Calorific value of firewood: which firewood is better, the hottest

Characteristics of the best tree species

Deciduous trees are, of course, better suited for the stove, because their fiber structure is dense.
They burn tightly and give off heat well. This also includes fruit trees, which emit pleasant aromas when burned. Although conifers also burn well, they just smoke and smoke a lot due to the high concentration of resin. In addition, they burn out quickly. In a word, let's move straight to hardwood.

Larch

To determine which wood is best to burn the stove with, you should familiarize yourself with each of the options in more detail, study their parameters in the light of the combustion process.

Oak

Oak is, first of all, a hard and valuable tree, and only then - fuel. This is why oak firewood is elite and therefore expensive. Note: real good pizza is cooked exclusively on oak wood.

Trees that are not too old (middle-aged, so to speak) are used as firewood, since they produce more thermal energy and combustion lasts longer. The heat that young trees give is too weak, and the room will smell of wood that is smoldering. As for the old ones, they leave a large amount of ash with smaller volumes of thermal energy, and the air in the house becomes “heavy”.

For this reason, it is advisable to burn oak in the fireplace.

Linden

Let’s immediately say that linden wood is ideal for heating baths. When burned, they emit a sweet aroma that has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system. It is difficult to ignite such wood, but the heat that is generated is long-lasting and persistent. It is also characteristic that they can be stored for no longer than two years.

Birch

Birch firewood is also hard (like oak), and therefore is also an excellent option for a stove. Of course, in terms of their ability to produce heat, they are somewhat inferior to oak, but they are approximately 20 percent superior to coniferous species in this indicator. Moreover, they burn for a long time, with an even flame, and do not spark.

The only drawback of birch wood is the large amount of resin, especially in the bark. Therefore, it is strictly not recommended to heat a stove with bark. And when burning the wood itself, a lot of soot is released, which settles on the walls of the chimney.

When birch wood burns, the house is filled with unique aromas, the air is disinfected, and the people who live there suffer less from respiratory diseases. We also add that a birch tree that has been left for more than two years loses these medicinal properties. Therefore, it cannot be stored longer than this period (as well as linden).

Aspen

There is not much to say about aspen firewood. They are not easy to light, produce little heat, and burn out fairly quickly. They are characterized by a long, bright flame and lack of smoking, which is why they should be used to clean the chimney duct. But if we talk about what kind of wood is best to heat the stove with, then the answer is obvious: definitely not aspen.

Alder

Alder is rightly called the “royal” tree. The fact is that this wood flares up quickly, contains a small amount of resin, releases a lot of thermal energy, but practically does not emit smoke. The ideal area for using alder is the “black” firebox in a bathhouse. Moreover, when burned, the tree emits a pleasant aroma that prevents colds.

We also note that with the help of this firewood you can also clean the chimney after resinous conifers. They are also great for barbecue, and alder sawdust is used for smoking meat and fish dishes. The wood dries quickly even in natural conditions, and is stored for more than three years. During this time, its characteristic aroma is not lost.

Poplar, willow

The stoves are heated with wood from both poplar and willow. But a significant drawback of both options is the rapid burnout, and even the insignificant (when compared with other breeds) cost does not provide savings, because heating the house will require a larger amount of this firewood.

Willow and poplar are definitely low-grade wood, which is bought only when it is not possible to buy something better.

Fruit trees

Such breeds are optimal for heating and can quickly warm up, but despite this, they are used mainly for smokehouses or fireplaces due to the fact that these varieties are rare.

Basically, such firewood can be obtained by cutting down old orchards. They (firewood) are stored in order to cook food over an open fire.

Characteristics of firewood

It is not always appropriate to compare heating a house with a stove and electricity or gas, since the stove additionally creates an atmosphere of comfort and unique family coziness. How pleasant it is to hear the soft crackling of firewood in the hearth in the silence of the doom, to feel the warmth emanating from it. Even in our time, these unique feelings are so pleasant to people that a high-quality stove or a good fireplace is built in almost every private home.

However, in order to effectively use the capabilities of the stove, you should understand firewood. It turns out that not all tree species are equally good for burning; there are many nuances that significantly complicate the choice of firewood for the stove.

For example, for burning in a fireplace, it is advisable to find wood that, when burned, emits a pleasant aroma, but does not emit a large amount of resin, soot, or soot. Resins in wood contribute to increased smoke output, as well as explosive cracking of logs with the release of large coals. Such emissions will be unsafe for an open fireplace, so coniferous wood is not used in them.

Firewood for the stove is selected based on heat transfer; its main criteria are the intensity and duration of combustion. It is desirable that the wood burns with less smoke and leaves behind a minimum of ash.

Wood for making fire

If we consider the optimal firewood for use in a stove, then it should have the following functionality:

• First of all, heat transfer is the maximum possible for wood.
• The flammability of the wood must also be excellent, so that lighting a fireplace is not difficult.
• When burned, firewood should not emit a lot of smoke and leave behind a small amount of ash.

To achieve such characteristics, it is important not only to choose the right type of wood, but also to properly dry the harvested timber and ensure its normal storage. Freshly cut wood is not used in kilns; to prepare it, it should be dried for some time, getting rid of excess moisture. Wet wood burns weakly and produces a large amount of smoke.

There is even a method for determining whether firewood is dry enough for use in fireplaces or stoves. You should hit one log against another and listen to the sound. If it is sonorous, then it is quite possible to use such logs for heating the hearth.

It is believed that the best firewood for fireplaces and stoves is obtained if logging is carried out in the winter. At this time, the trees are in a certain preserved state, as a result of which sap flow practically does not work in them. The worst thing is if the firewood is collected in the spring or summer, when the wood contains a large amount of moisture, such wood will dry out for a very long time.

Firewood harvested in winter can be split in summer

If we consider tree species, then it is best to choose deciduous options, since they have a fairly dense fiber structure. Such wood is capable of generating large amounts of heat for a long time. Most often, firewood is prepared from the following hardwoods: oak, birch, linden, alder, ash, aspen. Even fruit trees can be a good source of heat. In addition, the fragrant wood is perfect for use in a smokehouse or open fireplace.

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Coniferous wood also burns well, but since they contain a large amount of resin, they emit a lot of smoke and soot when burning. The needles burn quite quickly, but produce mediocre heat, so for use in a stove at home it is better not to particularly consider this option, but to save the logs for the bath.

Fuel selection

When choosing the best firewood for a sauna, you may encounter different opinions:

• some recommend buying wood that releases beneficial substances when burned;
• Another group of people is sure that hardwoods are considered the best.

The choice of wood depends on various factors.

Depends on wood density

All types of wood can be divided into 3 groups:

• soft;
• medium-hard;
• solid.

