Firewood

[LindaL]

I am a "newbie" when it comes to firewood...I have never had a fireplace/woodstove before (I did while growing up, but I never paid attention to those things back then...lol). I need your opinions on what kind of wood is best to burn slow and not too hot. I know about getting seasoned wood and that sort of thing, but not the kinds of woods. We are wanting to get a cord (is that enough for the winter?) soon since it is starting to get a little nippy at night now.

 

[Margo_C-T]

As one who heated exclusively with firewood (when eletric rates went through the roof, and us with an all-electric home!) for 18 years, I feel qualified to answer!

Of course, there are always the parameters of what kind of wood is available and reasonable in cost where you live, AND of what your weather is like!

Here, it is a dry climate, usually with a good amount of sun, even during winter...but a fairly high (6600 ft.) elevation and occasionally quite cold (-10 is the coldest overnight so far in my 29+ years here); more common is 0 to 15 overnight.

IMO, OAK is the best for long-lasting, once it is well-ignited. Apple is another that burns slowly and hot, but isn't widely available. However, oak has to be 'imported' here, and is quite expensive. My choice of what is locally available is juniper/cedar(same thing, goes by different names). Pinon pine is the most 'common' and available, but it burns up fast and does a lot of 'spitting' of sparks--which is a bit more dangerous to deal with, as those sparks may fly out when you add wood or open the stove for ANY reason.

I wouldn't think that one cord is adequate for an entire winter, unless your weather is VERY mild and/or you intend to only use the stove occasionally. Here, we used about 4-5 cords(for usage from about mid-October to about mid-April) when we had a 'real' winter, less when we had milder ones! Of course, I have two solar panels on my roof, which in my generally sunny climate, help immensely during the day, so that I seldom had to 'run' the stove(actually an Orley fireplace insert, but due to its constuction and placement, worked JUST as well as an actual stove!)from about mid-AM until @ sundown...helped a LOT to conserve wood use.

IMO, there is nothing more 'soothing' than wood heat, but it IS a lot of work--and considering the cost of wood, plus having the stove pipe chimney cleaned(a safety MUST!), and the amount of work, hauling wood,bringing it in, shoveling out and SAFELY disposing of the ashes (don't use anything but sturdy METAL containers w/a tight lid, don't set them out on your wooden porch or deck in ANYTHING to 'cool off'--I watched a nearly house burn to the ground due to someone doing just that, in a HD PLASTIC container!). I put mine in a galvanized. bucket, set that inside of a larger galv. bucket w/ a tight lid, let them set on a concrete floor and not 'next to' ANYTHING flammable). You generally aren't allowed to place ashes into your 'haul off' trash containers, either, so disposal can be a real challenge.

I must say, I am relieved not to be using wood heat 'full time' anymore.

Margo

 

[mad for mini's]

I have grown up fetching firewood and my husband and I burn wood as our main source of heat all winter. If you are looking for a long lasting burn, you need to get "hard" woods, oak, maple, cherry. We use a mix of hard and soft woods, like poplar and elm , soft gets things going quicker and the hard makes it last longer. Whether a cord would last you, depends on how much you plan on using the fireplace, is it going to be your main source of heat, how warm you want to keep your house, how big is your house and what area you are in. We are in Michigan and have a small one level ranch type. Our wood stove is our main source of heat, we keep the wood stove going 24/7 and it keeps it about 75 degrees in the house. A cord would last us maybe a week and a half. Hope this helps you. If anything, having to get firewood all winter is great excercise !

Have fun

 

[Shari]

Margo did a great write up!

Best and longest to burn is Oak and Maple but ...trying to find that now a days in Oregon. . .

I burn Doug fir... have lots of Alder too but even seasoned it tends to smoke, so the most you want to use is, one log of Alder to two logs of say Doug fir and the fire needs to be hot.

If you are going to heat with just wood during the winter and only have access to Doug fir... you are going to need around 5 full cords of wood, if this winter is going to be anything like the last one.

But if you live up in the mountains where you get lots of snow all winter you would need around 10 cords.

Last winter was the worse we have had since we moved to the Pacific NW.. 4 feet of snow and the power out nearly as much as it was on. We burned through 2 cords in just one month with our want'a be fireplace.

 

[Miniv]

Linda,

What are your choices over there in the valley? Fir I think is a medium burner. Pine is fast.

We have juniper on our property and burn the downed trees. Then, we mix it with pine which we have delivered. Last Fall Larry heavily pruned our crab-apple tree so we also have some of that for right now.

Be sure to keep the ash cleaned out AND put the ash in a METAL bucket. The bucket should be placed outdoors away from the house for a couple of days before emptying, unless you have a safe place to discard hot ashes. It's amazing how long coals can quietly burn inside ash and not make any smoke.

 

[anoki]

Good advice so far!!! We've heated exclusively with wood my entire life....though the past 4 years maybe 5, we've been heating with an outdoor wood furnace, but the same still applies.

Soft woods burn quite quickly (my Dad calls those types 'Push' wood, because you are constantly 'pushing' it in

). Hard woods burn slower and tend to have more heat in them because of that, though they tend to be a bit trickier to get going. So I would suggest a combination of the 2 types of wood.

