Firewood
Wood Heating
Firewood is another major component in the wood burning process. To have an efficient fire with low wood smoke emissions you need to burn only dry clean wood, either hard or soft,
The way firewood burns depends on:
Moisture Content
Firewood needs to be dry. Obtain your firewood in early spring and allow it to dry over the summer months. Stack it outside, covered and off the ground with room for air to circulate freely between the pieces. Dry firewood has checks or cracks in the ends of the logs. It is darker at the ends and weighs less than freshly cut wood. If you bang two pieces together you should hear a loud, hollow crack. If you tap the wood with a key or coin dry wood should make a sharp resonant sound, wet wood makes a dull sound.
Signs that your firewood is not dry enough:
- The wood is hard to ignite.
- The wood hisses and sizzles in the firebox.
- The fire produces more smoke than heat.
Log Size
Use small, finely split pieces of firewood. Small pieces have more surface exposed to the flame and will burn cleaner. They produce short, hot fires. Larger pieces can be used to maintain extended firing cycles.
Wood Condition
Firewood should not look nor feel rotten.
Wood that has been cut for more than three years or that has been lying around in a swampy area will be difficult to burn.
Tree Species
Burn a mixture of hardwood and softwood; it maintains the forest's natural diversity. Make sure the wood is harvested from sustainable forests. Hardwood is the preferred firewood since it produces longer lasting burn, but any type of dry wood will burn. Softwood needs to be used in larger quantities but is also the most common wood on Canada's coasts and northern areas.