It is better to use hard rocks to fire a sauna stove. They give the strongest heat and burn for a long time. Medium-hard rocks are more difficult to melt and burn for a long time. Representatives of soft breeds are the worst option. They burn quickly, emit intense heat, spark, and crack.

Depending on medicinal properties

The choice of fuel depends on the medicinal properties:

• linden, alder - cleanse the upper respiratory tract of phlegm, remove toxins from the upper layers of the epidermis;
• birch, oak - disinfect bath rooms and help clean the air;
• pine - releases essential oils that are beneficial to the body.

The latter option is less preferable due to the high resin content.

Depends on price

Oak, hornbeam, ash are expensive wood species. People often choose aspen and birch because of its availability and low price. Birch and aspen logs clog the chimney slowly.

When choosing, you need to take into account the moisture content of the material. A suitable figure is 20%.

Some types of wood cannot be stored for more than two years, as they lose their medicinal properties.

Alder: properties and applications

• construction – for the construction of underwater structures, well foundations;
• industry - for the production of barrels, musical instruments, textile dye;
• carpentry - for the production of finishing materials, furniture, decorative accessories;
• artistic carving – for creating decorative panels, sculptures, carved dishes;
• traditional and folk medicine - for the production of medicines and various decoctions, thanks to useful components (proteins, vitamin C, carotene, tannins, etc.);
• cooking – sawdust is ideal for smoking meat and fish products; besides, firewood has good heat transfer.

Advantages and disadvantages of wood

It’s not for nothing that alder has gained wide popularity, because the list of its positive qualities is quite large:

1. affordable price;
2. has high aesthetic indicators and a wide range of colors;
3. can be in contact with water for a long time without the formation of rotting processes due to low hygroscopicity;
4. does not emit harmful fumes and heavy resins;
5. wood is easy to tool and process with various paints and varnishes;
6. drying of lumber occurs quickly without warping;
7. exposure to high temperatures does not change the parameters of the product;
8. low thermal conductivity prevents burns;
9. wood has good heat and sound insulation, while it promotes air circulation, due to which condensation does not form;
10. has healing properties.

1.the softness of the breed requires careful handling;

2.poor elasticity makes it difficult to create some products;

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3. not suitable as a flooring on the ground, as it can rot;

4. needs to be treated with antiseptics due to the possibility of infection by pathogenic fungi and insects;

5. hammering nails may cause splintering;

6. The alkaline reaction upon contact with cement destroys the wood, and the iron oxidizes it, resulting in the formation of dark spots.

If you follow all the precautions (care, using screws instead of nails, avoiding contact with damp soil, iron and cement), you can get an excellent material that will last a very long time.

According to its characteristics, alder wood is ideal for finishing baths and saunas. In addition, under the influence of heat its healing properties are revealed. It is used to make beautiful furniture, window frames and doors. Alder cladding materials can be safely used for living rooms and children's rooms, since the wood is hypoallergenic and antibacterial.

What kind of wood is best to heat the stove?

When choosing the best option for lighting a fireplace, heating a room, cooking or lighting a fire, you should take into account the combustion qualities of different types of wood. You can use combinations, follow the ignition sequence and gradually introduce other types of logs into the burning firebox.

For home heating

If the stove heats a small room, then fruit or coniferous wood is suitable (for closed type solid fuel boilers). Fireplaces love alder, linden, oak and birch. For large areas, oak, birch, alder, and larch are suitable.

After birch, pine or cedar, alder or aspen will help clean the chimney from soot. They are advised to be added to the firebox after combustion is complete, as well as mixed with oak logs, birch or acacia.

For the bath

A real find for sauna lovers is linden wood: its delicate aroma has healing properties, and the high heat will quickly heat the steam room and retain heat. To maintain combustion longer, birch logs or aspen are added to the linden tree.

Alder gives a pleasant aroma, burns with great heat output, saves time on kindling, and has been used since ancient times by wealthy boyars and merchants for heating.

A hot sauna will be created by birch, alder and ash firewood, as well as logs from fruit trees

The sauna cannot be heated very much on pure aspen, but if you add it to birch or alder logs, the effect will be excellent. The air will receive disinfecting properties, the chimney will be cleared of soot.

Birch wood is used most often by true fans of the Russian bath. This firewood produces stable heat, retains heat for a long time, does not smoke, and gives the steam room the atmosphere of a birch grove. It is worth removing the bark from a birch tree that is not dry enough before burning it, but it is better to start with oak or ash.

Ash firewood is perfect for traditional black-style sauna fires.

For barbecue

For the perfect barbecue, gourmets choose fruit woods in combination with linden and birch chips. If you have veal or fish on the grill, there is nothing better than linden and birch firewood. There are also lovers of the aroma of fruit trees: plums, cherries, apricots and pears.

Chefs in Italian restaurants always use oak firewood to cook real pizza in their heat. In this case, an apple or pear tree can replace oak. And lamb meat requires, according to technology, the presence of alder, linden, plum or cherry smoke.

Suitable for poultry meat: cherry, plum, apple tree and grapevine; for pork and lamb: cherry, birch and linden; and for veal and fish: birch, linden, pear, plum and peach

Many recipes with poultry, rabbit and pork include cherry smoke. Peach, apple and grapevine also add piquancy.

What kind of wood is better to burn?

The heat output of the heating device and the burning time greatly depend on the type of wood.

At the molecular level, wood consists of many empty cells with walls made of woody matter. The density of this woody substance (walls) is the same for all types of wood, but the size of the cells is different.

The smaller the size of the cells, the higher the density of the wood and each square centimeter contains a lot of flammable wood matter. And vice versa: the larger the size of the cells, the lower the density of the tree. It contains a lot of air and little flammable wood matter.

Imagine that a circle is 1 square centimeter of wood. In the first case, the cells are small and there are many walls between them. In the second case, the number of cells and walls is smaller, and there are more voids filled with air. The density of such wood is low.

What conclusions can be drawn:

1. Less dense wood burns quickly. When wood burns, air is released, which fuels the combustion. The more air, the firewood burns faster and less evenly.
2. Dense firewood produces more heat because it contains more combustible wood matter per unit volume.
3. Dense firewood leaves more coals that take a long time to smolder. Soft woods hold their shape less well, crumble into small coals and go out quickly.

All wood is divided into three density categories: low, medium, high.

Basic storage rules

To get a high-quality product for lighting a hearth or fireplace, you need to cut down a tree in an ecologically clean area, where there are no exhaust gases or chemical production. There should be no delay in separating the trunk and crown in parts

It is important to dry the logs outdoors with good ventilation under a canopy.

