Choosing the right wood for your fireplace is a crucial question for any wood stove owner. In this article, we’ll give you advice on how to dry the wood properly and how to ensure it provides as much heat as possible.

Don’t underestimate the preparation for winter

When the weather outside is cold and rainy, the cosy warmth of a fireplace is priceless. The quality of the view of the blazing flames and the overall heating experience depends on choosing the right wood. If you choose well, you will enjoy eco-friendly heating with minimal maintenance of the fireplace.

Which wood is best for the fireplace

Heating with wood is a pleasure, but only if the wood is dry enough. Wet wood, which contains up to 75% water, burns poorly, produces tar and has a low calorific value. Prolonged use of wet wood can lead to chimney blockages and reduce the life of the stove. In addition, the romance offered by the fireplace is lost.

Use dry wood for at least a year

For wood stoves and fireplaces, a moisture content of up to 20% is ideal. Fresh wood contains around 50% water, dried wood in the forest has around 30% and air-dried wood around 15%. For faster drying, we recommend splitting logs into smaller pieces and storing them in a dry, well-ventilated place, protected from rain. It is ideal to use wood that has been dried for at least one year.

How softwood burns

Softwood is ideal for kindling and quick burning. This includes wood from deciduous and coniferous trees such as pine, spruce, larch, lime, alder, fir, birch, willow and aspen.

How hardwoods burn

Hardwood is often used in cooking stoves. When it burns, it produces a steady fire and hot embers that radiate heat for a long time. Hardwoods include birch, hornbeam, ash, oak, beech and fruit trees. Hardwoods burn longer and have a higher calorific value, but cost more and take longer to light. A combination of hardwood and softwood is best.

Unsuitable firewood

Do not use chemically treated wood, plywood, particleboard, old pallets, railway sleepers or wood that has been soaked in oil in your fireplace or hearth. These materials can damage the fireplace, foul the chimney, and their combustion products are carcinogenic.