Different Types Of Firewood You Can Burn In Your Fireplace

When it comes to buying firewood to burn during cold months, cost, quality, type of firewood and whether it is seasoned or not are the important factors you have to consider. You want to buy wood that burns efficiently without producing too much smoke. This greatly depends on the type of firewood you are buying. So, in this article, you will learn whether you should look for hardwood logs for sale, softwood firewood or manufactured firewood. You will also learn about the type of firewood you should not burn. 

Following are the two categories of firewood: 

• Hardwood

• Softwood 

As it is denser than softwood, hardwood produces more heat and also burns for longer. The tar deposit buildup is also very low.    

Hardwood

Hardwood is denser because hardwood trees grow slowly. The wood is darker in colour. As it burns slowly, hardwood is ideal for cooking. This type of firewood burns hotter and more intense. Hardwood is the best for burning in a fireplace. Best hardwood options available to you are:  

Oak 

• Dense 

• Burns longer 

• Slowest to season 

Birch 

• Burns well and quickly even when unseasoned 

• Varying degrees of efficiency of many species such as Black, Yellow and White 

Ash

• Burns well

• Steady flame 

• Good heat output 

Softwood 

This type of firewood seasons quickly. Softwood is lighter and lower in density. It ignites faster and emits more smoke. Softwood is ideal for outside use. Following are the softwood firewood options available to you: 

Cedar

• Pleasant smell 

• Burned unseasoned 

• Nice and lasting heat

• Strong cracking sound 

Pine 

• Lights easily 

• Burns fast 

• Good flame 

• High sap and resin content 

Larch 

• The hardest softwood 

• Burn very hot

• Must be seasoned 

• Good for stoves 

• Low maintenance 

Some Other Types For Firewood 

Manufactured firewood can also keep you warm. Following are the options available to you:

• Wood bricks

• Wood pellets/Pellet fuel 

Wood Bricks

These are bricks made of wood. Sawdust/woodchips are compressed to make wood bricks.

• Burn more efficiently 

• Produce more heat

• Burn cleaner and produce less ash 

However, make sure that you are buying the best quality wood bricks. 

Wood Pellets/Pellet Fuel 

These little pellets burn very quickly. You need a special heater called a pellet stove. However, you can use them in standard wood stoves as well. 

Types Of Firewood You Should Avoid 

You cannot burn anything in your firewood. Whether you are burning it in a fireplace, campfire, or a cast iron stove, there are some types of wood you should avoid burning. These types of would include:

• Non-local wood 

• Green wood 

• Treated or painted wood

• Driftwood 

• Big wood (more than five inches in diameter) 

Now you know the characteristics of different options available to you, choose the one that addresses your need. As hardwood burns slowly and produces more heat, you should look for hardwood logs for sale.

About This Author

Sydney Firewood Sydney Firewood which sells many types of firewood. Joined: July 18th, 2018