Bath product that saves firewood – tested

In order for the stove to heat the room quickly and evenly, and for the fire in the fireplace to delight you with an even flame and pleasant warmth, you need to choose the right wood for heating. And an important selection criterion is the size of the logs.

Owners of stoves and fireplaces often notice: even with the same volume of fuel, some wood burns longer, some faster, and, for example, branches burn two to three times faster and, moreover, produce two to three times less heat. This is due to the fact that thin twigs and finely chopped logs are not capable of sufficiently heating the room when burned. But there are also difficulties with large-format firewood: they take a long time to flare up, and it’s inconvenient to put them in the firebox. What size of firewood is best for the stove and fireplace?

A couple of phrases about calorific value

In terms of its chemical composition, wood is a rather complex material. It contains the main components - lignin and cellulose. But besides them, the tree contains:

• resins;
• proteins;
• tannins and other ingredients.

When logs burn in a stove (or simply when trees burn in a forest), these components interact with the air at a chemical level. The calorific value of wood (as well as any fuel), or thermal conductivity, is the amount of thermal energy that a unit of weight of the fuel material (in our case, 1 kg of wood) produces during combustion. Kilocalories are used to measure quantities.

The chemical composition among most tree varieties has minimal variations, which causes differences in the number of calories emitted. That is, the heat of combustion of some types of firewood can be as follows:

• for deciduous species the figure is 4460 kcal/kg;
• for coniferous species - 4560 kcal/kg;
• for mixed breeds – 4510 kcal/kg.

As you can see, the differences are minimal. At the same time, it is easy to understand that it is better to use coniferous wood for the stove due to its greater thermal conductivity. Only firewood is supplied to the market depending on volume, not weight. That is, the main criterion for choosing firewood is cubic meters. Density plays an important role here, because the higher it is, the heavier the wood.

For example, let’s take 1 cubic meter of birch logs as a starting point. Then the ratio of the volume of different rocks will look like this:

• oak logs - 0.75 cubic meters. m;
• alder logs - 1.1 cubic meters. m;
• pine logs - 1.2 cubic meters. m;
• spruce logs - 1.3 cubic meters. m;
• aspen logs - 1.5 cubic meters. m.

That is, 1 cubic meter of birch and 0.75 cubic meters. m of oak logs, 1.1 cubic meters. m of alder wood (and so on) will produce the same amount of heat. Knowing this, now, depending on how much firewood costs, you can get profitable savings for yourself.

What are the alternatives?

In addition to the types of wood listed above, peat briquettes are popular. Their advantage is that they do not need to be chopped, dried or otherwise prepared for burning.

Sawdust can be used instead of lump wood. But you still need firewood. With their help, kindling is carried out, followed by sawdust, which should make up no more than a third of the total volume of fuel.

Breed characteristics

The dense structures of deciduous trees are suitable for producing good heat in the firebox. They burn brightly, generating a lot of heat in the process. The trunks of fruiting trees smell pleasant when burned, which makes them indispensable in fireplaces and open hearths.

The smell of smoldering mass depends on the content of esters, resins, and tanning components. Oak releases tart tannins, rosewood scents the space with vanilla, and backout feels about the same.

Coniferous trees have an intense flame, but when burning they emit more smoke than deciduous trees. When using them, the walls and ceiling of the room, as well as the inside of the chimney, become clogged faster. The smell of turpentine, which comes from pine and spruce, spreads into the room.

Oak in the hearth

Initially, oak is considered as a valuable wood for production, so discarded trunks or measured waste are used for fuel. If we talk about full-fledged logs, their cost is high, so such options are rarely used.

It is better to burn with wood cut from middle-aged and not very old trunks. This guarantees long combustion and release of a large amount of energy. Young specimens give off a not too intense heat, and the room in the house has the smell of smoldering wood. Old trunks will leave a lot of ash in the residue, while the energy released is weaker.

Burning quality logs releases a tart aroma with added forest notes. It tones the body, relaxes the nervous system and has a beneficial effect on health. Oak wood is completely suitable for fireplaces and stoves.

Linden for bath

When burned, linden wood produces an even heat throughout the entire process. This is the kind of combustion that is required when heating steam rooms and baths. The raw material is used to maintain uniform temperature in the heating compartment.

Linden firewood emits a sweetish odor that is beneficial for the respiratory organs. It is difficult to ignite raw materials in the firebox, so torches and thin logs are used. Firewood is stored for two years, then its properties begin to decline. The calorific value of linden firewood is 2040 kcal, which is not enough to fully heat a house. Sometimes fuel is used in stoves for cooking.

Birch logs

In terms of density, birch is equal to oak, therefore it is a high-quality fuel for stoves. Its ability to transfer heat is lower than that of valuable wood, but is a quarter higher than that of coniferous trees. When burned, the raw material gives an even flame and does not emit sparks. In terms of calorific value, a cubic meter of birch firewood replaces:

• 1.15 m³ alder, pine;
• 1.3 m³ spruce;
• 0.76 m³ oak logs;
• 1.52 m³ aspen.

