How To Prepare Or Buy Good Firewood - Osburn INSPIRE 2000 Installation And Operation Manual

3.1 How to Prepare or Buy Good Firewood

3.1.1 What is Good Firewood?
Good firewood has been cut to the correct length for the wood fire, split to a range of sizes and
stacked in the open until its moisture content is down to 15% to 20%.
3.1.2 Tree Species
The tree species the firewood is produced from is less important than its moisture content. The
main difference in firewood from various tree species is the density of the wood. Hardwoods
such as gums, Manuka or ironbark are denser than softwoods. Hard wood will produce long-
lasting coal beds combined with more heat and longer burn cycles.
Old, leaky cast iron wood fires wouldn't hold a fire overnight unless they were fed large pieces
of hardwood. That is no longer true. You can successfully heat your home by using less wood
and give the forest a break at the same time.
3.1.3 Log Length
Logs should be cut at least 1" (25 mm) shorter than the firebox so they fit
in easily. Pieces that are even slightly too long makes loading the wood fire
very difficult. The most common standard length of firewood is 16" (400
mm).
The pieces should be a consistent length, with a maximum of 1" (25 mm)
variation from piece to piece.
3.1.4 Piece Size
Firewood dries more quickly when it is split. Large unsplit rounds can take years to dry enough
to burn. Even when dried, unsplit logs are difficult to ignite because they don't have the sharp
edges where the flames first catch. Logs as small as 3" (75 mm) should be split to encourage
drying.
Wood should be split to a range of sizes, from about 3" to 6" (75 mm to 150 mm) in cross
section. Having a range of sizes makes starting and rekindling fires much easier. Often, the
firewood purchased from commercial suppliers is not split small enough to fuel the fire. It is
sometimes advisable to resplit the wood before stacking to air dry.
3.1.5 How to Dry Firewood
Firewood that is not dry enough to burn is the cause of most complaints about wood wood fires.
Continually burning green or unseasoned wood produces more creosote and involves lack of
heat and dirty glass door.
Installation and Operation Manual - Inspire 2000 Page 13