The next stage is splitting into smaller elements. This way the logs dry faster and are easier to store. It is logical that the thinner the firewood, the faster it will dry. Therefore, it is better not to store them in the form of thick logs, but to chop them in the form of thin logs. You will also need brushwood—thin branches—for ignition. Rows are laid in several ways:

• Each next row of blanks is located perpendicular to the previous one. There must also be clearance inside the row;
• All logs are stacked in one direction, maintaining a gap between each piece;
• Laying in a circle. This method is called a “stack”, it involves stacking firewood in one direction. Under no circumstances should brushwood and logs be stacked tightly: circulation will be disrupted and they will begin to rot.

The woodpile is placed in a well-ventilated space, under a canopy or dense material. The canopy must have supporting pillars without walls to restrict air movement.

The woodshed must be covered with a roof to protect the wood from ultraviolet rays and precipitation.

It is not recommended to store firewood in a shed. Lack of sunlight will lead to moisture accumulation, fungus will form, and the woodpile will begin to rot. Also, precipitation should not be allowed to enter.

Before putting it into the stove or fireplace, the firewood must be kept in the living room for at least 24 hours. They are placed next to the stove, but not very close to the firebox (keeping fire safety in mind). For this purpose, a special niche is provided or decorative floor firewood holders are used.

The best wood for kindling is dry. Therefore, you should carefully consider its preparation and storage. Whatever type of firewood is chosen for the stove, the most important thing is not to forget about the features and differences in the properties of deciduous, coniferous and fruit logs.

Alder - a royal gift

If you manage to get hold of such firewood, consider yourself lucky: they burn hot, almost without smoke or soot, but with a unique aroma that has healing powers. It is believed that a bathhouse with alder wood is a sure cure for colds. And in the old days, they say, it was

chosen for stoves in royal chambers and rich estates. Alder firewood is also appreciated by amateurs

. Fresh alder cuts are red-orange in color, so

will look bright and unusual.

However, this wonderful tree has one feature that you may not know about when buying ready-made logs: all of the above applies to firewood made from alder grown in a dry place. But swamp milk can smoke, and the heat from it in the bathhouse is heavy.

In our catalog, which presents products from large online gardening stores, you will find convenient bags for carrying firewood, stands for storing it in the house, splitting axes and other necessary accessories. Choose useful accessories.

Alder is a low-growing plant of the birch family. Depending on the type of this plant, its crown can be formed either in the form of a bush (or shrub), or in the form of a low-growing, low tree (and in some areas it can be up to 5 or even 15 meters high), which has an ovoid, smooth top. touch the crown with a grayish tint.

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The leaves have a rather rounded shape, sometimes ovate. They also have fine hairiness. During alder flowering, its flowers are collected in inflorescences in the form of earrings. They are same-sex, separate female and male. Women's earrings are oval and short, while men's earrings are long. After flowering, the tree pleases us with its fruits - cones, which have a fairly oblong shape.

There are about 47 different species of this beautiful plant. Most often it can be seen in European countries, the Caucasus and, no less often, in Western Siberia. In most cases, people encounter black alder (also called “sticky”), less often gray alder. Its favorite habitat is in the valleys of wide rivers and on the shores of lakes. Alder is a long-lived plant. Life expectancy can reach an average of 50 years, and sometimes 60 years.

1. Alder leaves contain a lot of tannins, hyperoside (about 13 mg), quercitrin, as well as chlorogenic, protocatechinic and caffeic acids. The buds also contain many useful substances, such as: tannins (4% gallic acid and 2.5% tannin). Vegetable oils, of which there are so many everywhere, are said to be found mainly in the wood of this plant.
2. The astringent properties of the fruits, bark and leaves of this tree allow you to quickly and effectively cure any inflammation in the oral cavity. And infusions from the leaves are considered an excellent diaphoretic for colds.
3. The beneficial substances contained in alder allow you to quickly get rid of hemorrhoids, allergies, stomatitis, tuberculosis, bleeding gums, dysentery, stomach pain, rheumatism, scrofula, arthritis, dermatitis. It also quickly heals burns.
4. In medical practice, alder is often used in the treatment of conjunctivitis, bleeding, sexually transmitted diseases, sore throat, eczema and childhood diathesis.
5. This plant, namely tincture bark and sticky alder leaves, has proven itself in the treatment of cancer.
6. It is no less effective during the treatment of colitis, diarrhea or wound healing.
7. Alder cones help get rid of any problems with the gastrointestinal tract. A decoction of them can stop any bleeding from the gums or nose.
8. A bath of alder leaves relieves tired legs (very good after a hard day at work).
9. A broom made from white alder branches is very effective for colds. It cleanses the skin well of germs and makes it very elastic.

Craftsmen often use alder in their recipes or healing remedies. You can make a decoction, tincture, tea and even a bath from it.

Take 4 g of cones and boil them in 1 glass of boiling water. This decoction must be infused for 2 hours. After which it must be strained and can be consumed. The method of taking this decoction is as follows: 3 or 4 times before meals for ? a glass of decoction.

Take 15 g of bark and 1 glass of boiling water. Mix all this, stir and brew. After which you need to let it brew for 2 hours, and then you can strain. You need to take this decoction 3-4 times a day, 1 tbsp. l.

You need to take 50 g of cones and pour 1 liter of water. Next, boil them over low heat. This decoction should be drunk hot and no more than 3 glasses a day.

Take 20 g of leaves and pour 1 tbsp. boiling water Next, leave for 10-15 minutes, always in a warm place. Then filter and take 0.5 cups 2-3 times during the day. This decoction is very effective for malaria, colds and even polyarthritis.

For this tincture you will need pine cones and ethanol (40%). The tincture consists of 1 part pine cones and 5 parts alcohol (1:5). You need to insist for several days, and after this time, you can take it exactly 30 drops 3 times a day.

This is called so because of the stickiness of shiny leaves and black bark, which is observed in older trees. This species grows up to twenty meters in height. It is believed that black alder loves solitude - it is impossible to find other trees nearby.

Blooms in April. It bears fruit in cones that fully ripen within a year. The plant loves light and moisture. Grows in moist soils.

In a number of regions, black alder is included in the Red Book. This species is often planted near ponds, in parks and along alleys.

It looks different from black alder. The trunk is slightly curved, the bark is grayish in color. The foliage is the same color.

It blooms with earrings that are distinguished by a brownish tone. The plant is more light-loving, but less demanding on growth conditions.

The tree is able to grow even on soils that are depleted and waterlogged. It tolerates winter cold and wind better. Capable of propagation by seeds, cuttings and even pieces of bark.

The active growth phase is observed at a young age, when gray alder creates impenetrable thickets. This feature is often used in land reclamation when there is a need to strengthen slopes and banks.

