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Firewood Tips

Dry firewood burns hotter, easier and safer than wet wood. Unseasoned / moist wood can increase the amount of creosote that builds up inside the chimney, which can generate large amounts of smoke and even at the extreme a chimney fire.  Unseasoned wood will generally burn cooler as it will use the fire to evaporate water in the wood, therefore generating less heat.

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Firewood to avoid

  • Railway Sleepers

  • Pressure treated wood

  • Particle boards

  • Laminated, stained, or painted wood

  • Pieces of old furniture

  • Turpentine wood

  • Building off cuts from Adelaide building sites

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The best types of wood to burn

  • Dry red gum

  • Dry mallee roots

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Things to consider when selecting firewood:
 

Hardwood vs. softwood – Hardwood burns at a higher temperature and for a longer period of time, which is due to the higher density of hardwood.

  • Seasoned woods – This is the extent to which to wood has dried. When wood is wet it burns poorly and releases a lot of smoke
     

Managing your fire wood

Most hardwoods need as long as two years to dry properly. When dry, they should contain no more than 15-20% of the normal 50% moisture level when cut. While drying, wood piles should be covered and not come into direct contact with the ground, as this will spread rot and fungi throughout the pile.
 

There are a few methods you can use to make sure your seasoned wood is ready to burn:

  • Split your hardwood in half or even quarters to expose the wood and help it dry out. If the exposed surfaces feel damp, the wood needs to be stored for longer

  • Dry wood ignites and burns easily. If you have wet wood, you will find it difficult to ignite and will burn with a hissing sound

  • Dry wood tends to darken from white to cream as it dries

  • Dry wood weighs much less than wet wood
     

Wood should be cut into lengths of approx. 40-50 cms and of 7-15 cms thickness, depending on the fireplace / combustion heater. You should select your wood on a daily bases and store it inside before using, this ensuring contact with moisture is reduced.

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Where to buy wood from?

There are many wood yards in Adelaide which sell wood by the tonne. Ask for dry hardwood only and ask them how long you should store it before burning. We recommend to split the wood and store it for one season before burning to get maximum heat from your investment.

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Call us now for a free quote. Chimney and flues should be swept every 1 - 2 years in Adelaide.

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