Types Of Fuel For Woodburners
Why Wood is the Best Fuel for Home Heating
Modern Woodburning Stoves are more efficient and less polluting than ever before and offer a low carbon, sustainable and renewable way to heat your home
Types of Wood
In 2024, the price of energy is at an all-time high and many people are looking for alternative ways to heat their home. Wood-burning stoves are a cheaper, greener choice compared to gas and electricity. At Dinghams Direct, we provide woodburning stoves across Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset.
Over the past decade, more people want an eco-friendly solution to heating their home. Some wood that has been approved for use in stoves has good renewable and sustainable credentials. The eco-friendly wood burners produce low carbon emissions, compared to stoves that are 10 years or more old.
What Fuel can you Use in a Wood Burner
So, you’re thinking about getting a wood burning stove or you already have one. You might think asking what fuel it require is a silly question and may wonder if a wood burner can be fuelled by coal, charcoal, commercially made smokeless logs, or anything else for that matter. The simple answer is no – wood burners burn logs of wood only. However, for the best performance it can’t be just any old wood. Wood can burn efficiently with airflow coming in from above.
What Fuel can you Use in a Wood Burner
Hardwood is the preferred option because it increases the burn time. The more time you can get out of a singular piece of wood the better. Hardwood for this reason is the most cost-effective option and to make it easier for you we’ve compiled a couple of the most commonly used species of wood that make great fuel for log burners.
First is Ash, a low smoke producing hardwood that yields strong flames that emit plenty of heat. It’s usually readily available locally and we’d recommend you only go for Ash that has been logged, split and stored in dry conditions.
Next is Beech which burns relatively quickly but provides a good heat output with bright flames and a pleasant aroma. Finally, oak provides a prolonged burn and will remain alight for hours. Dense oak logs will keep things going, though at a lower temperature than Ash or Birch.
Other woods which burn well but are not easily sourced unless you have them on your own property, include Elm, Yew, Hawthorn, Birch, Apple, Cherry and Hornbeam.
your installer CAN PROVIDE A YEARLY chimney SWEEP AND SERVICE FOR YOUR WOODBURNER . FAILURE TO SWEEP YOUR CHIMNEY EVERY YEAR MAY INVALIDATE YOUR STOVE WARRANTY.
Seasoned & Kiln Dried Logs for Wood Burners
A very important rule of thumb to be aware of when sourcing logs for your wood burner is that whatever type of wood you burn in your stove it must be in the form of dried, fully seasoned chopped logs with less than 20% moisture.
Well-seasoned wood should ideally have been dried outdoors for 18 months to two years. The harder the wood, the longer the seasoning should be. Oak for example needs 3 to 5 years to dry properly. If you’re seasoning your own logs, stack them off the ground with plenty of space between them to allow for air circulation, and keep them covered to keep them dry.
Even better, you can buy commercially kiln dried logs that have been slowly dried in an industrial kiln to remove excess moisture. These logs will be ready to burn
immediately. They’ll probably be more expensive than sourcing local wood, but you will get an efficient and clean burn, clean glass and a clean chimney.
Get in touch!
Our friendly sales team are available to chat on the phone if you need any advice or have any questions about our wood burners. We serve the counties of Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Dorset including Salisbury, Devizes, Tidworth, Amesbury, Andover, Stockbridge, Winchester, Shaftesbury, Warminster, Trowbridge and Westbury.
If you’re interested in a wood burner simply call 01722 697 699 or email us at dinghamsfires@gmail.com, or visit our new showroom. Dinghams Direct Ltd, Unit 4 Paxton Business Centre, Churchfields, Salisbury, SP2 7YR.
A typical Log Store
