Treated or painted wood - includes chemicals that have the potential to produce dangerous vapours. Wood from toxic trees and woody shrubs - some trees and shrubs are just not meant to be burned (e.g., cherry, elder, horse chestnut, laburnum, oleander, rhododendron, and yew, etc.,)
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.
Any wood species can be burned, although some are less desirable because they are hard to split or have sticky sap in their bark. Plywood, particle board, scrap lumber and pallets cannot be burned even if the pieces are not painted or coated.
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.
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.
Oak: Known for its high heat output and slow-burning, oak is a popular choice for indoor fireplaces and stoves. Hickory: Another excellent option, hickory burns even hotter than oak and has a pleasant aroma. Ash: Easy to split and burn, ash wood produces a steady flame and good heat output.
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.
Unseasoned wood will “hiss” when burned, will not show cracks at the cut end, is heavier, and still smells of fresh cut wood. As far as harmful firewood types, driftwood contains dioxins (from the saltwater), and wood from poisonous trees and vines such as poison sumac and oleander can produce toxic smoke.
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.
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.
Particle board, chipboard, plywood, and MDF
Particle board should never be burnt – whether it is inside a wood-burning stove or in the open. Burning any of these in your wood burner can cause significant damage to your appliance and chimney liner.
Limit the air intake for the fire
When you go to bed you want to ensure your fire goes out consistently and over a period of time. Don't shut off the air vents completely but close them right down as this will limit the amount of air that gets into the chamber so the fire will slowly die out.
For the serious fire lover, you may want to invest in hardwoods like madrone, live oak, ash, hickory, walnut and fruit trees like apple or cherry. Hardwoods are denser woods that burn hotter and longer than softwoods, but you'll need to let them season more than a year.
Particle pollution is especially dangerous because these tiny particles can get deep into the organs, harming not just the lungs, but also blood vessels, the heart and brain. Wood smoke can cause coughing, wheezing and asthma attacks, and lead to serious health issues, such as heart attacks, stroke and premature death.
Overloading your stove with wood provides an excess of fuel, creating a runaway burn that becomes uncontrollably hot whilst also potentially blocking the tertiary air vents and preventing the secondary burn of gases. Too much airflow feeds your fire too much oxygen, causing it to burn excessively.
They waste firewood, pollute the air in your neighborhood and home, and create dust inside your home. This brochure explains how replacing older wood stoves can save consumer's money, increase safety, reduce air pollution and protect personal health.
Softwood Logs
Softwoods are excellent to use as starter wood for a fire. They ignite quickly, burn cleanly, and leave behind a few embers. 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.
Birch makes excellent firewood for burning on a wood burner, stove or in an open fire. This wood produces a good heat, although it burns relatively quickly, so in a fire, it's best to use it in a mix of slower-burning woods, such as elm or oak.
The truth is that burning pine in a wood stove can be safe and effective as long as it is done correctly. Pine is a softwood that burns quickly and produces a lot of heat, making it a popular choice for kindling and fire starters.
To recap some previous points, in general the best firewood is hardwood because it's denser, has low resin content, and lower moisture. This type of firewood burns cleanly, hot and slow, making it popular for heating. Depending on where you live, maple is a good firewood choice along with oak and ash.
Don't burn treated, painted, or sealed wood in your fireplace. 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.
Many have claimed that burning aluminum cans is an effective technique to clean your chimney. Though there may have been cases where this method has worked slightly, nothing takes the place of actually cleaning out the chimney.
If you use a chimney cleaning log regularly, they can work well. But you should get a professional cleaning as well. Not only can a chimney sweep get rid of stage one creosote, but a pro can clean up stages two and three as well. While a chimney sweeping log loosens creosote buildup, it won't get rid of it.
Regularly cleaning your chimney (about once a year) will reduce the amount of creosote in your chimney and should greatly reduce the risk of any chimney fires in the future. It's also important to make sure that the chimney cap is in good condition and that there are no gaps or holes in the flue.