Additionally, in the early 1980's, tests were conducted to discover which kind of wood created the most creosote in a regular “open” fireplace. The results were surprising. Contrary to popular opinion, the hardwood's, like oak and poplar, created more creosote than the softwoods, like tamarack and pine.
Softwood embers go cold quickly—they don't smolder the way hardwood embers do. According to research, softwoods leave behind less creosote in the chimney flue than hardwoods. In climates with temperatures that can quickly fluctuate, such as in some southern states, softwood is often the best firewood to burn.
Softwoods contain more resin, which, when burned, releases chemicals that can lead to creosote buildup in the chimney. Pine, due to its high resin content, is particularly prone to producing creosote. On the other hand, hardwoods like oak tend to produce less creosote as they have lower resin content.
Softwoods like pine or fir are considered the worst woods to burn in a stove due to their high resin content, which can cause creosote buildup in the chimney and increase fire risk. These woods also produce less heat per volume compared to hardwoods.
Watch out for any wood covered with vines. Burning poison ivy, poison sumac, poison oak, or pretty much anything else with "poison" in the name releases the irritant oil urushiol into the smoke. Breathing it in can cause lung irritation and severe allergic respiratory problems, the Centers for Disease Control state.
When deciding what kind of wood to burn in your fireplace, oak is probably the top choice. This is because oak burns the longest and produces the most heat out of all the different kinds of hardwood. One cord of oak firewood produces around 29 million BTUs. That's equal to burning 200-250 gallons of fuel oil!
Hottest burning wood
The hottest burning woods are typically the densest hardwoods, namely oak, hickory and Osage orange. These woods are ideal for generating intense heat, making them excellent for cooking over campfires or staying warm in cold weather. Oak: Oak burns hot and consistent, but without much of a scent.
I have been burning cedar, usually mixed with oak, for years and have not seen a creosote buildup in my flue. It is important to burn cedar that has been cut into approximately 2 foot lengths and seasoned for at least 9 months. This allows much of the moisture to escape from the wood.
Most types of hardwood, for instance Ash (generally regarded as the best), Birch, Beech, Oak and Elm can be used. However, avoid burning woods with a high resin content. As a rule of thumb, the heavier the wood, then the greater the heat output and the longer burn time – the time between refills.
Creosote Sweeping Logs can be obtained in most big-box stores or online at a cost of around $20. They're advertised to significantly reduce the build up of creosote, and they function as a chemical chimney cleaner.
Creosote timber often looks like brown, tan, or black tarry-coated beams and lumber that may leak tar when warmed. Old creosote timber may be a grey color. Creosote timber will often have an oily smell when new or if the wood is cut. Pressure treated wood is typically green or brown in color.
Pine and cedar are often chosen as firewood because they're readily available in the forest, create an attractive flame, and have an enjoyable scent. Regrettably as softwoods, they make a lot of smoke and a short-lasting burn.
Treated/painted/sealed wood will release chemicals during burning, many of which are cancer-causing chemicals. Don't burn green/wet wood in your fireplace. As we talked about earlier, green wood contains a lot of moisture, which will lead to cooler fires, cooler flues, more smoke, and more creosote.
Oak. Oak is seen as the romantic choice and is our longest burning firewood. With a slow and steady burn, it was once used for yule logs during midwinter traditions and kept burning for twelve nights after Christmas eve. Oak generates more heat while producing a low rolling flame.
In a best case scenario, the gradual build-up of creosote will eventually corrode the flue pipe which will need replacing. There in a worst-case scenario, heat from the wood-burning stove below can on occasion ignite particles of creosote creating a dangerous chimney fire.
Why Cedar is a Top Choice. Cedar is renowned for its distinctive, pleasant aroma. This type of wood is often used in closets and chests because of its ability to repel insects and its lovely scent. When burned, cedar produces a sweet, aromatic smoke that can fill your room with a refreshing fragrance.
Cedar is known to pop and crackle. It's the gasses and oils building up and releasing. If you're going to burn cedar, be sure to have a screen over your fire. Learn from others' mistakes; you don't want to have cedar pop and burn holes in your carpet.
This redbud's wood is hard and dry and burns with a steady low heat, like oak. Hardwoods typically require seasoning to burn best, but because they're denser than softwoods (pine, for example) they burn hotter and produce less residue in chimneys. Notice the black coloration of the heartwood.
Not only does fir and pine smell like Christmas trees, these types of logs create a pleasant crackle and pop in your fire. These are softwoods which dry quickly, are easy to split, and create lovely crackling fires. Before burning fir or pine, be aware that the popping throws a lot more sparks than other firewood.
Science Says The Best Wood To Burn Is …
Osage Orage (AKA Hedge/Hedge Apple Tree/Bodark/Bois d'arc) – 30.0 mBTU/cord with a recommended 12 month drying time. Gamble Oak is 28.0 mBTU/cord with a recommended drying time of 36 months.
To get the cleanest possible burn, we recommend kiln-dried firewood. Drying the wood in a kiln speeds up and perfects the seasoning process. Rather than waiting months for the wood to be adequately dried, it can be ready in hours.
A rick of wood, also commonly known as a face cord, is a unit of measure for firewood. The terms rick and face cord often cause confusion as they are used interchangeably, but they refer to the same amount of wood. A typical rick or face cord measures 4 feet high by 8 feet long.
A chimney must extend at least 3 feet above a flat roof and at least 2 feet above a roof ridge or any raised part of a roof within 10 feet. Sometimes getting enough vertical clearance to prevent eddy currents from affecting chimney draft is impossible.