The temperatures are dropping and winter is approaching, so many of you are in the market for firewood to get you through the winter. When buying firewood however, consider the following advice from the Chimney Safety Institute of America when selecting the firewood you plan on burning.
All firewood contains water. Freshly cut wood can be up to 45% water, while well seasoned firewood generally has a 20-25% moisture content. Well seasoned firewood is easier to start, produces more heat and burns cleaner. The important thing to remember is that the water must be gone before the wood will burn. Burning green firewood may also accelerate creosote build-up in your fireplace and chimney, as well as produce a smokey fire. Creosote is a leading cause of chimney fires and poses a serious threat to your home if it continues to build up and not removed.
There are a few things you can look for to see if the wood you intend to purchase is seasoned or not. Well seasoned firewood generally has darkened ends with cracks or splits visible and the wood will be relatively lighter compared to that of greener wood. Another indication that your wood is well-seasoned is that it may have bark that is peeling off.
Different types of wood produce different types of fires. Hardwoods, such as White Oak and Hard Maple will produce a steady, high heat fire, while softwoods, such as Cedar and White Spruce will ignite quickly and burn with a lower heat intensity.
Whatever type of firewood you choose, it's important to get your annual chimney inspection done before you burn, so call Guaranteed Chimney of Westchester for all of your chimney needs today!