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53D9041
B36LA & B36RA Woodburning Fireplaces
FIREPLACE OPERATION
Wood vs. Fossil Fuels
Compared to fossil fuels, a full cord of dry hickory weighs about two tons and is approximately equal in
heating value to a ton of hard coal. On a pound basis, heavy hardwoods have about half the heating
value of coal. The tabulation shows the relative densities and heat values of a variety of dry woods.
Varieties at the top of the list (Dogwood) burn longer and those near the bottom (White Pine) ignite and
burn quicker. A combination of both light and heavy wood is desired.
Species
Density
Heat Value
Species
Density
Heat Value
Dogwood
.70-.79
100-107
Ash
.57-.61
81-82
Hickory
.70-.74
100
Southern Pine
.51-.60
73-81
Oak
.60-.73
86-99
Elm
.50-.59
71-80
Black Locust
.69-.70
95-98
Cherry
.50-.52
70
Beech
.64-.66
89-91
Douglas Fir
.45-.51
64-69
Hard Maple
.58-.65
83-88
Spruce
.41-.44
59
Birch
.55-.64
79-86
Redwood
.33-.40
47-54
Apple
.58-.62
83-84
White Pine
.35-.37
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A Few Words Of Caution
Beware of burning certain material in your fireplace. Among these are plastics, poison ivy twigs and
stems, and chemically treated woods such as discarded poles and railroad ties. These not only create
air pollution, but can induce extreme irritation for some individuals.
Use hemlock, spruce, juniper and other resinous woods with caution. They contain moisture pockets
which, upon heating, “pop” with considerable vigor.
Always use a fire screen. And always “bank” a fire, or at least push all unburned fuel to the rear of the
grate before leaving a fire unattended. Do not use this fireplace as an incinerator.
Because the termination of the chimney above the roof is exposed to wind and cold and the pressure
changes these and other environmental conditions may cause, a sufficient chimney draft may be hard
to establish at times. At other times the draft may be sufficiently disrupted to cause smoke to spill from
the fireplace opening. If problems with chimney draft occur, help start chimney draft before you build
a fire by holding a piece of burning paper near the flue opening at the top of the firebox to preheat the
chimney. If smoke spills from the fireplace opening after the fire is burning, open a window on the up
wind side of the house that is far enough away form the fireplace that the wind will not blow across
the fireplace opening, push the burning wood as near the back of the fireplace as possible, and if the
fireplace is equipped with glass doors, close them.
DO NOT LEAVE CHILDREN OR PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, OR SENILE PER-
SONS ALONE WITH A BURNING FIREPLACE.
