What is the best wood for an indoor fireplace?
- Ensure to find wood that has low moisture. ...
- Irrespective of the type of wood stove you choose, the log size range covering all wood stoves is 12- to 20-inch lengths, with an average of 16 inches.
- The average width of logs is 3 to 6 inches.
- The shape of the firebox determines the number of logs or pieces of wood you can place in the woodstove.
What is the best wood to burn in a fireplace?
- Alder (Red)
- Aspen
- Cedar (Red)
- Cottonwood
- Hemlock
- Pine (Lodgepole and White)
- Redwood
- Spruce (Sitka)
What wood not to burn in fireplace?
Woods to Always Avoid
- Soft Wood. While some softwoods are good to burn, there are a number of them that we think are worth avoiding at all costs.
- Driftwood. While this isn't a problem in some areas of the country, driftwood is also another thing that you want to stay away from.
- Chemically Treated Wood. ...
- Unseasoned Wood. ...
What is the best type of firewood?
What is the best wood?
- Spruce – Calorific value 4,600 – short duration.
- Maple – Calorific value 4,600 – long life.
- Birch – Calorific value 4,900 – medium duration.
- Beech – Calorific value 4,600 – long life with medium flame.
- Ash – Calorific value 5,300 – long life with medium flame.
What kind of wood should not be burned in a fireplace?
Trees like pines, firs, or cypress have "soft" wood, which burns fast, leaves few coals, and makes a lot of smoke that can coat your chimney with soot (not a safe thing in the long run).
What wood burns with least smoke?
Firewoods That Produce The Least Amount of SmokeAsh. Ash firewood is a great all-around firewood, produces almost no smoke, puts off a moderate amount of heat, and is a quick seasoning wood. ... Oak. ... Maple. ... Applewood. ... Beech. ... Black Locust. ... Hickory. ... Black Walnut.More items...
What wood lasts the longest in a fireplace?
Hickory is the Longest Burning Wood It's simple, really: it takes longer for the fire to consume hardwood because there is more fuel “packed” into each log. Hickory has the highest density among firewood (37-58 lbs/ft.3), and therefore burns for the longest time.
What firewood gives off the most heat?
The basic rule for home heating: The higher the heat value of the wood, the more efficiently it will warm your home. According to fireplace, hearth, and chimney supplier Northline Express, sugar maple, ash, red oak, beech, birch, hickory, pecan and apple are among the hardwoods with the highest heat values.
Are Duraflame logs bad for chimney?
Since duraflame® firelogs are made with dry wood sawdust, only a fine soot is left in the chimney. In fact, tests show that a duraflame® firelog has 66% less creosote accumulation per hour of fire than the creosote accumulation from burning a wood fire.
What is the best and worst firewood?
Wood Types: Best to WorstThorn – Very Good – One of the best woods for burning. ... Walnut – Fair – Is overall a fair wood for burning. ... Willow – Poor – Does not burn well even when seasoned. ... Yew – Very Good – Very high heat output that lasts a very long time.More items...•
What is the slowest burning firewood?
Oak. Oak is the slowest wood to season, at approximately 2.5cm a year and ideally should be seasoned for a minimum of two years. Because of its density, it is a wood that's slow to burn as firewood and is best used in a mix of faster-burning logs. This wood can help to keep the fire burning at night if required.
What wood creates the most creosote?
Softwoods like fir, pine and cedar make more smoke, and therefore more creosote.
What wood is hardest to burn?
Oak is a very dense hardwood tree, so it will burn for a very long time. Getting it started can be the tricky part, though. Because oak is a dense wood, it requires continuous high heat to get it started burning and to keep it burning well....Hours of Operations.Monday24/7Sunday24/75 more rows
Is pine Good for fireplace?
Pine is terrible when it comes to coal production and it is, by far, one of the worst wood types to burn if you want a consistent overnight fire. However, it does make it a good type of wood for outdoor fires because it will burn out quite fast and you won't have to stay up for too long to supervise it.
Can wood be too old to burn?
As long as firewood is left to sit in the right conditions and free from moisture it won't go bad for many years. Once firewood has been seasoned for the right amount of time it should be stored off the ground, under a form of cover and open to the atmosphere to ensure that it doesn't rot.
What can you burn in a fire pit that doesn't smoke?
