Many people in the UK are confused when it comes to choosing between hardwood fire logs and softwood fire logs. Choosing the best firewood may seem difficult for many people, but this will not worry you after reading this article. Generally, hardwoods are considered better fire woods than softwoods. This is because they come from slow growing trees such as ash or oak whereas softwoods come from fast growing trees such as pine. Hardwoods are denser than softwoods meaning that they produce a lot of head than softwoods. Also, hardwood fire logs produce a steady sustained burn whereas softwoods will burn quickly and then die down.
Since now you know that hardwoods are better than soft woods but do you know which ones are better? Here is a list of the most common hardwoods in the UK that make the best firewood.
1. White Oak
2. Red Oak
3. Beech
4. Black Ash
5. White Ash
Not all of these types are found everywhere, so you will need to find out which one of these trees are native to your area, so you know what to look for when purchasing. One way is to search the internet but a better way is to visit your local nursery and find out what these trees look like and their characteristics. You want to find out which one will give you the best burn for your buck.
However, just buying the hardwood fire logs is not enough. Even the best type of wood for firewood will not burn well if it has not been seasoned properly.
Seasoning has to do with water content. Green wood or recently cut wood has higher water content. As you can imagine, since fire and water don’t go hand in hand, the wood does not burn as hot or as clean as it can. It’s recommended that the wood is cut, split and stored properly for at least 6 to 12 months to be considered seasoned.
If you’re cutting your own firewood, then you need to store it correctly for it to the season right. To do this you must cut and split the wood then stack it about 6 inches off the ground, so there is air flow around it. This promotes the natural process of drying the wood out and should be done in a covered area that is away from rain if possible. If not, when rain is present, the stack will need to be covered and tied down with a tarp and protected from the water. Left over time the wood will dry out naturally and be ready to burn in the 6 to 12 month period.
But how is a consumer to know if the wood they are purchasing has been seasoned properly? The best way to check out the water content for firewood you are buying is with a moisture meter. You can find these pretty easily online. However, you don’t want firewood that is less than about 17% moisture because you do need some water for maximum combustion. Recommended for most fireplace and wood stoves is around 20%. Chimney professionals will tell you this amount is ideal for an efficient burn that leaves very little residue in the flue and ash in the firebox.
The other thing to consider when burning other types of wood (soft woods) or burning wood with higher contents of water is maintenance. You will need to have your chimney system swept and inspected more often due to creosote buildup. It’s more important to be safe than sorry and being aware is the best way to protect your family and your home.