How To Prepare Or Buy Good Firewood - Enerzone EB00041 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 stove, 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 are
denser than softwoods. People who live in the coldest regions of North America usually have
only spruce, birch and poplar, other low-density species to burn and yet they can heat their
homes successfully.
Homeowners with access to both hardwood and softwood sometimes use both types for different
purposes. For example, softer woods make good fuel for mild weather in spring and fall because
they light quickly and produce less heat. Softwoods are not as dense as hardwoods so a given
volume of wood contains less energy. Using softwoods avoids overheating the house, which
can be a common problem with wood heating in moderate weather. Harder woods are best for
colder winter weather when more heat and longer burn cycles are desirable.
Note that hardwood trees like oak, maple, ash and beech are slower growing and longer lived
than softer woods like poplar and birch. That makes hardwood trees more valuable. The advice
that only hardwoods are good to burn is outdated. Old, leaky cast iron stoves wouldn't hold
a fire overnight unless they were fed large pieces of hardwood. That is no longer true. It is
possible to successfully heat a home by using the less desirable tree species 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 make loading the stove 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.
Installation and Operation Manual - Solution 2.3 Page 17