Matrix
Insert
Installation
and
Operation
Manual
______________________________________________________________________________
13
3
FUEL
3.1
MATERIALS
THAT
SHOULD
NOT
BE
BURNED
•
GARBAGE
OF
ANY
KIND,
•
COAL
OR
CHARCOAL,
•
TREATED,
PAINTED
OR
COATED
WOOD,
•
PLYWOOD
OR
PARTICLE
BOARD,
•
FINE
PAPER,
COLORED
PAPER
OR
CARDBOARD,
•
SALT
WATER
DRIFTWOOD
•
MANUFACTURED
LOGS
CONTAINING
WAX
OR
CHEMICAL
ADDITIVES
•
RAILROAD
TIES
•
LIQUIDS
SUCH
AS
KEROSCENE
OR
DIESEL
FUEL
TO
START
A
FIRE
3.2
HOW
TO
PREPARE
OR
BUY
GOOD
FIREWOOD
3.2.1
WHAT
IS
GOOD
FIREWOOD?
Good
firewood
has
been
cut
to
the
correct
length
for
the
insert,
split
to
a
range
of
sizes
and
stacked
in
the
open
until
its
moisture
content
is
reduced
to
15
to
20
per
cent.
3.2.2
TREE
SPECIES
The
tree
species
the
firewood
is
produced
from
is
less
important
than
its
moisture
content.
The
main
difference
in
firewood
from
various
tree
species
is
the
density
of
the
wood.
Hardwoods
are
denser
than
softwoods.
People
who
live
in
the
coldest
regions
of
North
America
usually
have
only
spruce,
birch
and
poplar,
other
low
‐
density
species
to
burn
and
yet
they
can
heat
their
homes
successfully.
Homeowners
with
access
to
both
hardwood
and
softwood
fuel
sometimes
use
both
types
for
different
purposes.
For
example,
softer
woods
make
good
fuel
for
relatively
mild
weather
in
spring
and
fall
because
they
light
quickly
and
produce
less
heat
Softwoods
are
not
as
dense
as
hardwoods
so
a
given
volume
of
wood
contains
less
energy.
Using
softwoods
avoids
overheating
the
house,
which
can
be
a
common
problem
with
wood
heating
in
moderate
weather.
Harder
woods
are
best
for
colder
winter
weather
when
more
heat
and
longer
burn
cycles
are
desirable.
Note
that
hardwood
trees
like
oak,
maple,
ash
and
beech
are
slower
growing
and
longer
lived
than
softer
woods
like
poplar
and
birch.
That
makes
hardwood
trees
more
valuable.
The
advice
that
