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OPERATING YOUR APPLIANCE (Continued)
Wood
This appliance is designed to burn natural wood only. Higher efficiencies and lower emissions generally
result when you burn air dried, seasoned hardwoods as compared to softwoods or to green or freshly cut
hardwoods. DO NOT BURN treated wood, garbage, solvents, trash, coal, cardboard, colored paper, or
wax impregnated logs (i.e. Duraflame, etc.). Burning treated wood, garbage, solvents, colored paper or
driftwood from salt water may result in release of toxic fumes and may render the appliance ineffective
and void the limited warranty. Burning coal, cardboard or loose paper can produce soot, large flakes,
char or fly ash that can coat the inside of your appliance, causing smoke spillage into the room.
Choosing the kind of firewood to burn in your appliance depends on what is available to you. If all you
can obtain is softwoods, obviously, that will be your choice.
Softwoods such as pine and fir are easily ignited and burn rapidly with hot flames. Since they burn so
easily and quickly you will have to spend more time loading your firebox, especially in the high burn
mode. With softwoods it will be much more difficult to achieve an overnight burn. Furthermore, softwoods
make it necessary to reload the appliance more often. The chart below outlines the advantages of using
hardwood.
SPECIES*
LBS./CORD**
BTU's/CORD**
Hours per Cord at 40,000 BTU's
per Hour**
ALDER
2540
19,050,000
476
APPLE
4400
33,000,000
825
ASH
3440
25,800,000
645
BIRCH
3040
22,800,000
705
CEDAR
2060
15,450,000
386
COTTONWOOD
2160
16,200,000
405
DOGWOOD
4320
31,725,000
793
ELM
2260
16,950,000
423
FIR, DOUGLAS
2970
22,275,000
556
HEMLOCK
2700
20,250,000
506
MAPLE
3200
24,000,000
600
OAK, RED
3680
27,600,000
690
OAK, WHITE
4200
31,500,000
787
PINE
2250
16,875,000
421
REDWOOD
2400
18,000,000
450
SPRUCE
2240
16,800,000
420
* At 20% moisture content
** All values are approximate
If you have a choice it is best to use the more dense hardwoods for a longer lasting fire. The best
arrangement is to have a mix of softwoods and hardwoods for ease of start-up and a longer lasting fire.
Also, it is a good idea once the fire is established to use larger diameter logs stacked tightly together. This
will promote a longer burn time.
Wood is typically sold by the "cord". A cord is a nicely stacked pile of logs measuring 4 feet wide by 4 feet
high by 8 feet long. Always look for the driest wood especially if you purchase your wood by weight.
Unseasoned, wet wood is much heavier.
Moisture content of the wood greatly affects the way any appliance operates. Well seasoned wood (split,
stacked and kept dry for at least 12 months) is your best fuel choice.
