Top 4 Red Flags When Choosing Your Firewood
As winter settles in, people across the UK are enjoying the warm and cosy atmosphere a crackling fire can offer, often with the added benefit of saving on heating bills. However, the temptation to top up your log store from the local woodland or some old offcuts, is not something your neighbours will likely welcome.
In this article, we’ll shed light on why – and how prioritising the quality of the wood you burn is crucial, not only for the environment but also for the well-being of you and your family. So, here are our top 5 red flags to look out for when choosing your firewood.
In this article, we’ll shed light on why – and how prioritising the quality of the wood you burn is crucial, not only for the environment but also for the well-being of you and your family. So, here are our top 5 red flags to look out for when choosing your firewood.
1. Green, Mouldy, or Rotten Logs:
Avoid because: Green ‘wet’ wood, is a poor fuel. It wastes its energy burning off the excess moisture and releases it as smoke into your neighbourhood. Mouldy or rotten wood should be avoided too, as in addition to excess moisture, spores when handling can also pose a health hazard.
Firewood.co.uk Tips: Ensure your firewood is in good condition before you burn to avoid a smoky fire with limited heat output.
Firewood.co.uk Tips: Ensure your firewood is in good condition before you burn to avoid a smoky fire with limited heat output.
2. Softwood Logs:
Avoid because: May look like a great deal, but you’ll burn through it before you know it. Softwood lacks density at a cellular level, and as such, burns very quickly.
Firewood.co.uk Tips: Hardwood makes the best firewood; it is much denser and therefore burns for longer. Some hardwoods are denser than others, Oak more so than Birch for example, but most hardwoods are going to be a well-performing firewood. Softwood is much better suited to kindling, and not as your main fuel.
Firewood.co.uk Tips: Hardwood makes the best firewood; it is much denser and therefore burns for longer. Some hardwoods are denser than others, Oak more so than Birch for example, but most hardwoods are going to be a well-performing firewood. Softwood is much better suited to kindling, and not as your main fuel.
3. Social Media Marketplace ‘Suppliers’:
Avoid because: It is illegal in the UK to sell firewood under 2 m3 in volume without it being certified as and displaying a registered “Ready to Burn” certification at point of sale.
Firewood.co.uk Tips: The “Ready to Burn” certification is crucial to ensuring we maintain a UK firewood supply of low moisture levels and superior performance; this is how we keep warm responsibly and limit our personal emissions.
Firewood.co.uk Tips: The “Ready to Burn” certification is crucial to ensuring we maintain a UK firewood supply of low moisture levels and superior performance; this is how we keep warm responsibly and limit our personal emissions.
4. Wildly Different Sizes and Shapes:
Avoid because: Logs for wood-burning stoves should be cut to the appropriate length and split into manageable sizes. Oversized logs may not burn as efficiently.
Firewood.co.uk Tips: Firewood is a natural product, and as such, will inevitably vary in size and shape. However, if you’re expecting “Ready to Burn” firewood, that will be – ready to burn, you should avoid ramming tree stumps and branches into your wood burner, as this will restrict the airflow and won’t provide complete combustion.
Firewood.co.uk Tips: Firewood is a natural product, and as such, will inevitably vary in size and shape. However, if you’re expecting “Ready to Burn” firewood, that will be – ready to burn, you should avoid ramming tree stumps and branches into your wood burner, as this will restrict the airflow and won’t provide complete combustion.
In conclusion, while free firewood, cheaper, or even poor-grade logs may seem like a bargain option, they often have high moisture content and lower energy density.
To avoid these issues, always choose high-quality, kiln dried firewood with the “Ready to Burn” certification from reputable suppliers like Firewood.co.uk. This ensures your fire pumps out maximum heat for an extended period, all while being a responsible choice for your home and planet.
To avoid these issues, always choose high-quality, kiln dried firewood with the “Ready to Burn” certification from reputable suppliers like Firewood.co.uk. This ensures your fire pumps out maximum heat for an extended period, all while being a responsible choice for your home and planet.
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