Kiln-Dried Wood – The Best Firewood For your Home |...

Kiln-Dried Wood – The Best Firewood For your Home

Posted 2024-10-09 16:41:10

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A warm and cosy fireplace becomes a necessity in the winter season. The secret to the warmth and cosiness of a fireplace lies in the firewood, which has been a traditional and eco-friendly fuel used for centuries in our homes. This firewood is used not just for warmth but also to heat homes, cook food, and perform several other processes. Different types of firewood are there, and they all have different results to offer. Knowing about all the firewood is possible with this guide, which covers various types and how to store them.

WHAT IS FIREWOOD?

Firewood is a harvested, cut and dried wood used as fuel. The best feature is that it is a renewable, sustainable and cost-effective solution, and it is a popular choice for homes where fireplaces and wood stores are standard. As mentioned above, different firewood types are present and broadly categorised as hardwood and softwood. Amongst all of them, kiln-dried firewood is considered the best. It stands out as a premium choice for homeowners aiming for efficiency, cleanliness and sustainability.

WHAT IS HARDWOOD?

Hardwood is a wood derived from broadleaf trees, and a unique feature is that hardwood is denser compared to softwood, which means it burns longer, is better and produces more heat. The best examples of hardwood used as firewood are oak, maple, hickory, ash, etc. and they all offer longer burn time and have high heat output.

WHAT IS SOFTWOOD?

Softwood is also used as firewood and extracted from coniferous trees. A unique feature of softwoods is that they light more, burn faster and efficiently and produce less heat than hardwoods. Softwood used in firewood is great for kindling, and the most famous names included in this list are pinewood, spruce, cedar, etc. As mentioned above, they all burn quickly and don't produce long-lasting heat, but great for kindling or for short, but hot fires.

WHAT MAKES KILN-DRIED FIREWOOD BETTER THAN OTHERS?

Kiln-dried firewood is better than all other woods used as firewood. The main reason is that it has been dried thoroughly before use. Every firewood company uses large kilns to dry the wood completely, and this wood is entirely different from air-dried wood. The advantage of kiln drying is that moisture removal becomes faster, and more moisture is removed from the wood. As a result, the wood burns cleaner, better and more efficiently and does not emit smoke at all. Kiln drying aims to reduce wood's moisture to below 20%, as wood with moisture below 20% is considered ideal by firewood suppliers.

WHY ONE SHOULD CHOOSE KILN-DRIED FIREWOOD?

Firewood suppliers have different reasons to cite when advocating kiln-dried firewood, and some of them are presented below.

IT HAS A HIGHER HEAT OUTPUT

The low moisture content in kiln-dried firewood means it will burn at a higher temperature and generate better heat. As a result, you will get better heat output from burning less wood. It is a cost-effective option to heat your home during colder months or to enjoy grilled dishes at the poolside on pleasant evenings.

CLEANER BURNING

The moisture content of kiln-dried firewood is below 20%, and less moisture means less smoke and less tar deposits in the fireplace or the chimney. This reveals that it produces lesser particulates than all other green woods categorised as hardwood or softwood by a firewood company. Using kiln-dried firewood contributes to a cleaner environment inside and outside your home.

LESS CREOSOTE BUILD-UP

Another advantage of kiln-dried firewood is that you experience lesser creosote build-up in your chimney. It is important to remember that creosote build-up is hazardous for our chimneys and humans and can lead to fire quickly. This becomes impossible when you use kiln-dried firewood, as it burns out more entirely and generates lesser creosote build-up. Lesser build-up means your fireplace will be safe for use, and risks of sudden fire will be eliminated.

KILN-DRIED FIREWOOD IS READY TO USE

Another advantage of kiln-dried firewood is that it is fully ready to use when you purchase it from firewood suppliers, and you can put it in the fireplace straightaway. You will not have to season it further, and you save a lot of time. Moreover, you don't need additional storage space to store the firewood for further drying.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGE

The most significant advantage of kiln-dried firewood lies in the way it benefits our environment. The complete combustion feature reduces the amount of unburned wood and emissions released into the atmosphere. Moreover, kiln-dried firewood burns efficiently and at higher temperatures, so you will not require excessive wood over time. As a result, forest management and sustainability practices will become more beautiful when you use kiln-dried firewood rather than greenwoods like those categorised as hardwood or softwood.

STORAGE GUIDELINES FOR KILN-DRIED FIREWOOD

Efficient storage is a game-changer in maintaining the quality and efficiency of any kind of firewood, including kiln-dried firewood. The reason is that the wood is exposed to excessive moisture, and due to this, it doesn't burn well and also produces more smoke and less heat. This way, it becomes less economical and less environmentally friendly at all.

WHAT ARE OPTIMAL STORAGE SOLUTIONS RECOMMENDED BY FIREWOOD COMPANY?

Firewood suppliers recommend using a storage area that is completely dry and well-ventilated. The storage area should protect the wood from the damp ground and, at the same time, allow air to circulate freely to speed up the natural drying process. Experts from any firewood company will recommend maintaining the stack away from buildings to minimise the risks of pest invasions. Proper covering is another essential aspect to note while storing kiln-dried firewood. You can use a tarp or custom firewood cover to cover the top of the pile, but the sides should be open for adequate ventilation and airflow.

Kiln-dried firewood is a mixture of hardwoods and softwoods, and if you are preparing it on your own, you must cut, split and stack it in the proper season to ensure that the wood is ready to use by the time the winter arrives. This will also involve regular maintenance of the firewood stack. Regular maintenance includes checking for the signs of mould and pest infestation. Excessive moisture should not be present, and restacking is recommended to improve air circulation and drying.

Remember, properly storing high-quality firewood will minimise the risks discussed above, and you will get the highest-quality firewood that burns cleaner, longer and better. It will have low moisture content and be more efficient to burn than green firewood available at firewood suppliers.