How to Choose the Right Type of Firewood?

Once winter sets; we all want to curl up with our loved ones to a crackling fire(firewood), sip a cup of hot cocoa as snow falls, read a book under a cozy blanket, or have a glass of wine as fire burns. For most outdoor winter activities having a campfire is a must.

The only to make sure that you have the best campfire is by choosing the right quality of firewood. There are many types of woods available to choose from, which produce different kinds of fire. Let us understand what kind of wood is required for which fire.

5 Type of Firewood

1. Crackling Fire

If you enjoy the sound of a crackling fire and the pops it makes as the wood burn, you should opt for firewood. This is a softwood that dries fast and also splits nicely. It amounts to large beautiful fires with a fresh aroma that puts you instantly into a holiday mood. However, given that the sparks can splatter all over, it, it is best to consider glass enclosings if you are burning it indoors and maintain a safe distance if you are outdoors. Another firewood that makes for great crackling fires is pinewoods. They are also a type of softwood that is widely used. However, the smell from pinewoods may become overwhelming indoors, making them the perfect firewood for outdoor activities.

2. Hot Fire

Some people also firewood to escape the cold of the winter; for this purpose, using hardwoods is considered the best option. They are dense pieces of logs that provide immense heat and also burn longer than softwoods. It is difficult to get the fire started with just hardwoods, so you should start with softwood and add hardwood as the fire burns on. Some examples are white oak, red oak, Hard maple, dogwood, Almond, Pecan, etc.

Now that we have put the discussion of the different types of fire and which firewood suits it the best, let us look at tips that will help you choose the best firewood.

3. Seasoning

One problem with burning firewood is that it produces a lot of smoke. Therefore, you must look at options that provide for cleaner-burning of fire. One such way is looking at the seasoning of the wood. If a block of wood is well seasoned, it will burn clean. If you want to know if the firewood is well seasoned, you should bring two pieces together and look for a hollow sound.

4. Moisture

It is important that you also look at the moisture content of the firewood. If it is laden with moisture, it might not burn clean and may realize more pollutants. Therefore, an essential quality of good firewood is that it should bone dry to burn for a longer period and not release as many pollutants into the air.

5. Age

The older the firewood, the better it is for burning. The old firewood is not only completely dry but is also free from moisture. Hence, it makes firewood the perfect choice for burning. You may usually find old firewood at the end of the pile where they are splitting up. This way, you can ensure that the fire you burn is clean and also enjoy the fire.

Final Words

Therefore, as you can see, these are some of the tips that will help us make sure that we have the perfect firewood for our burning. However, other factors such as the bark of the wood and density of the firewood shall also be considered for a cleaner burning experience.