The only other comment I'd make is be careful on what a 'cord' is. Around here, there are about 3 different types of cords (I *think* they are called bush cord, face cord, and then the plain cord), yet everyone seems to keep calling them the same thing, and they are FAR from the same....so just be sure what type of cord you are getting.

~kathryn

 

[Pepipony]

You can purchase a chimney cleaning kit at Tractor Supply ( they have a website) for about $50. Just make sure its the correct size. That way you can clean it on your schedule and its actually quite easy. I do ours by myself, so if this blonde can do it

We use 1 cord per year, plus about 1/4 of that in starters, twigs small splits etc. Cedars and pines are a no no. Well, cedar you can use in tiny amounts as a starter, but I do mean tiny amounts, like twigs. They carry a resin that is like gas LOL We can nearly warm our entire house ( one level 2000') but, we have a recirculating system that draws the air right from that room. We LOVE the fireplace. Especially when we have ice storms and loose electricity. For hours, and hours LOL

A good trick to start and keep a fire is to use logs in 3's. 2 on the base and one on top , not too tight though, you need air to be able to get between the 3. I have a grate as well, that the logs go on with tinder underneath. Get the tinder going good and the logs will catch. Being a greenie, I save nut hulls to use as tinder too. Pine cones work well, but as with the cedar, use them sparingly. If you do the 3 logs system, use splits for the the bottom and limbs for the top, the split sides catch and burn well and will usually burn up each face well enough to catch the log on fire. When the fire burns down enough, add another piece so you dont have 2 new pieces trying to relite *-) Took me some time to figure out how to keep everything going all day LOL

 

[Sue_C.]

We are in Michigan and have a small one level ranch type. Our wood stove is our main source of heat, we keep the wood stove going 24/7 and it keeps it about 75 degrees in the house. A cord would last us maybe a week and a half.

HOLY CRAP!! A week and a half on an entire CORD of wood? We have a house that sounds similar to yours, and we burn 24/7, and use about 3-4 cord a WINTER...and believe you me...we too, get REAL winters.

be careful on what a 'cord' is. Around here, there are about 3 different types of cords (I *think* they are called bush cord, face cord, and then the plain cord), yet everyone seems to keep calling them the same thing, and they are FAR from the same....so just be sure what type of cord you are getting.

That HAS to be the difference. (whew) We get our wood "free", my husband goes out after they have finished logging, and brings home the hardwood that they leave behind...but a standard cord (ours are all the same, we only have one "cord-type") here goes for about $275 Cdn delivered.

 

[Margo_C-T]

Came back to add some details I see I overlooked! (I actually take pride in my ability to 'run' a stove; and IMO, it IS something of an 'art'! )

Good points made about soft vs hard woods, and about the care needed in ash disposal...hot coals can still be there DAYS after you shovel them out(though it does help to put them in as 'airtight' a metal container as possible--even so, there may still be viable hot coals in the ashes for MUCH longer than you might expect.)

You do need something that will ignite easily and burn hot to get a good fire established. I use about 5 sheets of crumpled newspaper, then a good 'layer' of very fine wood...here, I strip the loose bark off the juniper/cedar and keep a container of it nearby--I also pick up the twigs and small branches I've trimmed off my globe willow and dwarf apple trees, saving it all for kindling. You can also split scrap lumber, like 2X stuff, which is about all of softwoods such as pines, but that's WORK! I find it better exercise to pick up and break twigs!

The above base ignites quickly, then I gradually add larger twigs and split pieces off the regular wood,angling them so that there is always air flow between them and tend the fire closely, with the dampers wide open, for about the first 15-20 min. of a burn. Once I get a piece or two of pretty good sized wood well-ignited, I can partially close the dampers as needed, according to how much wind there is outside, and how hot I need the fire to burn. With the Orley insert, I usually insert a large 'overnighter' log about 30 min. to an hour before bedtime,and if need be, open the dampers some so the fire will burn hotter, to let it get well-ignited, so I can close the dampers completely overnight. It will put out 'some' heat all night, and if I've done it right, there will still be enough hot coals that the fire can quickly be 'rebuilt' in the AM when I get up! There truly is both an 'art' AND a 'science' to doing it well and efficiently!

I think the highest use I've ever had was about a cord a month, in a severe, windy winter. My house is about 2300 sq. ft, thankfully well-insulated for this climate and altitude. Many variables will 'dictate' how much you ultimately will need and use!

Margo

 

[Shari]

Fatwood !

The best firestarter I have ever found is Fatwood.

As a kid I had to get the fire going in the morning as I had a knack for getting the firestarted without smoking the house out. Back then I used Pine cones and bits of tiny pine branches...well dried of course. But I wish I had the Fatwood back then would of made things easier.

 

[LindaL]

Thanks for all your suggestions and advise! I've been looking on Craigslist for firewood and I saw a lot of different kinds, so I wasn't sure what I should buy. We have Oak, Maple, Alder, Fir and maybe a few other random woods, but those are the most common.