Alder does not care about soil composition; it can grow even on sandy soils, restoring fertility on its own. The secret is that tubers with bacteria that absorb nitrogen form on the roots. Thus, the soil is enriched.

The plant is light-loving, respects moist lands, quickly responds to drought, and tolerates frost well. It is replanted in the usual way, in the spring. Water only in hot weather. Alder does not need to be supported with nutritional compounds. The fact is that the root system is capable of producing the nitrogen necessary for growth on its own.

Benefits and Applications

The tree is not durable, but has a uniform structure. The wood is light and soft, easy to process. Alder is widely used for industrial purposes and has also found its place in medicine.

Musical instruments are made from alder material, since its surface does not crack when dried. The softness of the wood has become the basis for the use of alder for artistic cutting. If the wood is treated with ammonia or drying oil, then excellent decorative furniture can be made from it.

By being exposed to moisture for a long time, alder improves its strength; barrels and underwater structures can be made from it.

Black alder bark is used in the production of dyeing compositions for leather and cloth. Wood burns well and creates good thermal output.

Alder firewood and sawdust are used in cooking - they are used to smoke meat and fish. The cones and bark are often used in folk medicine. Decoctions with astringent properties are made from them. Young foliage applied to purulent wounds promotes their rapid healing. A flower decoction helps against diathesis and eczema; hemorrhoids and constipation are cured with a decoction of inflorescences - catkins.

Although alder is not considered an attractive tree, in a number of properties it is placed on the same level as birch and even oak. It is increasingly being used in environmental and economic areas.

This tree is known to everyone thanks to the beautiful “earrings” that appear on the branches in early spring as a sign of the awakening of nature. In addition to its beautiful flowering, alder is famous for its practical wood, which is used in various fields. Among the large number of species of trees in the alder family, the most common are gray and black alder.

Alder has a uniform structure - the core and sapwood are the same color, as well as weakly defined annual rings and wood rays. Fresh logs acquire a bright orange-red color due to oxidation. Later it fades and becomes reddish-yellow or reddish-brown. Gray alder has a lighter shade and better shine than black alder. It also has finer fibers.

Since the tree grows in well-moistened soils along river banks and even in swampy places, it is poorly susceptible to water and moisture. Therefore, the wood does not rot during use, and with prolonged contact with water, its strength only increases. This allows it to be used for the production of piles and the construction of wells.

Alder has high strength, low elasticity, and a density of 550 kg/sq. m. and is considered a medium-heavy tree. Thanks to its soft texture, the wood is easy to cut, saw, plane and process. Alder dries quickly and does not deform, so it is actively used in carpentry. The lumber sticks well to each other and does not crack if screws are used.

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Alder wood is chemically inactive. It can be treated with various paints, stains, varnishes, and polishing compounds. The ease of application of paints and varnishes allows you to imitate various valuable tree species, such as walnut, ebony, cherry and mahogany.

Hardwood firewood

To make a choice, you need to consider each type of firewood separately.

Birch firewood

This type of wood has special qualities, so it is often used to fire saunas. The heat that birch gives is a disinfectant for the room and releases the fragrant aroma of a real Russian bath. In addition, it is also credited with medicinal properties that help speedy recovery during a cold. But birch firewood cannot be kept in woodpiles for more than two years - it loses its properties and begins to deteriorate, turning into dust.

Birch firewood

Dried birch wood, as well as its bark, has a high content of tar, which is a carbon compound, so firewood quickly ignites and burns together, without leaving behind a large amount of ash. Splinters made from dry birch logs are used to light other firewood made from heavier wood. When burning, birch gives off good heat transfer, releasing heat of such intensity that is 22-25% higher than the flame from aspen or pine wood.

Oak

Oak wood for heating a stove is considered an elite fuel, so it is quite expensive. Oak is a hard wood, it burns for a long time and has very good heat transfer, surpassing even birch firewood in this quality. For heating, middle-aged trees are harvested - they are the ones that have the properties described above. Oak firewood produces intense heat and spreads a tart forest aroma throughout the heated room, and this is especially felt if they are used to stoke a fireplace. The steam released by oak when burned, just like birch, has long been considered medicinal by people, especially for children.

Oak firewood

It is interesting that famous Italian restaurateurs and cafe owners, adhering to ancient traditions, use exclusively oak firewood to prepare real pizza, although such wood is rare and has a fairly high price. Firewood from the trunks of fruit trees, such as a pear or an apple tree of a certain age, has somewhat similar qualities, but it is quite difficult to find them in large quantities.

Alder firewood

Alder firewood is popular because it does not require special conditions for drying - it reaches the required humidity on its own. This happens because those alder species that grow in places where the soil does not have excessive moisture are selected for firewood. Such wood can retain its aromatic properties for more than three years, and also does not lose its other positive qualities. These include excellent heat transfer and low resin content - thanks to this quality, it produces less smoke when burning. Therefore, alder firewood has long been often used in bathhouses that are heated in black. Another good quality of this wood is that the evaporation from it helps clean the chimney of soot deposits.

Alder firewood

Alder has more than 25 species, and each of them has its own shade - beige and brown, bright red and almost white. By this feature, it can be easily distinguished from other wood.

If alder is sawed in the yard of the house, then you must place a piece of fabric or polyethylene under the sawing site to collect all the sawdust. They are useful for smoking meat and fish dishes, and they are also good to add to the grill when preparing barbecue.

Aspen

Aspen firewood, just like alder, helps clean soot deposits in the chimney. The flame from this firewood itself does not produce soot, but the rising aspen heat makes the soot already accumulated in the chimney loose, and it begins to separate and crumble into the firebox.

Aspen firewood

However, they also have a huge drawback - aspen firewood burns quickly, giving low heat transfer, so they are not popular and are rarely used, mainly for kindling or cleaning the stove.

Linden

Linden wood, although it burns slowly, gives excellent heat, and therefore good heat transfer. Almost any linden components - leaves, color, bark and wood - are medicinal. Therefore, such firewood was often used in baths - a little honey was added to it, which gave a unique thick aroma to the steam room, which was used to treat lung diseases or long-lasting wounds. After a bathhouse heated with linden wood, the patients were given tea with linden blossom and honey - it cleanses the respiratory system and also removes toxins from the body.

Linden firewood

The disadvantage of linden firewood is their short shelf life - no more than two years.

Poplar and Willow

Poplar firewood

Firewood made from these types of wood burns hot and burns quickly, so you need to buy a lot of such firewood. But they are considered low-grade and not very suitable for heating, so finding them even at a very low price will not be difficult.

Firewood for saunas from deciduous trees

Deciduous wood is more often used to fire a bathhouse than coniferous firewood. Ash, alder, birch, and fruit trees are suitable for these purposes.

