Choosing the Right Wood for Home Heating

Community, Featured Stories

Sitting around and enjoying the warmth of a fire is one of the best parts of winter, and the season is just right around the corner.
Wood Types

Choosing the type of wood to burn is a combination of personal preference and availability. Almost any type of hardwood will suffice, so long as it has been dried and cured properly.

Hardwoods like oak and maple have a higher energy density per cord and so release much more heat over time than the softer woods like pine, spruce and poplar.

Energy content per air dried full cord, in 000s of BTUs. The hardest species are at the top of the list.



The species of the wood is not nearly as important as the moisture content. Wood that has not been seasoned properly will not only be less efficient, but also dangerous.

In any given year there will be around 360,000 homes that burn down in the United States. As you can see below, a large portion of these fires are due to burning wood.


Source: http://www.csia.org/media/Statistics_Chimney_Fires_Carbon_Monoxide.aspx#sthash.j2lfBQyz.dpuf

A portion of those fires were directly caused by burning wood that wasn’t properly seasoned for at least one full year. Unseasoned wood produces more of the substance called creosote, which particulates on the walls of the flue and chimney. After a while the material builds up and easily catches fire, bringing down the house with it.

Contrary to popular belief, softwoods like pine and spruce actually produce less creosote build up than many hardwoods.* Creosote has more to do with moisture content than anything else. Softwood produces a hotter and more-intense fire, which- in turn- produces a faster traveling smoke, leading to less creosote build up. However, because softwoods burn hotter-faster, they may be more likely to catch your chimney on fire. All in all, the type of wood is not as important as burning properly seasoned, dry wood.
Source: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19810103&id=3IBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DRIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1807,767780

Units of Measurement

The official measurement of firewood is a cord, but the unit is often times misused. A full cord of wood has a volume of 128 cubic feet. Most commonly, this appears as stacks of split wood measuring four feet high by four feet wide by eight feet long (4 ft. x 4 ft. x 8 ft.) If it’s only two stacks of wood, each piece should be two feet long. A cord of wood comprised of pieces that are 18 inches in length, would be a little over two and a half stacks that measure four foot high by eight foot long.

A face cord is sometimes used to describe a single stack of wood that typically measures 4 ft. high x 8 ft long, with a piece length shorter than 4 ft. Other non-official terms for firewood volume include standing cord, kitchen cord, running cord, fencing cord, country cord, long cord, and rick – all subject to local variation.

Most of these terms are the result of consumer demand. A full cord, when correctly measured, is considered a fair amount of wood. The price can be well over two- hundred dollars, and may not be suitable for everyone. Piece length undoubtedly plays a role as well, as one and two foot pieces aren’t suitable for many fireplaces. Finding the best deal for your needs can take time, so it’s best to start as early as possible. Many dealers charge different prices depending on delivery/pickup options.

Despite it’s limitations and potential dangers, wood heat is perhaps the most rewarding and efficient means of generating heat.

Back to Top