THE BEST FIREWOOD: HOW TO FIND THE BEST WOOD FOR YOUR FIREPLACE
A fireplace in your own home creates an incredibly cozy atmosphere that simply cannot be achieved with conventional heating. That is why people have always preferred to heat with wood. However, this method can still convince with a few other significant advantages. It is important to use the right firewood. Therefore, in this article, we will introduce you to the best firewood for your fireplace.
You can then decide according to your own preferences. Because every wood has special properties that can affect both the burning time and the atmosphere. With our practical tips you will easily find the right firewood.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF HEATING WITH FIREWOOD?
Heating with firewood has numerous advantages that many do not see at first glance. Because most people rarely come into contact with this topic, mainly because other types of heating dominate in Germany.
ADVANTAGES
Inexpensive: Even after the prices for wood have risen rapidly in recent years (as with oil and gas), it is still a comparatively cheap way of heating today. Even after the introduction of the price brake for gas, wood is still usually the cheaper method.
CO₂-neutral: Viewed in isolation, heating with wood is completely CO₂-neutral. A tree absorbs exactly as much CO₂ during its lifetime as is released when it is burned. To be fair, however, one has to say that this isolated view was also recently criticized .
Ambience: A unique ambience and an incomparable feel-good atmosphere is created at home. The flames of the fire have a calming effect, creating the perfect environment to truly unwind, especially on cold winter days.
DISADVANTAGES
Effort: Heating with wood is comparatively expensive and cannot be done at the push of a button. You have to light the fire yourself and keep adding logs to keep it going. A certain amount of attention is also required, so it is not suitable for heating overnight.
Storage: In order to be able to heat for a whole winter, you often need several cubic meters of wood. The appropriate framework conditions for storage must be in place for this, so that even the best firewood does not get wet.
WHAT IS MEANT BY CALORIFIC VALUE?
Calorific values for types of wood indicate how much thermal energy they release when burned. The higher the value, the more heat the wood can generate. Therefore, the calorific value is often an important factor on which the price depends. Because most people rely on good firewood to keep their home as warm as possible.
The best firewood sometimes has a calorific value of up to 2,000 kWh/RM. But you can also heat very well with lower values, because the differences are usually less than 20%. So when comparing firewood, you should also include the calorific value (or calorific value) to find the best deal.
WHAT TYPES OF FIREWOOD ARE THERE?
If you own a wood stove, you can choose between many different types of wood. These have different calorific values and properties, each of which can create a different atmosphere in the room. Below we present the best firewood for your home.
BEECH WOOD
For many people, beech is the best firewood. Because it has a very high calorific value and a low resin content. This means it burns slowly and evenly, so you don’t have to refill as often. Due to this fire behavior, it generates a constant high heat, without any high crackling noises or many sparks. In addition, it is comparatively easy to split.
However, this often makes beech wood one of the most expensive types of firewood because demand is constantly high. If you buy beech fresh from the forest, then you also have to plan a slightly longer time for drying. Because of the high density, it can sometimes even take two to three years for the wood moisture content to reach an acceptable value.
PINE WOOD
Pine can also provide good firewood, even if it has a slightly lower calorific value. This makes pine wood a cheap alternative that impresses with its easy handling. It dries quickly, splits easily and is ideal for kindling because it burns so quickly. Due to the high resin content, there is also a strong crackling, which many people find positive.
The disadvantage is of course the lower calorific value and thus the shorter burning time and heat energy. Another point that you should definitely pay attention to is the strong flying sparks when burning. Pine wood is therefore usually not suitable for open fireplaces, but only for closed wood stoves.
HARDWOOD
But sometimes it is not even necessary to commit to a single type of wood. Because hardwood consists of a mixture of different hardwoods, including beech, birch, ash and oak. This in turn can create unique characteristics when burned that are difficult to predict in advance. So if you don’t have a specific idea for your firewood, then hardwood can be an alternative.
An important advantage of hardwood from Kaminholz Breuer is the low proportion of residual moisture, which we can even guarantee below 18%. This in turn can have a positive effect on the heat yield in your home. In addition, our hardwood comes exclusively from certified forests in Germany.
OAK WOOD
Finally, we also have oak on offer, which also has an excellent calorific value like beech and ash. It is considered more of a calm firewood with a tranquil flame formation without being particularly noticeable. This also leads to a very constant burning behavior with excellent ember formation. Another great advantage is the easy storage due to the high weather resistance of oak wood.
Oak takes about two years to dry, but after that the wood can be split relatively easily. When burning, it is also important to ensure a good air supply, because the high tannin content could soot the exhaust pipe. Otherwise there are no problems with this wonderful firewood.
WHICH WOODS ARE NOT SUITABLE AS FIREWOOD?
In principle, most woods in Germany are also suitable as firewood. Whether hard or soft wood, as long as the logs reach a certain size, there is actually nothing wrong with it. That is why branches and bushes are only suitable to a limited extent, also because they burn down within a very short time and generate hardly any heat energy. That makes such small pieces useful at most for kindling and heating up.
It is also important to avoid wood with mold growth. Many people assume that burning will eliminate the mold, but that’s not entirely true. The toxic substances often spread in the air and can harm people in the room. Therefore, make sure during storage that the wood can and remains dry so that unpleasant mold does not form in the first place (see next section).
It is also often advised not to use coniferous wood such as pine because strong sparks can form. While this is basically correct, it is usually not a problem with closed wood-burning stoves. From our point of view, pine wood is therefore suitable as firewood, as long as you do not want to use it on an open fire.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO STORE FIREWOOD?
In order to be able to access the best firewood at any time, you must pay attention to a few important points when storing it. On the one hand, this is important for drying, on the other hand, it also helps to protect the wood from the weather. A south-facing house wall, for example, is wonderfully suited as a long-term storage location for your firewood.
It thus benefits from plenty of sunshine during the day, but is also well protected from the elements, especially if the roof is overhanging. It is best to stack the firewood on a Euro pallet with a small distance to the wall so that air can circulate from all sides. Also use a breathable tarpaulin so that the wood is adequately shielded from rain.
If, on the other hand, the wood has already dried and you have space in the shed, garden shed or garage, for example, then you can store the dry wood directly there. However, damp wood or wood fresh from the forest does not belong inside – without sufficient ventilation, mold can quickly form due to the high moisture content of the wood. In this case, it is better to stick to the south-facing house wall.
CONCLUSION – YOU WILL FIND THE BEST FIREWOOD AT KAMINHOLZ BREUER
Which wood is the best firewood for your fireplace? As with many other things, this is ultimately a question of taste. Hardwoods such as beech, ash and oak impress with their high calorific value and even burning behavior. Birch and pine, on the other hand, have a single character and can contribute to a special atmosphere.
Ultimately, you always have to make the decision with regard to personal preferences. Because every type of wood has its own advantages and disadvantages that have to be weighed against each other. Be sure to compare all the prices in our online shop beforehand . We would be happy to advise you personally if you have any questions.