You'll never eliminate all smoke but the best way to reduce smoke from a fire pit is to use well-seasoned firewood, use dry firewood, use the right firewood, do not burn rubbish, don't burn debris such as leaves, and promote good airflow through your fire.
Does all firewood smoke?
The bottom line is that it's not normal for a wood-burning fire to produce a lot of smoke, and this excess smoke is a sign of incomplete combustion. If the wood doesn't burn completely, it will release airborne particulate matter in the form of smoke.
Why is my wood fire so Smokey?
There are a couple of reasons for this: First, as the moisture in the wood heats up, it will burn off and turn into steam. This steam mixes with the smoke of the burning wood and makes the smoke much thicker than the smoke from dry wood. Second, wet wood is problematic because it prevents the wood from burning as hot.
Can you get smokeless wood?
Wood is not specifically listed as a smokeless fuel, so many people assume they can't burn it in smokeless zones. However, by using a DEFRA-certified stove (also known as an exempt appliance), good quality, dry wood can be used safely.
What kind of wood is used for a fireplace?
These woods tend to be hardwoods, such as hickory or ash, rather than softwoods, ...
What woods burn the best?
Hardwood Firewood. Hardwoods such as maple, oak, ash, birch, and most fruit trees are the best burning woods that will give you a hotter and longer burn time. These woods have the least pitch and sap and are generally cleaner to handle.
How much heat energy does firewood use?
The best firewoods offer the heat-energy equivalent of 200 to 250 gallons of fuel oil. These include the following:
What is the cheapest wood to buy?
Softwood Firewood. Softwood is the cheapest type of wood you can buy. Fir is the best choice, but other softwoods include pine, balsam, spruce, cedar, tamarack, alder, and poplar.
What woods produce the least heat energy?
Birch (White) Cherry (Black) Douglas fir. Elm (American) Maple (Red and Silver) Tamarack. In the lowest heat-energy category, each cord of wood produces about the same heat as 100 to 150 gallons of fuel oil: Alder (Red) Aspen.
What percentage of wood should be burned?
Wood should have a moisture content of only 15 to 25 percent for burning. With the moisture above 25 percent, wood is hard to start and burns poorly and inefficiently, creating excessive amounts of water vapor and smoke. 1 .
Can you burn green wood?
You should never burn "green," or insufficiently dried, wood as it produces less heat and more smoke (and, ultimately, creosote) than properly dried, or seasoned, wood. For proper storage, you should stack your wood for efficient air circulation, covered at the top only, and make sure it is thoroughly dry before burning.
What type of wood is best for a fireplace?
Oak is considered the best wood to burn in a fireplace, by far. Why? This type of wood produces a slow-burning fire that lasts longer and burns more evenly and hotter. In addition, oak is plentiful and found in almost any area of the country. There is one caveat, however: to burn well, oak needs to be seasoned well, which means it needs to be dried for at least a year after cutting, so the sap dries. Oak can also be a little harder to ignite, but you’ll be richly rewarded by the perfect fire once it gets going.
What woods burn faster, oak or maple?
Birch. Birch gives off a beautiful flame, but unlike oak or maple, it burns quickly, so you’ll need to have more on hand than either oak or maple. Because hard woods burn more slowly and completely, you’ll have less to clean up once the fire is out and less chance of buildup in your chimney.
What is the difference between seasoned wood and heavy wood?
Seasoned wood produces more heat for your fires, burns more cleanly and is easier to start. Seasoned wood takes on a grayish color and is relatively lightweight. Heavy wood can indicate that there’s still sap, which will burn quickly and not produce as much heat.
What does it feel like to have a fireplace in your home?
When it’s cold outside, there is nothing quite like the cozy feeling of warming yourself up by the fire. Having a fireplace in your living space gives you the opportunity to bring the outdoors in —along with the nostalgic sounds and smells from gathering around the campfire as a kid— and to warm up a small area quickly.
How to store wood for termites?
Store your wood in a well-ventilated area outside, up off the ground , protected from the elements using a plastic tarp or covering. Only bring in as much wood as you’re going to use at one time. Because wood attracts bugs, like termites, bringing more than you need to the house will encourage the bugs to stick around inside. ...
Can you use a fireplace in Texas?
