Selecting and Using Hardwood Firewood

With the arrival of winter weather, fireplaces and wood stoves are once again warming our homes. Many of Tennessee’s hardwoods are well suited for use as firewood. Species such as ash, hard maple, hickory, and oak are ideal because they produce a high relative amount of heat, a slow rate of burn, and have few sparks. Hardwoods generally are preferred over softwoods because they have a higher density, burn slower, and do not contain sap or pitch, which lead to increased creosote buildup in the chimney.

Firewood is usually sold as a standard cord. A standard cord is a stack of wood that contains 128 cubic feet of wood and air space. The actual wood content may vary from 60 to 110 cubic feet depending on the diameter of the bolts and the air space between them. A standard cord is usually visualized as a stack of wood 4 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 8 feet long. The weight of air-dry hardwoods varies from 2,000 to 5,000 pounds per cord depending on the species. Firewood locally it is often sold locally by the pickup load where the actual volume greatly very depending on the size of the truck bed, height of the stack, and the stacking method. The only way to compare such units is to stack the wood in a neat pile and measure the height, width and length and divide by 128.

Proper seasoning of firewood is very important. Properly dried wood will have a higher heat value than green wood, it is easier to light, less likely to throw sparks, and less likely to cause creosote accumulation in the chimney. If you are purchasing firewood this late in the season it is recommended that you buy seasoned firewood.

Green firewood should be air-dried for one year prior to burning. Most of the drying occurs in the warmer months and very little drying occurs in late fall and winter. One can increase the rate of drying by splitting oversize pieces and cutting the firewood to shorter lengths. Firewood more than 6 to 8 inches in diameter should be split to help increase the drying rate.

Green wood should be stacked in an open area where there is good natural circulation. Use blocks to build up a small foundation to keep the first course of firewood off the ground. This will reduce insect infestation and increase airflow through the stack. The wood will become lighter and develop end checking as it dries. Stacked firewood should be covered to protect it form the rain and snow.

By selecting the proper species and burning dry hardwoods, it is possible to produce a slow burning, high heat producing, and safer fire in your home fireplace or wood stove.

Brian Bond

Assistant Professor/Wood Products Specialist