Let's look at the brief characteristics of firewood from several species of deciduous trees:

Aspen firewood is not very suitable for heating a bathhouse, since it is difficult to ignite, but burns quickly and produces little heat. Aspen firewood produces a long flame without soot, so they are used mainly for cleaning soot from chimneys. An additional component that increases cleaning efficiency is potato peel. When burned together, aspen firewood and potato peelings loosen dense soot, which leaves the chimney due to draft.

• Alder, numbering more than a dozen species, was used in Rus' to heat baths for the nobility. Such firewood is easy to dry without even creating special conditions for it. The main thing is that the logs were prepared from wood that grew on not very wet soil. Alder firewood does not lose its natural aroma for a long time. The advantages of alder firewood are rapid combustion, a large amount of heat, and no smoke due to the low resin content. The aroma of alder has a beneficial effect on health, helping to overcome colds, depression and fatigue. Like aspen, alder firewood is used to clean soot from chimneys. Alder firewood is considered an excellent option for cooking barbecue. You can read more about this in the article “Features of choosing firewood for barbecue.”
• Linden firewood is slow to ignite but produces an effective, lasting heat. The steam from the linden tree is considered healing, especially if you add honey to the oven and smear it on the patient’s body. This firewood is considered the best for a bathhouse, but has one drawback - it can be stored for no more than two years.
• High-quality oak firewood, selected from middle-aged trees, is considered a prestigious type of fuel. The steam from oak logs is tart, smells like forest and helps against some chronic diseases; it is recommended for maintaining the health of children. Oak wood is ideal for burning fireplaces.
• Birch firewood has antibacterial properties. The steam in a bathhouse, heated with birch firewood no older than two years, is light, aromatic, good for the respiratory system, and helps fight colds.

Birch wood is hard, and in terms of heat transfer it is second only to oak, significantly surpassing aspen and pine. To get rid of soot clogging the pipe, aspen logs are added to the stove after burning with birch firewood.

• Willow is an affordable, rapidly renewable wood. It burns hot, burns out quickly, does not smoke, and requires significant supplies.
• Wood from fruit trees - cherries, pears, apple trees, plums - is a fairly common option for heating a bathhouse. Such firewood is fragrant, burns hot and smokeless, especially apple wood. Essential oils are used to enhance and change the aroma. If you can use old fruit trees with rotten cores to heat a house, then this option is not suitable for a bathhouse.

After choosing the type of wood and cutting the logs, you need to take care of their proper drying and subsequent storage. To do this, set up a woodpile in the open air or in a shed near the bathhouse. Firewood is laid upside down and not directly on the ground, but on a stand made of beams and poles. You can read more about the methods and features of drying lumber and firewood in the article “How to dry wood correctly.”

Coal

I mentioned this type of natural fuel for a reason, because firstly, coal is the most natural wood firewood - albeit very “old”, and secondly, despite the fact that it does not occur naturally on the surface of the earth , they can sometimes be acquired in field conditions - near rural boiler houses (where they are dumped in a heap or even lying on the road) and on railway lines (where they spill out of cars). I know fishermen who have used it many times (especially during the USSR).

• Fire power: 2.79 de.
• Calorific value: 10500 kWh/m³.
• Combustion temperature: 1000 °C.
• Burning time: very long.
• Flame: even, hot, with characteristic smoke.
• Difficulty of lighting: the highest. Under the coal, you will first have to make a small fire from ordinary firewood.

How to properly store firewood?

Buying high-quality wood is not the most important thing, since firewood must be stored correctly so that it does not lose its original properties for a long time. Let’s say right away that it won’t take much time to arrange a storage space, although people with creative inclinations turn a woodpile (as this place is called) into a decorative decoration for a country plot.

In order to preserve the wood, it is necessary to take into account the following nuances.

• The first and most important point: you cannot set up a woodpile in a low area where moisture can accumulate. If this is not taken into account, then soon the wood will become damp again and begin to rot. And here there will be no time to decide what kind of wood is best to heat the stove with - the wood located in this kind of woodpile will not produce strong heat, and when burning it will emit an unpleasant odor.
• Logs that are stacked in rows must be effectively ventilated, therefore, they must be stacked at a certain distance relative to each other.
• Finally, the place for storing firewood should be protected from precipitation, which is why it is often covered with a canopy or roof on top. Although there is an alternative option: lay the firewood in such a way that precipitation cannot penetrate inside the laid rows.
• For good ventilation and, as a result, drying of the wood, those trees that are cut down in winter do not need to be put in a woodpile for at least another five to six months. This way the fuel will always be ready for the heating season.
• Wood cut in spring/summer needs to dry much longer (about eight to twelve months). A more specific drying time depends on a number of factors: weather conditions, the location of the firewood at this time, the level of air humidity and the number of warm days per year.

If we talk about convenience for the owner of the site, then the following factors are taken into account.

• In order for firewood to burn quickly, it must be dried and permanently maintained in a “dried” state. That is why a special building is built - a woodpile - and the firewood is stacked in a special way.
• The location of the woodpile itself should be chosen so that it is located near the house - a person should quickly and conveniently collect a new portion if necessary at any time of the year and in any weather.
• Finally, all firewood should be sawed and chopped well in advance of winter. Otherwise, you will have to do this at sub-zero temperatures, which can hardly be called a pleasant activity.

We discussed in detail how to heat a stove with wood in previous articles . Now let's talk about the firewood itself. Many newcomers to the stove business often have questions: what kind of wood is best for their new stove, what kind of wood burns longer. Therefore, I decided to dwell on this topic in more detail.

First of all, about what kind of firewood there is.

Humanity knows a lot of types of firewood. By and large, they traditionally drown everything that burns and that is not difficult to prepare. From peat briquettes to dung (dried manure of domestic ungulates). I won’t focus your attention on the exotic; I’ll list the main ones.

Hardwood _

the most famous:
birch, alder, aspen, oak

beech
and
hornbeam
are also adjacent to them ).
Here you can add linden, poplar, maple (sycamore), ash and elm
(local variations of the name are
elm, birch bark, elm
),
cherry, apple
and
pear
, and also
willow, acacia
and
walnut
.

Coniferous _

the most popular:
spruce
and
pine
.
They are adjacent to fir and, in places, larch
and
cedar
.
Yew
and
juniper
, although also conifers, can be considered more exotic.

The listed tree species differ in density

(and therefore the weight) of the wood, and
resin content
. Density affects the rate of combustion. The denser the wood, the slower it burns. The same rule applies to various parts of the trunk, or ridge. The closer to the ground, the denser the wood. The butt (the lowest part of the trunk, turning into the roots) is the densest. It pricks harder and burns longer. Woodworkers know this property of the butt well and use it as the best part of the trunk.

