Advice on picking the right logs for your fireplace

 

There are numerous reasons to start a fire, including staying warm during cold nights or while camping under the stars. While most people do not give much thought to the type of firewood to use in a Moisture Meter or on an outdoor grill, believing that any wood will suffice, the choice does matter.

The season for supplying firewood varies depending on the country or region, but the importance of selecting the proper type of fire logs is universal.

Burning wood in stoves, wood boilers, fireplaces, and outdoor fire pits is the most common use for fire logs . However, not all types of wood are suitable for all applications.

What we must remember:

A good fire is made by combining two or three different types of wood .

We only buy wood that has been cut and naturally dried for at least six to eight months. Otherwise, our fireplace will probably fill with smoke.

We need to keep the wood dry, protected from rain, and well ventilated.

We never burn painted or treated wood or furniture because it is harmful to our health.

What kind of firewood should I get for heating?

It's important to remember that not all wood can be burned, and not all fire logs produces the same amount of heat.

There are two types of firewood: dry and softwood. These terms do not only refer to the texture of the wood. heatThe primary distinction between these two types of wood is based on their physical structure, density, and moisture content. So, we say that dry firewood is wood that has a higher density and between 10 and 15% moisture.

Hardwood has a longer burning period and produces more heat. Softwoods, on the other hand, have higher levels of moisture. They are usually sticky and will most likely cause an accumulation of these substances in the chiminea . They do, however, burn faster than dry ones and produce an impressive flame.

Wood that has been allowed to dry out is best for use in wood boilers , chiminea and fireplaces due to its low smoke production and low flammability. The soft type, on the other hand, is typically used as tinder for a fire, along with the hard type. Because of the large amount of smoke they produce, they are frequently used outside.

Which species of wood is best for producing the most heat?

Its heating value, also called its calorific value, is a measure of how much heat a certain species of wood gives off when it burns. The calorific value of a material measures its ability to generate thermal energy when burned. It is the amount of heat that is produced when one kilogramme of solid or liquid fuel, or one cubic metre of gaseous fuel, is burned under typical conditions. The four most calorific-valued woods are fir, pine, beech, and oak. However, this is a broad measure that ignores the specifics of each case. For example, we all know that using pine as the primary combustion material in a fireplace is extremely dangerous due to the high risk of starting a fire (e.g., from carpets or curtains that are nearby).