Air-dried wood has less moisture (15 – 20 %) than freshly-cut timer (40%),and typically
yields 20 % more available heat. Wet wood burns at a lower temperature and causes
incomplete combustion (soot and “creosote” formation, which in extreme cases, can lead
to a chimney fire). The logs should have a length of the width of the firebox less 5-6 cm.
Furthermore condense might arise in the tube or the stove if you burn moist wood.
Burn only the fuel your stove was designed for. Also, trash should not be burned in you
stove. Besides increasing the chance of starting a chimney fire, so plastics and other
trash emit harmful gases, which is unhealthy for you and the environment. Driftwood,
treated wood, and artificial logs should not be burned either.
Burning value of wood
All types of wood heat up equally per kilogram; however, the density of wood is not the
same, as shown in the following table:
Type of wood
Kg dry wood per m³
Compared to beech
Beech and oak
580
100 %
Ash
570
98 %
Maple
540
93 %
Birch
510
88 %
Mountain pine
480
83 %
Fir
390
67 %
Poplar
380
65 %
A few reminders
Store your wood cut and split (split logs dry faster).
Keep the wood pile in a dry sunny place, protected from the rain. Don’t cover the pile with
plastic, because that will prevent the wood from drying out properly.
Stack the wood with enough space between the rows to ensure a good air circulation !
