We heat the stove correctly. We choose firewood according to science so that it burns better

This winter, many people in Ukraine were forced to switch to wood heating. Many people are faced with the issue of buying firewood for the first time. Fortunately, for our country, most of which is covered with forests, firewood is not a problem. However harvesting firewood for the winter is a whole science. Those who have just started to master it do not always understand how much firewood is needed and what quality they should be. Therefore, at the end of the first winter month, many found that there was a catastrophic shortage of firewood and it was impossible to reach the spring with such stocks. Often searching for firewood, we ask a query in the search engine: “firewood price ", and we get a lot of offers. But we are well aware that firewood is now an expensive commodity, so if you buy it without the appropriate knowledge, you will spend money, while it will burn poorly, smoke and leave soot in the chimney.

To avoid such problems, Klymenko Time decided to explain how to choose the right firewood and by what parameters. 

Choosing firewood by density

It is known that firewood is different for firewood. So, for example, a cube of aspen firewood gives almost half as much heat as birch wood. The issue here is primarily wood densitythe smaller it is, the faster the firewood burns. Density of birch wood 0,57 g/cm³  , and the density of aspen is only 0,37 g/cm³ , which is almost two times lower. 

It is clear that birch firewood is a priority. But aspens have their own useful properties, let it burn quickly and not give much heat, but it perfectly, as they say, “drowns” soot, so chimneys are driven away with aspen to rid them of tar and excess soot. 

If you nevertheless prepared aspen firewood, then it will be more efficient if you heat with a wood mix of aspen, alder, pine and birch. 

As for birch, it is an excellent firewood that gives a lot of heat and does not leave behind a lot of coal and ash. Especially birch logs are good for a bath, because the wood contains tar, which is known for its  disinfectant properties. However, birch firewood cannot be stored for a long time, because after two years of lying, their useful properties are lost.

But we digress from talking about the density of firewood. AT TOP-5 leaders in dry wood density includes: oak (0,64 g/cm³), acacia (0,58 g/cm³), birch (0,57 g/cm³), alder (0,43 g/cm³) and pine (0,42 g/cm³). 

That is, the best firewood is oak, although it is even somehow a pity to heat stoves with this most valuable wood. Oak is considered the gold standard for heating. Such firewood burns for a long time, is well stored and least of all absorbs harmful substances in the process of life. Accordingly, such firewood costs good money. Beech is also one of the most valuable types of wood; in terms of density and price, beech firewood is similar to oak firewood. This is the highest caste - such firewood is needed very little to solve problems with space heating.

The density of acacia firewood exceeds birch and only slightly falls short of oak. Such firewood burns well and you need very little of it to heat the house. At a price they are cheaper than oak, so in order to save money, you should pay attention to them. 

Choosing firewood according to hotness

Another parameter by which firewood is chosen is calorific value or "hotness". The higher the number, the more heat per unit weight or volume of firewood. 

At the same time, the density of firewood does not affect the calorific value. If you believe the numbers, then the “hottest” are pine firewood (5064 kcal), this is due to the presence of a large amount of resin in the wood, people say: pine “tar”. At the same time, pine burns very quickly, so it is worth kindling the stove with it, and then continue to heat wood of denser species. In general, coniferous firewood is not recommended to heat the house in its pure form - they burn too intensely and you need a lot of them to achieve a result. 

Alder has a very good calorific value (4878 kcal). In the old days, alder firewood was called “royal” because it is light, burns well, gives a lot of heat, and there is little smoke and soot from them. 

Fruit trees give a lot of heat: apple trees, pears, plums and cherries. Apple firewood burns especially hot and smokeless. 

It is a well-known fact that fruit firewood is good for barbecues and fireplaces. After the wood has burnt out, the coals give off a lot of heat and give a nice smell to the grilled meat. Apple wood burns without actually producing smoke. By the way, apple and pear trees are among the hardest wood species along with oak, beech and yew.

Choosing firewood by ash content

The wood of some types of wood gives more ash, while the other less. There are types of firewood that burn completely, and there are those that leave a lot of ash, which is a rather bad indicator, since everything that goes into ash does not work for calorific value.

Soft hardwood has a high ash content, for example poplars and willows. In order for such firewood to burn completely, you need to mess around with them a lot, mix them more often and take out the firebrands.

At the same time, poplar and willow burn out quickly and give almost no heat, so it should be borne in mind that the consumption of such firewood is much greater than the rest.

To warm the house well, they will have to use too much. 

Interestingly, willow firewood is considered to be of low quality, but people say that it is very good to heat stoves with firewood from trunks and roots. willows.

Oak and aspen firewood gives very little ash.

What to look for when buying firewood

The first thing we pay attention to is the density and calorific value of firewood. (if you read this article, then you already know what's what)

Before you buy firewood, ask where they were kept. Firewood storage areas should not be damp. Damp firewood is always heavier than dry wood;

At the same time, firewood that has been stored for a long time and whose wood has become decrepit wood can be too light. There is little use for such firewood, they will smoke and give little heat.

It is also worth considering optimum log size which directly affects the efficiency of the furnace. Firewood should not be too thin, because it will burn out very quickly and not too thick, because it is inconvenient to put it in the firebox and it takes a very long time to flare up.

The optimal log diameter for any heater is 7-9 cm. And the required length of firewood depends on the dimensions of the firebox and should be from 3/4 to 2/3 of its length. On average, the length of the log should be 30-35 cm.

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