The resinous nature of conifers is also good for producing heat - the resins make this firewood hotter. Logs with resin are very good for kindling wood chips - they set quickly and less of them are needed to ignite the stove. However, resins emit more soot and are thought to clog the chimney faster. True, the conclusion is not clear-cut. If you choose the correct design of the furnace and the optimal combustion mode, that is, allow the resins to burn completely, excess soot can be completely avoided. In any case, residents of the taiga zone have been using them for centuries and do not complain.

Based on their density, rocks can be divided into three groups:

Soft

: pine, spruce, cedar, fir, poplar, aspen, alder, linden.

Medium hard

: birch, cherry, plum, elm, juniper.

Solid

: oak, hornbeam, beech, maple, apple, pear, ash.

Here is a table (Table 1) of the relative densities of different types of wood. The density of one cubic meter of oak is taken as a unit. And so we see that spruce, for example, is one and a half times larger than oak. In other words, one ton of spruce is one and a half times larger in volume than one ton of oak.

What kind of wood to heat the stove with?

For practical needs about firewood, we need to know several parameters.
There is such a concept: the calorific value of fuel, that is, the amount of heat generated by a particular rock. Specific calorific value is the amount of heat per unit weight or volume of firewood.

It is worth considering that the calorific value of firewood

of different breeds per unit
weight
is almost the same; however, per unit volume, denser, heavier wood produces significantly more heat. For example, birch firewood provides 20-30% more heat than pine firewood.

I will give another table (Table 2)

Calorific value of firewood of different types of wood per unit volume. Species are grouped according to wood density groups.

The calorific value of firewood also depends on its humidity (Table 3). The relationship is inverse: the drier, the more heat you can get. The optimal humidity is 20-25%. Diagram of this relationship. Damp, freshly cut firewood usually has a moisture content of 50% or more. That is, freshly cut raw firewood gives off almost three times less heat than dry firewood.

A simple conclusion follows from this dependence: the firewood must be dry. It is ideal for them to dry for a year, outside under protection from precipitation or in a spacious, ventilated woodshed. Then the firewood will acquire the required humidity and the effect will be optimal.

Why do we need these numbers, graphs and diagrams - all these details?

Knowing the properties of wood, it is easier to choose the right ones, if there really is a choice.

conclusions

Most often you drown with what is more accessible. Well, we don’t have oak forests in the Vladimir region. Once upon a time, perhaps there were - individual trees can be found throughout the forests. And our forests are basically pine, sometimes mixed with birch and, occasionally, aspen. That’s why firewood is always prepared from pine and birch. And north of Moscow, the forests are mostly spruce. Heat with spruce and birch trees, if possible. Once upon a time, larch forests grew in the Kostroma lands. The locals called them “leafworms”. Now all that remains of them are mentions in books. But there are a lot of spruce, birch, and sometimes aspen. This is what they drown there. In the Tver region, alder firewood is not uncommon - there are many damp places that alder loves so much. To the south of Moscow there are more deciduous trees, they are harvested - where there is more. In the mountains of Ciscaucasia there are many oak, beech and hornbeam forests, they are drowned with them. Once upon a time, oak forests in the Oryol region were noisy. Now all that remains are fields and arable lands. In the Moscow region, however, thanks to the efforts of entrepreneurs, you can find all kinds of firewood, even oak. But these are extremes, not typical for the country - there is demand, there will be supply. Well, Siberians can probably sometimes indulge in cedar and larch. Well, not from industrial wood, but at sawmills they also dissolve them, which means that there are trimmings - why not burn them.

Therefore, the answer to our question is quite simple: whatever is easier to get, drown it . Cost plays an important role. Many people buy scraps at sawmills, which are often sold at bargain prices. Well, they saw there what grows more in the area. If lighting a stove is a rare pleasure and amusement, then you can get creative with firewood - get oak wood, already chopped, or birch wood, packed in nets. Well, if you need firewood for life, not for self-indulgence, then you do not disdain anything that can burn, and sometimes brushwood goes into use. Well, of course, the first ones will always be dry birch trees , only those that have not been touched by rot - the birch tree on the street quickly begins to rot and loses its calorific value. True, birch bark remains a high-quality kindling for years. Even in the air.

We’ll talk about how much firewood you need for the season next time.

How to properly heat a stove with wood

How to properly light a stove

Final stage of combustion

Oven overheating

If the wood doesn't burn out

Willow (willow)

It grows en masse along river banks, just like alder - it can be considered fishing fuel. True, in terms of heat transfer it is noticeably worse. It burns out quickly and is only suitable for short-term temporary fires, for example, for producing boiling water or preparing small amounts of food.

• Fire power: 0.56de.
• Calorific value: 2139 kWh/m³.
• Combustion temperature: 480 °C.
• Burning time: short.
• Flame: smooth, with a slight haze, can sometimes spark or shoot.
• Coals: formed in small quantities, burn out quickly.
• Lighting difficulty: easy.

Types of firewood

Conifers

The wood is resinous, flares up quickly, burns intensely, emits a lot of smoke, smokes, and “shoots.” The chimney quickly becomes clogged with combustion products. They burn hot, but burn out quickly. For these reasons, firewood from deciduous wood is used less often for heating stoves in the house.

They should be used with caution in fireplaces and stoves with open fireboxes.

• Pine. It contains a lot of resin, so the combustion temperature is high. When burned, it “shoots”, scattering sparks and pieces of burning wood. It is not recommended to heat the stove with pine wood (pine). Heat dissipation: Dry – 1700 kWh/m3; Wet – 1500 kWh/m3.
• Spruce. Compared to pine trees, they burn less hotly. It pricks easily, but the blow must be applied exactly to the core, because the knots reach almost to the center, piercing the wood like nails. It is bad to heat a stove with spruce wood; it smokes and smolders.
• Thuja. The disadvantages are the same as those of other conifers. Practically not used.
• Fir. When burning, it emits a lot of thick smoke and sparks. The wood is denser than pine, which means it burns hotter. It's easy to prick. Not very suitable for use in fireplaces and stoves.
• Cedar. A special feature of cedar firewood is its coals, which smolder for a long time. It's difficult to saw, but it pricks well.

Deciduous

It is better to heat the stove with wood from deciduous trees. They smoke less, since they do not contain resin, and spark less. The chimney becomes clogged with soot more slowly than when using coniferous wood.