For the most part, in Texas, fireplaces are not used as the sole heat source for a home, when heating is needed, so using wood that takes a long time to burn isn’t always necessary. For Texas fireplaces, it’s best to have a good mixture of all types of wood, both hard and soft, so your fire burns evenly and throws off just the right amount of heat.
Is it good to season softer wood?
The fact that softer woods season more quickly isn’t necessarily a good thing; there are more chances of residual sap pockets, causing more sizzle and snap than well-seasoned hard woods. Fir trees do result in less ash, and season well, with fewer leftover sap pockets.
Types of Firewood and their pros and cons
Oak is a great choice of firewood. It has high heat value per cord, burns extremely hot and long lasting, is very durable, resistant to bugs & pests which makes it perfect for outdoor fires. However this type of wood does not smell too pleasant when burned (it has an acrid smoke), can be expensive on the short term, and can be difficult to split.
How to choose the best type of Firewood for your Fireplace?
There are many different types of wood for your fireplace, but what you choose will depend on the following factors:
The best time to start a wood fire in your Fireplace
is when the temperature outside is dropping. The best wood to use in your fireplace is oak, maple, or ash.
Tips on how to maintain a healthy, long-lasting wood fire
In order to have a healthy, long-lasting wood fire in your fireplace, you first need to select the right kind of firewood.
Safety precautions when using an open flame indoors
Keep the fireplace, gas logs and chimney clean. Use a screen to prevent sparks from flying out of the fireplace onto your floor or combustible items nearby.
Different ways you can use leftover or scrap pieces of wood after your fires are done
Use the leftover wood as kindling to start your next fire. This will help you save on buying new kindling, and it’s a great way to recycle!
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has classified firewood as a renewable resource, which is good news for people who like to use their fireplace to heat their homes.
What wood is good for a fire starter?
Birch. When chopped into small, thin pieces, birchwood makes a great fire starter, and when used in larger log form, it burns hot and cleanly and can be used after less time spent seasoning than many hardwoods. If you are selecting several woods, make birch one of your choices.
Why are hardwood trees pricier than oak?
These hardwood trees produce woods that burn hot and give off wonderful aromas, but because the actual trees are often smaller than, say, a towering oak, the wood can be pricier.
What happens if you burn the wrong wood?
There are few things more pleasurable about the autumn and winter months than a warm fire crackling in a fireplace, but if you burn the wrong wood, that woodsmoke drifting gently about the neighborhood may be filling your home to choking. Or it may smell less woodsy and charming and more acrid and terrible.
Why won't my wood burn?
Wood in this condition won’t burn properly due to its high moisture content , and in the worst case of it all, it may release noxious or even dangerous chemicals or bacteria.
How much heat does a beech tree produce?
A cord of beech (a cord of wood equals 128 cubic feet of stacked logs) can produce as much as 30 million BTUs worth of heat, whereas a cord of wood with a low heat value, like most pine trees, would produce about half as much heat.
How thick is hickory wood?
Hickory burns hot and clean when the wood is seasoned and cut to the proper size (which generally mean no log thicker than five inches for an indoor fireplace) and it can produce a sweet, savory woodsmoke. Which is why it is often used in smoking foods, of course.
Can you burn pinewood inside a fire?
Never Burn These Kinds of Firewood Inside. There are always exceptions, but as a general rule, these kinds of woods just aren’t suitable for indoor fires. There are actually a few softwoods (evergreens are softwood) that are OK to burn indoors if truly dried out, like cedar and Douglas Fir, but when in doubt, don’t burn pinewood inside.
Density
Dense woods burn longer and produce more heat relative to the size of the wood. Dense woods are most of the time considered as the preferable wood to use as firewood. Density will be measured in dried weight per square feet since that directly correlates with the density and is the most understandable.
Moisture Content (Seasoning)
The moisture content of firewood has to be low enough for the wood to burn efficiently. The moisture content of properly seasoned firewood should be below 20% and never higher than 25%. Seasoning firewood to this level can take as little as six months to two years depending on the conditions.
Heat Output
Heat output is very much related to the density of the wood. Heat output is measured in Heat Per Cord in Millions of BTUs. BTU is short for British Thermal Unit which is used to measure heat energy.
Availability
The availability of the different types of firewood in your area is important to what type of firewood you want to choose. A good example can be hickory wood, which is widely available if you live in the Eastern and Midwestern United States. But if you live in Europe, hickory is hard to come by and would be too expensive to use as firewood.
