Tips for Selecting the Best Firewood for Your Needs.

Whether you’re searching for the best firewood to warm your home in the winter or you’re ready to make use of that outdoor fire pit or wood-fired oven, knowing how to choose the proper firewood is key.

Dry (Seasoned) Wood Is Key

There are many types of wood available. Softer wood burns faster and produces less heat while hardwoods burn slower and hotter. Regardless of what species of wood you choose, in order to get the best fire, it must be dry or seasoned.

If you’re purchasing wood, be prepared to spend more on hardwoods. Why? In addition to these species (hickory, black walnut, ash, and oak) producing the best heat, they also take longer to dry out. In fact, the seasoning process usually takes between six months and two years, depending on how the wood is cut.

Wood that is properly dried will have cracks in it and will be less dense than freshly cut or unseasoned wood. When wood appears wet or green, it will not burn properly. Unseasoned wood will burn inefficiently and produce more smoke. Excessive smoke can cause breathing problems for you and your family as well as present a potential fire hazard because of increased creosote production.

Choosing the Best Firewood that Suits Your Needs

Besides choosing properly seasoned firewood, knowing certain features of the various types of wood will help you decide as well.

● Fruit tree wood is a popular choice for grilling and smoking foods. When fruit woods such as pear, apple, cherry, or apricot is burned, it smells wonderful and enhance food flavors.

● Hardwoods like ash, oak, maple, and birch are great for preparing meats. These woods burn longer, which means they produce more heat for warming your space and when grilling food will add lots of flavors.

● Softwoods can create a welcoming environment in any setting. If you’re looking for firewood that produces warmth, tantalizing aromas, and that soothing crackling sound opt for fir, cedar, spruce, or pine. Softwoods also make great fire starters and are often sold as kindling. When burning pine – the resin can quickly create buildup in a chimney, so use sparingly and have your chimney inspected regularly.

Storing Your Firewood

In the event, you plan to cut and dry your own firewood, be sure to prepare and store it properly. Although it’s more work upfront, it’s best to cut the wood into usable pieces as soon as possible. Whether you cut it into circular disks or split the rounds in half, thirds, or quarters, this step will ensure the firewood dries out properly and as quickly as possible.

Firewood should always be in a dry place. This may be in a shed or sheltered/protected in some manner. This will promote seasoning and protect the wood from rotting. Be sure to store the wood away from the house. Not only will this guard against accidental fires, but it will also reduce the possibility of small animals or pests calling your woodpile home.

Keep Your Family and Home Safe

Whether you’re gearing up for outdoor summer cooking in your wood-fired pizza oven or preparing your home for winter, be sure your chimney and fireplace don’t pose any dangers. Albany chimneys provide chimney inspection services in the Albany and Saratoga, NY areas.