Comments