What Type Of Firewood Should I Use In My Fireplace? (2024)

FAQs

What Type Of Firewood Should I Use In My Fireplace? ›

Some examples of softwood trees are pine, poplar, and fir. The wood from these trees may be cheaper but they produce less heat and cause more creosote buildup for your chimney. So, when you are buying firewood, it is recommended to use hardwoods instead like oak, maple, birch, or wood that comes from fruit trees.

When deciding what kind of wood to burn in your fireplace, oak is probably the top choice. This is because oak burns the longest and produces the most heat out of all the different kinds of hardwood. One cord of oak firewood produces around 29 million BTUs. That's equal to burning 200-250 gallons of fuel oil!

Typed of Wood That Don't Burn Well in Your Fireplace

Alder: This wood is just a lot of work for no results. Alder burns quickly and doesn't produce much heat. Chestnut: Produces a lot of smoke and a weak flame. Gum: Prone to producing sparks, which can become a fire hazard.

Most types of hardwood, for instance Ash (generally regarded as the best), Birch, Beech, Oak and Elm can be used. However, avoid burning woods with a high resin content. As a rule of thumb, the heavier the wood, then the greater the heat output and the longer burn time – the time between refills.

Elm is a hardwood that burns slowly and produces a constant heat. It also produces few sparks and smoke, making it a suitable choice for closed fireplaces.

When asking which wood burns the hottest the answer is still ash, even if the wood isn't completely dry. Beech: As one of the best fire logs for fireplaces and also topping the best firewood for heat, this is second to ash only because it needs to be seasoned. Hawthorn: Very much like beech.

Seasoned hardwoods make the best firewood. Hardwoods like oak, cherry and maple are denser than softwoods like pine or cedar. Due to their density, they burn longer and produce more heat or BTUs.

Unlike most fuels, as long as it is done correctly, firewood can be stored indefinitely, safely, and without degrading.

Wait at least 6 months and up to 12 months for dry firewood depending on type of wood. Hardwoods like oak and maple dry more slowly than soft woods like pine and spruce. To ensure dry firewood, wait at least 12 months before burning. To test, bang two pieces together; dry wood sounds hollow, wet wood sounds dull.

Contrary to popular opinion, the hardwood's, like oak and poplar , created MORE creosote than the softwoods, like tamarack and pine. The reason for this, is that if the softwoods are dry, they create a hotter, more intense fire. The draft created by the hotter fire moves the air up the chimney faster!

Can you burn all types of wood in a fireplace? ›

First understand that all types of wood will burn, but not all wood will start a fire easily. Some kinds of fireplace wood and logs will produce more creosote than others. We can actually make our fireplace and chimney prone to flue fires by burning the wrong kind of wood!

Wood-burning fireplaces are only able to create a very small amount of heat to begin with, so it's no surprise that they're actually the least efficient type of fireplace when it comes to producing heat. They're also very good at working against themselves by pulling heat right out of your home.

Keep in mind, all wood contains at least some moisture. If a piece of wood has an exceptionally high moisture content, though, you should avoid burning it in your fireplace. Moisture in the wood can also contribute to dangerous creosote build-up.

Wood stoves: This is a type of wood heater made of cast iron or steel. Fireplace Inserts: Similar in function to free-standing wood stoves, these are installed within the firebox of your existing fireplace. Fireplaces: There are two major types: traditional masonry fireplaces and pre-fabricated “low mass” fireplaces.

Advantages of wood-burning fireplaces:

If the electricity goes out, your wood fireplace provides a means of staying warm, having light in the darkness, and cooking. You can choose the type of firewood you burn, which means you can make your fire long-burning, quick-burning, or especially aromatic.

Line your chimney with a stainless steel liner

Even if you aren't legally obligated to use one, we strongly recommend you use a chimney liner with an open fireplace.

Wood stoves: This is a type of wood heater made of cast iron or steel. Fireplace Inserts: Similar in function to free-standing wood stoves, these are installed within the firebox of your existing fireplace. Fireplaces: There are two major types: traditional masonry fireplaces and pre-fabricated “low mass” fireplaces.