Knowing how to choose your firewood and have beautiful flames that crackle and dance in the fireplace while outside in winter and cold weather is not easy ...
...With a good book and a hot drink we could stay in front of for hours !
What type of wood to choose?
Beware, not all woods produce the same result. There are three categories:
- Woods with high calorific value :
Oak, beech, maple, hornbeam, ash and elm.
- Woods with medium calorific value:
Acacia, chestnut, apple, pear, cherry.
- Woods with low calorific value:
Pine, aspen, cedar, birch, poplar, plane tree.
Avoid damp wood that burns poorly, heats little and pollutes the air. The wood should therefore be as dry as possible (moisture content below 20%). To do this, it must have dried between six months and a year and a half.
Recognizing the "good" logs :
- Prefer dark or grey wood, it is a good indicator when it is old and dry.
- Strike two logs together: they have to sound hollow.
- Weigh the logs. The logs should be relatively light (little water).
- Favour logs with cracks and bark that can be easily removed as these are signs that they are dry.
What size?
The size of your furnace's firebox will determine the size of logs you will need to purchase. Generally, they are 55, 33 or 25 cm long and the price depends on their length.
When the logs are assembled and ready to be sold, they are called steres. One stere of wood is equivalent to one cubic metre of wood.
Namely: the longer the logs are, the cheaper they are.
Where to store the wood?
Ideally, the logs should be stored under a shelter that will protect them from the weather. Make sure the area is well ventilated and raise the logs slightly above the ground.
Avoid tarpaulins that may create moisture.
Advantages of wood heating
Often used as a complement to more conventional heating, wood is the most economical and ecological way of heating. Indeed, wood is an inexpensive fuel whose price is lower than that of electricity, fuel oil or gas. In addition to being available locally, wood is part of the renewable energy family (5 to 200 years to reconstitute a forest).
Some stoves and fireplaces with inserts or closed hearths have very high efficiencies, (over 70%) which places them at the same level, and even higher, than a conventional boiler.
More info :
https://www.distriartisan.fr/blog/choisir-bois-chauffage/
https://www.60millions-mag.com/2016/11/07/bien-choisir-du-bois-de-chauffage-10770
https://lifehacker.com/how-to-pick-the-best-firewood-for-clean-burning-long-l-1733720859