• Oak. It is a valuable tree; it is a luxury to use as fuel. Rural residents never specially prepare oak firewood. They are covered with trees fallen by the wind (windfall). The quality in this case is worse than that of trees cut down from the roots, but cutting oak for firewood is not good. The amount of heat generated is slightly inferior to ash (from trees growing in Russia). They burn out for a long time; when using them, there is no need to rush to close the stove chimney after burning - they emit a large amount of carbon dioxide, and one remaining ember is a guarantee of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Birch. They are considered one of the best and are widely used. The wood is dense, heat transfer is less than that of oak, higher than that of conifers. It contains a lot of tar, so it flares up well and burns for a long time. Birch bark is an excellent kindling. A lot of soot is formed. May burn damp.
• Alder. People call firewood made from it “royal”. Slightly less hot than birch trees, they burn with almost no smoke. They dry quickly and are stored for a long time without loss of quality. It is recommended to heat the stove with them to avoid soot.
• Linden. Rarely used as fuel, it has a number of advantages. When burned, it forms a special aroma that is good for the respiratory tract. One of the best for baths. It is difficult to ignite, the heat is long and persistent.
• Aspen. When burned, they crackle and produce little heat. A valuable feature is that it burns away soot. It is recommended to heat the stove with aspen to clean the chimney. In Rus', unlike Western Europe, there was no profession of “chimney sweep” precisely because of the periodic use of aspen firewood.
• Willow. Undeservedly valued less than others. Its advantages: accessibility - willow thickets are found everywhere; When burned, they give a light, even heat. In rural areas, many housewives prefer to heat their ovens for baking bread with willow wood. Good for a bath. The disadvantage is that they burn out quickly and require a lot of them to warm up the stove.
• Poplar. It is possible to heat a stove with poplar, but it is ineffective. They're cheap. They generate little heat. Raw ones prick well, but when dry they are very difficult.

Fruit

Logs from apple, plum, and other fruit trees are occasionally used as fuel. When burned, the resulting smoke has a special aroma, which is why they are used for smoking. It is for these purposes that they are stored.

Elm firewood

September 24, 2021 All wood burns, but not all of them work identically. Some produce more heat, burn more slowly and cleaner, and emit a mind-blowing smell. Others burn quickly, smoke, and quickly clog the chimney with resin residue.

But the smoke is not bad in smokehouses, fragrant fruit trees produce delicious barbecue, and essential oils of pine trees have a beneficial effect on us in the bathhouse. This means that the best firewood is the one that can handle a specific task well.

To know what kind of firewood you need to take for a home wood-burning, sauna or hearth stove, fireplace, barbecue or boiler room, you need to understand their features. The main properties of wood (and bark) needed to evaluate them as firewood are:

• humidity;
• ash content;
• density;
• resinousness;
• calorie content (heat transfer);
• causticity;
• shelf life.

Wood humidity

A log that is not dry enough burns poorly, wastes energy on evaporating water rather than heating the air, and produces a lot of soot. For wood used as firewood, the indicator used is relative (rather than absolute) humidity - this is the amount of water that is currently contained in the fibers in relation to their own weight.

The amount of water in dried wood depends on the species, the time it was cut, and the degree and method of drying. It is recommended to cut down a tree for firewood in winter, when it contains the least amount of water. Such firewood will dry to a suitable condition in approximately 6 months; if cut in July, it will dry out only after a year.

Moreover, we must not forget that the bark prevents the evaporation of water from the wood, so thin round trunks also need to be chopped or sawn into pieces.

Logs are dried both in the open air and in special chamber ovens. In chambers at the lowest temperatures you can dry firewood to the lowest humidity and much faster. The extreme method is more expensive, but it provides higher thermal output of the wood. Green wood weighs 70-100% more than seasoned wood.

Dry wood usually has a moisture content of 20% or lower, which can be checked using a moisture meter. If there is no such device, then a method

, which has been used for a long time: when dry logs hit each other, not a dull, but
a ringing sound
.

Density (specific gravity)

This is an ordinary physical quantity that shows how much weight a substance has per normal size (usually per cubic meter). Density depends on the moisture content of the tree, and it itself is the main prerequisite for its calorie content.

The higher the density of the wood, the hotter the firewood it produces.

Less compacted rock is more likely to burn, and therefore it is necessary to restart the furnace many times to heat it to the appropriate temperature.

Based on density, tree species are conventionally divided into 3 groups. The assessment is carried out at a humidity of 12%:

• low-density (up to 540 kg/m3): conifers - juniper, pine, fir, spruce; from deciduous trees - aspen, poplar, willow, linden, alder;
• medium-density (550-740 kg/m3): silver birch, beech, elm, maple, apple, common ash, larch, etc.;
• high-density (750 kg/m3 and above): hornbeam, oak, steel birch, sand and white acacia.

Firewood calorie content

To estimate how much heat firewood will provide, it is necessary to use specific calorific value, which is a value derived from density and calorific value.

According to the calorie content, firewood from tree species growing in the Russian Federation is divided into 3 groups:

1. The most heat (200-350 kcal) is provided by properly harvested and dried firewood from birch, beech, hornbeam, ash, elm, larch, maple, elm and oak.
2. The 2nd group in terms of heat transfer includes firewood from alder and pine.
3. And the lowest-calorie ones are aspen, willow, poplar, linden, spruce and cedar.

Despite the fact that the mass calorific value of coniferous wood is greater than that of deciduous wood, due to its lower density, the calorific value of coniferous wood is less.

Ash content of firewood

Ash is the mineral substances that remain after complete combustion of the organic part of the firewood. The more minerals a tree contains, the more ash it leaves.

The ash content of firewood is measured as a percentage of the total mass of wood fuel. It is divided into internal (from 0.2 to 2.16%), i.e. that which is in the tree under natural conditions, and external (up to 20%), brought in during harvesting, storage or transportation (for example, particles of soil remaining after skidding). Moreover, the second, as we see, is significantly superior to the first.

The ashiest types of firewood are:

• pine – 2.19…1.39%;
• spruce – 2.23…2.31%;
• birch - 2.43...0.52%;
• aspen – 2.73%.

Resin content

Not only conifers have resin, they just have much more of it. For example, birch tar is also tree resin.

The resin content of wood depends on the type of tree, where it grows, the time of cutting and the duration of drying. Hardwoods emit less unburned volatile resins.

Coniferous logs, especially when burned in conditions of lack of oxygen, heavily pollute the chimney and firebox. Birch firewood is also not recommended for pyrolysis boilers. With a lack of oxygen, they release a lot of resinous substances.

Firewood splitting ability

The splitting properties of wood depend on its elasticity and density; the higher the elasticity and lower the density, the easier it is to split.

In general, wet, fresh wood splits more easily than overdried wood, but if it is very wet, it becomes sticky and difficult to split.

But frozen deciduous wood can easily be split even in its dry form, which is why almost everyone recommends cutting firewood in the winter, this is especially true for hardwood.

