Get the "Most" from your Firewood

This article was originally published on December 21, 2007 and expired on February 1, 2008. It is provided here for archival purposes and may contain dated information.

During the next several weeks, many homeowners will be making arrangements for their supply of firewood for use this winter in their stove or fireplace. For landowners, this may involve cutting, splitting, and storing the firewood. But for many homeowners, this probably means going to the local garden center or corner street vendor. Bob Frazee, University of Illinois Natural Resources Educator provides some tips to help you get the most benefit from your firewood.

Make sure you know what you are purchasing. Firewood is usually bought and sold by volume using the "cord" as measurement. According to Frazee, a "standard" cord is a stack 4 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 8 feet long. A "face" cord also is 4 feet high and 8 feet long, but the pieces of wood in a face cord may be any specified length. Generally they are 16-inches or 24-inches long. The purchaser should specify the width of a face cord. Wood over 10 inches in diameter should be halved or quartered to make it easier to handle and burn.

While some tree species are preferable over others for firewood, practically all species can be burned for fuel. Homeowners are encouraged to use what is most readily available for a cost-effective source. Proper seasoning and burning are the real keys to good firewood use. However, if you have the opportunity to be selective, Frazee recommends taking time to examine the characteristics of each tree species to identify a firewood that meets your specific needs.

According to Frazee, firewood can be categorized based on a number of criteria. Desirable qualities of firewood include (1) low cost; (2) low initial moisture content when trees are freshly harvested; (3) ease of preparation, splitting and felling; (4) combustion qualities including heat, odor or smoke, ability to form red-hot coals, ease of ignition, and appearance of flames; (5) cleanliness or freedom from dropping dirt and wood particles in the home; and (6) freedom from ants, wood borers, or other natural inhabitants of wood that can be classified as nuisances.

During the past several years, there has been an increase in the use of artificial logs. Many of these logs are composites of sawdust, chips, wax, colorful chemicals and typically a starch binder. They are increasingly being used for their convenience, attractive flames, and ease of starting. However, Frazee cautions homeowners to use care when burning these artificial logs because their combustion characteristics and gaseous outputs are considerably different from natural wood logs. Be sure to read and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Once you have your supply of firewood lined out for this winter, Frazee emphasizes that it is important to make sure you take steps to preserve its burning quality and to prevent insects from attacking your home. Firewood should not be stacked inside or against the walls of your home, garage, or other buildings because there is danger that termites may attack the wood and later gain entrance to the structure. Ideally, firewood should be stored in a sunny, exposed location. To prevent stored firewood from rotting, Frazee recommends that firewood be placed on a rack that allows air movement on both the bottom and sides of the woodpile. Plastic sheeting, or closer stacking of the top pieces, will help to protect firewood from rain and snow.

Source: Robert W. Frazee, Extension Educator, Natural Resources Management, rfrazee@illinois.edu