Best and Worst Kinds of Wood to Burn in Your Fireplace

To get the most out of home fires, it is essential to know the best and worst kinds of wood to burn in your wood burning fireplace. Hardwood shave certain features that may make them perfect for your woodpile. The same goes for softwoods. Which wood is best for your fireplace depends on what type of fire you want, and that may vary depending on certain factors, such as the outdoor temperature. At Chimney Saver Solutions, we don’t like to blow smoke. So, let’s get to the hard facts about the best and worst kinds of firewood to burn in your fireplace.

Only Burn Seasoned Wood

Whether you choose softwoods, hardwoods, or a mixture, you should certainly only burn seasoned wood. Because it has a low moisture content of 20% or less, seasoned wood can burn efficiently. Green wood or fresh-cut wood is just the opposite. Because it is bursting with moisture, green wood smokes something awful. Green wood uses up all the heat and energy of the fire to eradicate moisture.

Most logs take between 6 and 12 months to dry out. The best approach to ensuring that your firewood is seasoned is to purchase a wood moisture meter. They can be purchased for about $15 or more, and they are easy to use.

Worst Wood to Burn Plus Others to Avoid

Besides unseasoned firewood, the worst wood to burn is any type of chemically treated or painted wood. Chemicals in varnished wood and paint release toxic fumes when burned. There is great potential for harm if such fumes are released into your home.

We suggest that you avoid burning the following wood for the reasons stated below:

• Willow doesn’t produce much heat but does produce smoke in excessive amounts.
• Gum is too prone to produce sparks, which can result in a fire hazard.
• Poplar is difficult to ignite because of its low density. The high moisture content of poplar results in an exorbitant amount of smoke. Perhaps worst of all, when poplar is burned, it produces a terrible smell.
• Chestnut delivers weak flames and lots of smoke.
• Eucalyptus has a high oil content, which can mean it is easy to ignite. However, it burns very hot, which, in some circumstances, can mean there is a danger of an out-of-control fire. In addition, burning eucalyptus creates copious amounts of smoke.
• Pine is a softwood that burns hot quickly so that it is good for kindling. But pine intensifies the amount of creosote buildup in the chimney flue, which heightens the risk of dangerous chimney fires.
• Spruce is pitchy, like pine, and worsens creosote build-up.
• Hardwood is Considered the Best Wood for Fireplaces

In general, hardwoods are usually considered the best for fireplaces. Hardwoods are dense and weigh much more than softwoods. If you want a hot fire that burns for a long time, even creating hot coals that help maintain the heat, hardwoods may be the best firewood for you.

Examples of hardwoods include oak, maple, hickory, birch, ash, and cherry.

Softwoods Can Be the Perfect Firewood

In warm climates, opportunities to use the fireplace can be few and far between. Burning softwoods can promote the use of the fireplace when the outdoor temperature isn’t all that cold. That’s because softwoods burn quickly and don’t leave a bed of coals behind. In other words, when softwoods are your firewood, blazes burn quickly and efficiently. But don’t take anything for granted! Always supervise fires, especially if you don’t have a safe closed-combustion system type of fireplace, such as a fireplace insert.

Examples of softwoods to burn in your fireplace, though perhaps only for kindling, include pine, cedar, spruce, and fir.

Call the Chimney Pros for a Safe Fireplace and Chimney

Diligence is needed to ensure that fireplaces and chimneys are safe. Ongoing maintenance is a must. So, figure out the best and worst kinds of wood to burn in your fireplace. Then call our CSIA-certified chimney experts to take care of essential chimney maintenance. With an annual chimney inspection before each year’s first fireplace use, you can help ensure that fires will be safe. When you have the right wood for the type of fire you want, the enjoyment of your fireplace should only increase.

Schedule an appointment with us today by calling or filling out our online form.