For conifers, the time of year does not matter; they can be split either in the summer or in the winter. The easiest species to split are chestnut, aspen, beech, and linden. But defects and knots will make it more difficult to split any kind of wood.

Firewood shelf life

Contrary to popular belief, firewood has a shelf life. Coniferous species are stored longer due to the presence of a huge amount of resins in their fibers; deciduous species, including birch, have a limited shelf life.

Only alder and aspen are perfectly stored for more than 2 (3 years) years. After this period, the wood begins to rot, and burning rotten wood is unsafe for health. When burned, it releases toxic substances. There is absolutely not enough time before poplar wood begins to rot. It can only be stored for a few months.

The variation in specific heat generated is explained by such factors as: wood moisture content, storage conditions and period, age of trees, etc.

The best firewood by application

What kind of firewood is suitable for a heating stove?

Firewood for a heating stove must produce a lot of heat, burn for a long time and stably, leaving ash in the firebox and not on the walls of the chimney. Hard deciduous trees have these qualities : oak, birch, ash, maple, and most fruit trees. They do not contain a lot of juice and resin, which means they do not produce soot. In most cases, hardwood leaves after combustion not only ash, but also smoldering hard coals. This allows you to retain heat longer.

Not all deciduous trees make excellent firewood. Aspen, linden and willow are extremely soft woods with low heat output

. However, their characteristics are slightly better than those of most conifers.

Coniferous wood burns so well that it burns out almost instantly, which is why much more of it is needed than hard deciduous wood. At the same time, it can smoke and smoke a lot.

Firewood for the fireplace

Fuel for open home systems does not have to smoke or spark, give off excellent heat, and have a pleasant aroma.

The following species are better suited for fireplace inserts: alder, oak, maple, ash, hornbeam and beech.

Aspen, acacia and fruit trees can also be used for this purpose. Coniferous firewood produces sparks and soot, although it has a pleasant smell. They, like birch, pollute the fireplace chimney with soot.

Firewood for the bath

For a bath, the highest temperature, smell and disinfecting characteristics that certain types of wood emit when burning are important. Good for a bath:

• coniferous species. Their advantage is not in calorie content, but in the phytoncidal properties of their essential oil and pleasant aroma;
• birch. It also disinfects the air, although it is already sterile in the bathhouse, quickly heats the stove and retains heat for a long time
• thanks to the smoldering coals. It also gives off a pleasant aroma;
• alder – quickly heats the room, does not smoke;
• Linden. It aromatizes the air and gives it disinfecting properties, and heats the oven perfectly.

What type of wood should you use to cook pizza?

To prepare pizza, as for any other food, you need firewood that provides a sufficient amount of heat, gives it a pleasant, not repulsive smell, and does not smoke. Excellent pizza can be made using oak, ash, maple, bamboo, cedar, linden, and fruit wood.

Spruce, fir, pine and birch logs are not used for making pizza. Substances present in their composition spoil the taste of dishes.

Which firewood to choose?

Alder firewood

Alder wood and bark can be called all-purpose fuel ; it combines all the positive properties. To harvest alder as firewood, they take trees growing far from water, on hills. Therefore, they simply dry out and are suitable for heating home stoves. They are stored for a long time, but after 3 years they lose their aromatic characteristics, which are so well used in smokehouses.

Alder does not smoke much, which is why it has long been used for heating bathhouses “in black”. It is also perfect for burning in fireplaces. And if you add birch logs to it, it will be even warmer and will burn longer. Alder also clears soot from chimneys.

Oak firewood

Oak firewood is expensive and rare. They are difficult to light, but provide a lot of heat. Even a few logs placed among the rest of the trees will ensure a long burning time. When oak burns, it leaves long-smoldering coals that keep the stove hot.

Oak firewood is fragrant, it is perfect for fireplaces, for cooking pizza and other dishes.

As you know, real Italian pizza is prepared on such logs. But in Italy, oak firewood is extremely rare and expensive, which is why they are replaced there... with grapevines.

But only young oak wood has the properties described above. The older the tree, the less heat the firewood made from its trunks provides. Oak firewood also has another drawback - it leaves a lot of ash after combustion and heavily pollutes chimneys.

Birch firewood

Although this is a fast-growing tree, it is suitable for firewood at the age of 40-60 years. Only then does it provide more heat than pine and aspen.

Birch wood is distinguished by its ease of burning even in under-dried or raw form; its bark contains resin, which is why it is often used to ignite other firewood (for example, aspen or oak). It burns long and hot, but emits a lot of soot that settles in the chimneys.

Therefore, it is recommended to use birch firewood in conjunction with aspen firewood , which is characterized by its ability to clean chimneys.

Since ancient times, birch firewood has been used to fire baths. When burning, they not only perfectly and quickly heat the room, but also disinfect its air. Birch burns one hundred percent, leaving no hard coals at the end.

This type of firewood is not suitable for cooking kebabs and other dishes - the tar imparts bitterness to the food.

Birch firewood is not stored for a long time; it rots after only 2 years, especially if it is left in the open air. Therefore, it’s not worth stocking up on birch forever.

Ash firewood

Ash firewood burns better and hotter than oak wood . This is explained by the structure of their wood. Inside their trunk there are fibrous tubes filled with air, so the tree heats up from the middle outward.

Ash contains little water, dries quickly and burns with an even flame. This firewood does not smoke and does not pollute the stove parts. Suitable for all purposes, except cleaning chimneys.

Linden firewood

Linden ignites with difficulty, but burns intensely and produces a lot of heat. It is well suited for baths . Since ancient times, for healing when heating baths, along with linden, honey was used, burned together with logs. They said that this aromatic combination has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system and helps heal wounds on the skin.

Unfortunately, the health properties of linden only last for 2 years. When stored for the longest time, linden firewood is only suitable for heating a house.

Aspen firewood

Aspen firewood is used to light the stove before laying coal, although the aspen itself must be kindled using birch bark or paper; this process is difficult for aspen.

It is suitable for cleaning chimneys from soot , it does not smoke itself, does not leave a lot of ash after combustion, but it does not produce much heat either.

Due to the cheapness of aspen firewood, they can be used to heat bathhouses and fireplaces, but you will have to burn a lot of them, they will not spoil the barbecue, although they will not add any smell to it.

Aspen is stored longer than birch and splits well when fresh.

Willow and poplar firewood

This is a cheap, and sometimes free (during annual planned cuttings in city parks), but unprofitable type of fuel. Firewood made from these types of wood burns quickly and therefore does not provide much heat. To heat a room with their help, you need to put a huge number of armfuls into the oven.

But you can heat houses and bathhouses with them; they do not smoke or smoke , although they emit a corresponding smell and spark strongly. Poplar is not easy to split, but it is stored for an extremely limited time - only a few months.