Smoke, resin, and Fragrance
When choosing firewood it is easy to overlook the amount of smoke the firewood produces, how much resin is in the wood, and the fragrance the wood gives when burned.
1. Hickory
Hickory is good for so many things, and it is especially good as firewood. Hickory is considered by many to be one of the best types of wood for firewood. The density of Hickory makes the wood burn hot and the logs last for a long time. The hickory logs will burn throughout the night if you let them.
2.Oak (White)
Oak is also one of the most preferred firewoods and is widely available across Northern America And Europe. In this article, I am using white oak as an example, but most oaks will have similar properties for burning.
What is the best wood for a fireplace?
Oak. Image: pexels.com. Oak is quite possibly the best wood for fireplace. A lot of this has to do with its density and its energy content. Wood is generally measured in British Thermal Units, and oak ranks pretty high on this list, with red oak probably being the highest.
Why are woods so expensive?
However, these woods are known to be a bit expensive due to their ability to be used both for cooking and heating a home.
What is Douglas Fir?
The Douglas Fir is a wood that's plentiful in North America. A lot of this has to do with much of the climate, but it's also pretty easy to grow and cut down. Since it takes no time from being planted and harvested, you should also get a good price when you're trying to source it.#N#This high-energy wood cuts great and creates a decent and steady amount of heat. What's more is that this type of heat shouldn't be relegated to any particular time of year, as it's pretty prevalent and it doesn't take much time for it to dry.#N#However, this is generally a hit during the holiday season because it gives off that noteworthy evergreen scent. Give this wood a chance if you don't want to worry about availability, smoke level, or price point.
When will the fireplace be out in 2020?
March 24, 2020 by cutthetimber. Burning wood in a fireplace has long been a passion of many homeowners. The nice, relaxing crackling of a fireplace has been a mainstay in cultures for centuries. These days, it serves a more practical purpose in cutting down heating costs, as well as a great source of lighting in the event that the power goes out.
Is pine good for you?
For example, pines, cypresses, and many firs aren't good for you - at least in the home. The reasoning here is that they burn very quickly and kick up a lot of smoke. This smoke will quickly fill both your home and your chimney with ash and creosote.
Is ash a good wood to burn?
It's generally found in mixed cords, which are ash bundled with other hardwoods such as hickory or oak. In any event, ash is super user-friendly and doesn't kick out that much smoke. With ash, unlike oak, you don't have to worry about it being too wet when you want to burn it.
Can you burn softwoods outside?
If you must burn many softwoods, it's probably best to keep them outside and well away from your home, as they can work decently well in a fire pit or bonfire. Images: unsplash.com. Driftwood. While this isn't a problem in some areas of the country, driftwood is also another thing that you want to stay away from.
What is the best wood to burn?
The best burning firewood is usually a firewood that is dense and well-seasoned. Locusts and Oaks match this density criteria well. With density comes a hotter burn and better, longer-lasting coals. When a wood is well seasoned, it tends to smoke less and burn more easily.
What wood is good for a campfire?
A nice hot coal is perfect for cooking over on a campfire cooking grate. Beechwood and American Elm are two types of wood well known for their coaling qualities. They’re perfect for a campfire cookout. Sadly, Black Locust, which is otherwise our pick as the best firewood, isn’t so good for coaling.
What does higher BTUs mean in firewood?
Higher BTUs represent woods that burn at a hotter temperature. Ease of splitting relates to the ease of splitting seasoned wood, not green wood.
How many BTUs per cord of wood?
You’re more likely to buy a quarter or eighth to a cord of wood each winter. Most types of firewood output between 15 (low) and 30 (high) million BTUs per cord of wood.
Why is it bad to burn firewood?
Bad firewood can be an irritant to the lungs and over time may cause the dangerous build-up of soot in your chimney.
What is BTU wood?
Burning Heat (BTUs) A hotter burning wood will be better for heating your home. Higher BTU woods with low smoke output are therefore very popular for home fireplaces at wintertime. Examples of this type of wood include Black Locust and Hickory woods. We measure the heat of wood using BTUs.
What happens to wood at the end of a fire?
At the end of a fire’s life, it will burn down to coals. Some woods turn to denser, longer-burning coals; while others turn to crumbling ash that won’t last too long into the night. People who want to cook over a fire are often most concerned about the quality of the coals.
