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The perfect firewood for your stove – type of wood, moisture content and storage

The quality of the firewood has a decisive influence on heat output, efficiency and the cleanliness of combustion. By ensuring you choose the right type of wood, store it correctly and ensure it is at the ideal level of dryness, you can use your firewood more efficiently and promote clean combustion. Attika explains what makes good firewood and what you should look out for when buying it.

Where can I get good firewood?

Wood is a renewable fuel. Key factors determining the quality of firewood include its origin, storage and degree of dryness. Ask private forest owners, regional forestry operations or your dealer about locally sourced firewood.

Which type of wood is suitable for a stove?

Not all wood burns in the same way – choosing the right type of wood affects how the embers develop, how long the fire burns and how much heat it gives off.

Hardwood for a steady burn and warmth

Deciduous trees such as beech, ash and birch produce plenty of embers and a steady, long-lasting burn. They are the first choice for regular heating.

Softwood for kindling

Conifers such as spruce, fir or pine are ideal for kindling as they catch fire quickly. They are less suitable for continuous burning as they burn out more quickly.

Use split wood

Split logs provide a larger surface area for the flames and dry out more quickly than round logs. A single log should not weigh more than 1 kg. The total load should be in accordance with the instructions provided by the stove manufacturer in the user manual.

Use wood briquettes with caution

Due to their density and low residual moisture content, wood briquettes produce a higher heat output than hardwood. If the quantity is not reduced accordingly, this can lead to overheating damage in the fire box in the long term. Adjust the load size accordingly when using briquettes. You can find out more about the correct use of wood briquettes in our Tip: Wood Briquettes.

How dry does firewood need to be, and what happens if it’s too damp?

Residual moisture and drying time

The drier the wood, the higher its usable energy content – and the cleaner the combustion. The residual moisture should not exceed 17 per cent. To achieve this level, split hardwood must be stored in a dry place for two to three years.

The exact residual moisture content can be easily measured using a wood moisture meter – a worthwhile investment for anyone who heats their home regularly.

Damp wood and soot build-up

Damp wood does not reach the optimum combustion temperature. This leads to more smoke and higher emissions of pollutants.

The water vapor from damp wood condenses in the flue tube and leads to tar deposits – known as soot build-up. In the worst-case scenario, this can cause a chimney fire.

How do I store firewood properly?

Storage conditions are crucial to ensuring that firewood remains dry and clean.

Store the wood sheltered from the weather – under cover, but with sufficient air circulation
The logs should be stacked with the ends facing outwards so that moisture can escape
Make sure there is a gap between the wood and the ground to prevent ground moisture from seeping into the wood
Damp cellars and garages are not suitable for storage

Tip: Cold wood burns less well. Bring your firewood into a warm place two to three days before you plan to use it – this allows it to dry out further and makes it easier to light.

What shouldn’t be put in the stove?

Under no circumstances should the following materials be burnt in the wood stove:

Varnished, laminated, impregnated or plastic-coated wood
Painted scrap wood
Chipboard and plywood
Paper briquettes and coal
Household waste, nut shells and pine cones

Burning these materials can produce exhaust fumes that are harmful to health. Even small quantities of unsuitable fuels can, through chemical reactions, cause extremely high temperatures and problematic combustion residues – with potential consequences for health and the fireplace itself. In many countries, burning such materials is also prohibited by law.

You can find tips on how to light a stove correctly here.

You can find even more answers about using your wood fireplace in our FAQs. Read the FAQs on Using a wood-burning fireplace now.

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