It’s that time of year again. The leaves are falling, the air is getting colder and it seems like you’re pulling out your winter sweaters on a daily basis. Winter is just around the corner, which means it’s time to start preparing! One of the most important things you can do to prepare for the cold weather is selecting firewood for your fireplace. It can seem daunting at first but with a few simple guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to a cozy winter!
1 : Finding Quality Firewood.
Before you begin stocking your fireplace with wood, it’s important that you choose the right type of wood to burn. Different woods produce varying degrees of heat and smoke, so it’s important to find a product that will be safe and efficient when burned! Below I’ll cover several different types of firewood available and the best ways to use them for maximum heat output.
2: How Much Wood Do We Need?
When purchasing firewood, you’ll want to consider how much we’re going to need for each day of the week. There are a few other factors that will determine how much wood we need per day such as: -If there’s a large storm on the way and we’ll need extra fuel to keep warm. -If we’re expecting a lot of guests over during the weekend.
-What type of firewood is being burned (different types of wood require different amounts)
It’s always best to be safe than sorry, so you may want to buy more wood than you’ll absolutely need. This will help prevent us from running out of fuel and being left in the cold.
3: The Different Types of Firewood Available.
Once you’ve decided how much firewood we need, you’ll want to decide which type of wood will suit your needs best. Below I’ve included a list with each type of firewood and its intended usage: -Hardwood (Eucalyptus) -Used for cooking. Produces low heat, but little smoke. -Softwood (Pine) -Used for heating. Produces good heat, but high amounts of carbon monoxide. Good for using in large furnaces on a daily basis. -Basswood (Lime) -Used for cooking and heating. Has a medium amount of heat output and quite low levels of smoke.
-Redwood -Used for heat. Produces large amounts of smoke when used as a primary fuel source, but burns long and hot.
4: Installing a Log Holder in Your Fireplace.
Once you’ve decided which type is best for your needs, it’s time to put the wood into your fireplace! There are several different ways to stock your fireplace with wood, but the most efficient way is via a log holder. Log holders come in several different shapes and styles so you’ll need to decide which type will be best for your home! A good rule of thumb is that the bigger log holders tend to hold more logs than the smaller models – however, they also take up more space and are not easily movable.
In this article, we covered everything from where to find quality wood in town, how much wood you need per day depending on what type of fuel you’re using and which types are best suited for heating or cooking purposes. We also covered the different types of log holders available and how to install one in your fireplace. Before you know it, winter will be here and we’ll all be sitting by the fire enjoying a nice cup of hot chocolate!