Choosing the right firewood for your needs is not always easy so here are a few useful tips,
Firewood for a wood Burning Stove or Pizza Oven
It is essential that you use dry firewood in your stove or oven. Manufacturers often recommend a maximum of 20% moisture content, but up to max of 25% moisture would usually be acceptable.
This quality will ensure a clean burn with no blackening of the stove glass or build-up of soot or tar in the chimney or flue. It also means that in an efficient stove, you will actually use far less firewood, so therefore more cost effective.
Our kiln dried logs are ‘Ready to burn’ so all you need to do is just ensure they are stored in a cool dry place, either in a log cabin or garage.
Firewood for an Open Fire/ Chimenea and firepit
When burning firewood logs on an open appliance, it’s impossible to control the air flow. Because of this, very dry firewood can sometimes burn too quickly BUT you still want to get good heat output and avoid sooting up chimneys etc.
The best solution for this is to burn kiln dried logs that are ‘chunkier’ in diameter so that there’s more log to burn through and the moisture content in the centre of the log is naturally a bit higher.
Never be tempted to go for wet firewood – Yes, they will burn slower, but you won’t get the heat output and you will actually end up using up to twice as much firewood to generate the same heat AND you will get the soot and tar build up in your chimney.
Seasoned logs
When anyone refers to ‘seasoned logs’ the moisture content will vary considerably, particularly at different times of the year. We ONLY recommend buying ‘seasoned’ logs if you are going to store the firewood for a further 6 -12 months at least. It is important to stack the logs under cover and with plenty or airflow through the stack. Our logs stores provide the perfect environment for storage.
Log Size
We sell 2 sizes of logs 25 cm and 37cm. Our most popular are cut to a length of 25cm (+/- 10%) which will fit the majority of stoves on the market today.
The diameter of our standard logs are 5-15cm measured at the widest point of the log. This provides smaller logs to build a good base to the fire and larger ones for a longer burn.
We also provide logs with a length of 37cm for larger fires or stoves. As they are longer logs, they are also slightly bigger diameter than the 25cm logs.
Pack Sizes
The large 1.2m3 crate is the most cost effective purchase ,although you can buy the 1m3 bulk bag. If you do not wish to have firewood delivered in a large bulk bag, you can have the smaller Barrow Bags. (size of a wheelie Bin) It’s really down to personal preference as to which suits best.
Volumes
Bulk bags are ‘loose-filled’ i.e. dropped into the bag from a conveyor. The logs are therefore not stacked in the bag. We know that the volume is correct as we check the volume in a metal cage measuring 1m x 1m x 1m. Fill these to the top and we confirm the volume is correct.
In the crates the logs are stacked more densely and hold approx 1/3 more than the loose bags.
Firewood Storage
Always store the firewood under cover and in a well ventilated area. We always recommend that the bulk bags are decanted, however if you are lucky enough to be able to get the bag direct into your garage, then it will be fine left in the bag. If outside, you should really cover the bag as if water gets in, then the logs may end up going mouldy as there will not be enough airflow.
How much firewood do I need?
This is a difficult one to answer as it depends on your type of appliance, its efficiency, the house insulation , how hot you like to have your houseetc. However as a guide a single stove is likely to require 3 – 4m3 each season. You will also need kindling – approx. 8 sticks per fire lighting and just ONE of our Natural Firelighters per fire.
Chimney Cleaning
Even though you are going to be using high quality fuel which provides a clean burn, you should still ensure your flue or chimney is swept a minimum of once a year and we recommend you use an approved chimney sweep. Visit: The Soot Doctors
Moisture Content
There are ways of telling how dry the wood is such as knocking 2 logs together and getting nice hollow sound, rather than a dull thud, or observing how many cracks are appearing in the log end. Well cracked will normally suggest, well dried.
However, the really best way to check the moisture content is by using a moisture meter. This will give you a pretty good guide as the actual reading of the firewood, both inside and out. All our logs have a moisture content of less than 20%.
Where Next?
If you snuggling up to the idea of getting a stove shop around and get advise from your friends you have already installed a stove. And remember when it comes to buying wood for your Stove buy frombestlogs.
To order your Kiln Dried Logs Go to our shop