What Are The Best Woods for Fireplace Comfort

Cozy fires are one of the many great things about the fall and wintertime. But did you know that the type of fire you’re using in your household chimney may be taking away from this experience? Not all woods provide for the same type of burning experience and some are objectively better than others. Let’s take a look at some quick tips as well as the best and worst firewood options.

General Firewood Considerations

Firewood contributes to how you experience a fire more than most things. There are certain factors that directly contribute to the amount of smoke, lingering smell, and other factors. Regardless of which type of wood you may choose, there are certain things to avoid, such as:

Ensure firewood is dry – Not only will you notice that wet wood burns inefficiently, it also produces a lot of unhealthy and uncomfortable smoke to inhale.

Don’t use painted or stained woods – There are many harmful chemicals in these paints and stains. As the firewood is burned, these chemicals are also burned and released as inhalants into the air.

Avoid pallets or other highly processed/treated woods – like painted woods, chemicals are released into your home if you burn this wood.
Make sure firewood has air/circulation – Piled firewood outside on dirt provides a breeding ground for mold and bugs. This can lead to moist wood and even cause wood to break down and become unburnable.

Type of Wood to Opt For:

Hardwood
Hardwood offers many characteristics that are appealing to indoor fireplaces. They make for a slow-burning fire which burns long and evenly. This means high efficiency and less wood required. Also, they are minimally smoky and smelly. It is important to not that they do require a full season or more to be completely seasoned and dry. Their sap content can lead to popping and a potential fire hazard if not adequately seasoned.

A few examples of hardwood include:

Oak is viewed as the overall best choice.
Another hardwood option that is typically picked is maple.
Birch is also an option, but it burns quickly.

Type of Wood to Avoid:

Softwood

The biggest deterrent of softwoods is that they burn fast and have a higher likelihood of producing smoke. Why is this a negative? It means it’s more costly, resource-dependent, you will be left with more wood ash in return. Softwoods do, on the other hand, season very quickly but may be left with sap pockets. If softwood is the only option for you, then the best option would be fir as they produce the least ash and age the best out of the softwoods.

In Need of Chimney Advice?

If you’re in need of any chimney or fireplace assistance, the team at Dubuque Fireplace & Patio can assist with install, maintenance, and repair. No job is too small or large for us to provide expert assistance. Our team will provide outstanding support every step of the way. If you’re ready to install or in need of a cleaning, reach out to our team today.