Firewood Secrets and Tips from Atlanta Chimney Sweepers

The Best Woods For Burning

In either a wood stove or fireplace, the easiest and best fire is built by using a mixture of both softwoods -- from trees such as pines and firs -- and hardwoods -- oak, eucalyptus, cedar and so on.

Softwoods start burning easily, and the hardwoods provide for long burning and good "coaling" qualities. A bed of ashes underneath the grate produces steady heat and aids in igniting new fuel as it is added. The fire will continue burning if small amounts of wood are added at regular intervals. In fact, more efficient combustion results from burning small loads of wood with sufficient air than from burning large loads with minimal air.

Measurement "cord"

Firewood is sold by a measurement called a "cord". A cord must equal 128 cubic feet. To be sure you have a cord, stack the wood neatly by placing the wood in a line or a row, with individual pieces touching and parallel to each other. Make sure that the wood is compact and has as few gaps as possible. Then measure the stack. If the width times the height times the length equals 128 cubic feet, you have a cord of firewood.

Is wood dry enough to burn efficiently?

• Checks or cracks in the end grain can be an indication of dryness, but may not be a reliable indicator. Some wet wood has checks and some dry wood has no checks.
• The wood tends to darken from white or cream colour to grey or yellow as it dries.
• Two dry pieces banged together sound hollow; wet pieces sound solid and dull.
• Dry wood weighs much less than wet wood.
• Split a piece of wood. If the exposed surface feels damp, the wood is too wet to burn.
• If in doubt, burn some. Dry wood ignites and burns easily; wet wood is hard to light and hisses in the fire.