I do know about a "true cord" (4x4x8) and I knew about the ash disposal (years of using charcoal BBQs ). I am going to have to practice building a fire, since I get home before Deb does and will want a toasty fire going before 8:30 PM...LOL!

Our house is about 1500 sq. ft. and a one level ranch. The woodstove sits in about the middle of the house and it has a nice open floorplan, so should heat just about all the rooms quite nicely. We also have ceiling fans to keep the air moving.

I am excited to have a woodstove to use this year! (oh, btw, I am a dork...lol...I did have a woodstove in one of the houses I lived in as an adult, but again I never did the "fire-making" so...lol

)

 

[Miniv]

Linda,

If you are looking to use the wood stove as your primary heat for the next four to six months, I would plan on at least 4 (true) cords.....maybe 5 to cover yourself.

With the choices you have, I'd get at least one (plus) of the Fir and then the rest in whatever hard wood is cheapest.

We use the pine to get things started and the juniper and crab-apple is what keeps burning longer.

Oh......and don't be shy about the amount of paper at the base, and then build the size of wood pieces from slivers up.

I love it when the Hubster asks ME to build the fire!

 

[wcr]

I really like madrone. It is a hard wood, burns without leaving much ash. Last year we went through 2-3 cords and we used it as our primary heat source. We needed another cord to really get us through the burning season.

 

[LindaL]

OK, so we havent bought the wood yet, but we had a few of those "firelogs" (they came with the house...lol), so this morning Deb went to light it and at 1st it lit and was going, but she started fiddling with an air adjuster thingy on the woodstove and it went out....

She gave up cuz she thinks the hole is closed (and stuck apparantly)...LOL We obviously know nothing about our stove....

 

[Pepipony]

Be carefull of ceiling fans , sometimes they can pull too much air and pull the smoke out into the room. If they have the option to change direction, try that.

 

[susanne]

I've always been told NOT to close the damper when a fire is burning, due to the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. I don't know if the risk is any different with a woodstove, but be careful. You might check with the manufacturer of your woodstove to see what they say about this (they probably have a website).

A simple tip that convinced Keith that I'm the goddess of fire -- create little chimneys with your firewood. Facing logs reflect heat to and from each other. If your firebox is large enough for another layer, place that layer perpendicular to the first (you can picture the chimney that creates).

Whatever wood you use, make certain that it is both aged and dry -- with the summer we've had, you shouldn't have a problem with the latter, but that doesn't mean that it is aged.

Be careful of presto logs and the like in a small woodstove -- they can easily create too hot a fire for your stove and chimney. My mother used to take the chain saw and slice the presto logs into little discs -- great for starting fires.

Building a good, hot fire is very addicting. If you don't watch out, you get too wrapped up in perfecting an already adequate fire...ask me how I know, hehe. If someone else builds the fire, it's all I can do to keep from tinkering with it.

 

[Shari]

Like Susanne said... Always have the damper full open when burning a fire wither it is the the fireplace or wood stove.

When the weather gets cold, the cats will sit in front of the fireplace... look at the fireplace... look over at the logs and then look at me and keep repeating the pattern until they think I am listening and I swear they are saying... "Well, get this thing going"!!! And they probably think people are slow, having to ask so many times....

 

[LindaL]

Its not the damper that is closed.

There is a lever on the bottom that lets "extra" air in for a hotter fire or not. We (Ok, she...lol) figured out the lever thingy.....lol

 

[Bess Kelly]

Its not the damper that is closed. There is a lever on the bottom that lets "extra" air in for a hotter fire or not. We (Ok, she...lol) figured out the lever thingy.....lol

That "thingy" is important to how much heat/burn you get.

You cut the air inflow to the stove after that fire gets hot and it will "bank"......so the wood sits and burns hot but not wild. I used to load my stove and bank it once going well. The heat it puts into the room is wonderful. If you open the door and look QUICKLY -- you will see logs that just look like molten embers. Once door opens, obviously the air creates lots of flame then. But, banking with these stoves creates a longer burn on the wood, more heat in the house. Used Gatling stoves for many years.

Now, I have a propane in that spot. Costs a lot, I burn it seldom but, just not able to haul the logs and split anymore. My SIL and I used to go get the wood, we had a splitter, worked for both of us.

He & dtr divorced, we sold the splitter......I can burn propane for almost the cost of wood here....and WOW, I sure don't miss the work of wood.

 

[gimp]

The favored wood here is madrone, but it is REALLY heavy to haul, and impossible to split with an axe! I use it at night. I have a lot of maple that I tend to use during the day. I cut a few alders and pines each year as well and try to stock about four cords each winter. Last year I felt like my day was spent walking back and forth to the wood pile, but there is something nice about it. I have a carbon monoxide detector plugged into the wall and would highly recommend it. (Cheap insurance.) My game that I play in the winter is to see how long I can go without having to strike a match. I have gone three weeks. If well banked at night there are plenty of nice hot coals in the morning to keep the fire going. I have a little 1400 sq foot house and haven't used the furnace. I rather enjoy a chilly bedroom with the pups and down comforter, but keep the main house at around 74. The worst part is the cold toilet seats in the master bathroom.