Firewood

What kind of wood is best for my fireplace (indoor/outdoor)? 

 

The best wood to buy for your indoor fireplace is dense wood; like hickory, oak or maple. Ash is also good to use as, although its not as dense, it does burn well. Hickory wood is great for outdoor fireplaces as its burns hotter than oak and maple so its great for cooking! If you tend to use your fireplace a lot of the year then Birch is also a great option too as it burns well even when it is unseasoned. 

 

Where and how long should I leave my wood to dry (season)? 

 

If you have freshly-cut wood its best to keep it outside where there is sunlight and a fresh breeze. The sunlight and breeze will help to draw out the moisture and dry the wood out making it easier to burn. 

The key to seasoning (drying out) firewood is stacking the wood making sure it’s not pressed up against a wall; there needs to be room for a breeze. It is best to split and stack your wood in the early spring when it becomes warmer and there will be more sunshine, then by winter it should be ready to use! To speed the process up slightly you can criss-cross cut the ends to allow air to get in and draw out the moisture.  

 

Types of wood, their advantages and disadvantages: 

 

Oak  

+Hot Burning 

+Very Dense 

+Should be seasoned for at least a year 

 

Chestnut 

-Can spark a lot causing heavy smoke 

+Splits and Burns easy 

-Burns at a low temperature 

 

Maple 

+Hot Burning 

-Can be difficult to split 

+Should be seasoned for at least a year 

 

Elm 

+Very Dense and Hard 

-May give off an odd odour when burning. 

-Can be difficult to split 

 

Cherry 

+Smells sweet when burning 

+ - Although it sparks a lot, it doesn’t produce lots of smoke 

+Burns at a medium temperature 

 

Pine 

- Not good for firewood 

- Burns messy 

- Lots of sap 

 

Birch 

+Burns bright and quick 

+Hot Burning 

+Good for fire starting