With fall and winter coming up, many people are looking to install fireplaces that offer a real wood-burning fire. Building a wood fire is appealing because it allows you to relish the spectacular smell and crackling sound of burning wood. Choosing the appropriate firewood for your fireplace, however, requires careful consideration. Each wood type boasts its own distinctive characteristics.
Hardwoods
Oak is regarded as one of the most popular types of wood. The fire produced by oak is extremely hot and long-lasting. Once you have ignited the wood, you can ensure that your room will be filled with a vast amount of warmth and comfort. However, it is important to note that oak needs to be seasoned for a year or two. Hard maple is preferred by many people due to its heavy weight and greater density. This allows the firewood to burn for a longer period of time. People looking for a more attractive species of wood are recommended to opt for birch. This kind of firewood can be easy to find at extremely low prices. However, it is best to combine it with other types of wood because the firewood tends to burn very quickly.
Softwoods
Pine is considered a good softwood because it is widely available and extremely sustainable. This type of firewood is easier to season and ignite. However, pine tends to burn quickly and produces less heat than hardwoods. Sparking is also produced during pine burning, thereby, causing creosote to build up in your chimney. Most people use pine to start a fire before switching to hardwoods, which increase the durability of the fire. Fir is another kind of softwood that offers a medium heating value. Also, the wood is easy to split and produces relatively less ash. Like pine, a Douglas fir will produce a little sparking during burning.
It is essential to remember that any wood that has not been seasoned well will provide complications during burning. Wood that is full of moisture will throw less heat out and cause more energy to be wasted. It is advisable to purchase wood and store it for at least a year before you use it for burning purposes. While choosing firewood, it is also important to find a well-ventilated outdoor location where you can store the wood. Lastly, you should have an idea about the amount of wood that your fireplace will require. Storing a large amount of wood indoors can cause bugs and bacteria to become active.
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