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Everyone has their favourite wood to burn. Some provide significantly more heat than others.
The best wood to burn in a wood burner is seasoned hardwood. Seasoned hardwood refers to wood that has been allowed to dry for an extended period, usually six months to a year, reducing its moisture content.
What type of wood gives the best heat from your log burner?
Heat values are calculated by using the British thermal unit (BTU) which is a measure of the heat content of fuels or energy sources. One BTU is the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of liquid water by 1° Fahrenheit (F) at the temperature at which water has its greatest density (approximately 39° F).
How easy is it to process (Split, Cut) these types of wood?
Another important consideration is the ease of processing (If you’re doing it yourself).
Some of the easiest to split are:
1. Pine
2. Cedar
3. Conifer
4. Spruce
5. Redwood
6. Poplar
7. Basswood
8. Willow
9. Birch
10. Cottonwood
These types of wood generally have softer fibres, making them easier to split for burning.
If you want a real challenge, try eucalyptus especially if it’s been felled a while ago! One of the hardest woods to split and even cut in some cases!
One way to track your woodburner temperature and what wood you burn is performing best is by purchasing a Magnetic Woodburner Thermostat!
Finally, another important factor when choosing the best wood to burn is the length of seasoning time required. Some season very quickly and can almost be burnt immediately such as Ash. Others can take up to two years to dry, often the best wood such as Oak.
It’s important to season your wood until it shows less than 20% moisture for the best efficiency and the least smoke. Check out our other content on Top tips to season your firewood!