The disadvantage is the admixture of resin in the wood, most of which comes from the bark of the trunk.

Logs are placed in the stove, after removing the top layer. The soot released during smoldering clogs the chimney and narrows the working channel of the exhaust gases. When burning birch fuel, a unique smell is felt; volatile substances disinfect the atmosphere and prevent respiratory infections in households. By analogy with linden, birch is stored for only two years.

Birch firewood

Application : for stoves in the house and bathhouse for heating and creating a pleasant aroma.

Birch is a hardwood species. If the affordable cost of raw materials, heat and burning time are important to you, then this is the best option.

"Pros" of birch

• Doesn't cause any trouble in preparation . The fibers, although strong, are located longitudinally, so chopping birch firewood is not difficult.
• It has a pleasant and healing aroma . When burned, it disinfects the air. Helps prevent colds and has a beneficial effect on the body as a whole.
• Flames easily . The logs are covered with birch bark, which is highly flammable. The fire passes from it to the log itself. For quick kindling, place the firewood with the birch bark side down. It is not difficult to light a birch tree, even if it is damp.
• Gives good heat . In terms of thermal characteristics it is second only to oak. Burns with an even flame and does not spark. Long combustion and high calorific value allow you to warm up the room using less wood.

"Disadvantages" of birch

• Doesn't last long . After two years of storage, it loses its aroma and begins to rot.
• Gives a lot of ash . This is the main reason why birch is not often used for making barbecue. The ash scatters and settles on pieces of meat.
• Contains a lot of tar . This is a combustion product that is harmful to health and clogs the walls of the chimney, settling on them in the form of soot and soot.

Soot deposited in a thick layer can ignite and cause a fire. As it accumulates, it narrows the passage of the chimney, which impairs draft and increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition, excess soot increases the load on the firebox, and it breaks down faster. To avoid clogging the chimney, it is recommended to combine birch firewood with aspen wood.

Peat

Often you have to decide what to heat the stove with besides wood. We have to abandon this excellent type of fuel for some completely objective reasons. Alternatively, peat and coal briquettes can be considered. Despite the fact that their nature of origin is the same, their properties and calorific value are different.

In order for fuel to be used directly, it often has to be pre-treated, dried, crushed, or chopped. Peat contains a lot of water inside, so it needs to be dried. But when dried, it crumbles and becomes not so much unusable as inconvenient to use. Therefore, it is pressed with the addition of sawdust into special briquettes.

The main parameter for each type of fuel is its specific heat of combustion. It shows how much useful energy can be obtained if a fixed amount of fuel is completely burned.

Peat in a crumbly state
For peat in various variants, this value does not exceed 17 MJ. However, we cannot evaluate some physical quantities by their absolute value, so for comparison we present a fragment of the table of values.

Ready-to-use peat briquettes

The amount of heat in MJ released by the following types of fuel:

• coal - 27.00;
• brown coal - 12.98;
• anthracite coal - 28.05;
• peat - 12.10;
• peat in briquettes - 17.58;
• peat in the form of crumbs - 10, 84.

Peat in large briquettes

Main types of woodpiles

There are several types of stacking logs. You can choose any one that you like.

1. You can stack the logs in the form of “sheaves”. In this case, you are freed from the need to build a woodshed. Long-term storage firewood is suitable for this type of installation. The first row of logs should be placed just above the ground to protect the wood from moisture. The base has the shape of a circle. Firewood must be ventilated. There is a special pole in the center of the sheaf to hold the entire structure. Such a sheaf will serve you for a long time.
2. Small woodcutter. As a rule, they are installed if firewood is needed extremely rarely.
3. Large size woodshed. Suitable for houses that are heated exclusively with wood. Such a storage facility will have enough firewood for several years to come.
4. In the form of a “mushroom”. For this type of installation, logs chopped into boards are suitable. This type of installation requires a lot of time and preferably experience.

In order for the firewood to light better, it must be brought into the house in advance so that it can adapt to room conditions and dry out. As a rule, special shelves are installed next to the stoves, where about two stacks of firewood are always stored.

Coal

Coal is of natural, not man-made origin. In some regions of Russia, coal is mined, which is enough not only to supply the domestic market, but also for sale abroad.

Good to know: How to properly heat a stove with coal, basic rules

But coal is divided into several types, which differ in the age of its formation. It is not difficult to guess that higher quality rocks differ in the duration of their occurrence in the layers. There are three types of coal classification, although the same grades are involved in each.

1. Classification by formation time. In this division, four types of coal are distinguished: lignite, brown and hard coal, and anthracite coal. These breeds are listed in order of increasing age. They also differ in physical properties. Lignite is presented in the form of crumbs, since it is not able to hold its shape. Brown coal is also not very durable, but it can already be used in home stoves. Although its calorific value is far from its analogues. Hard coal is the most common and accessible type, and anthracite is considered the highest quality rock.
2. Classification by humidity and content of volatile compounds. In this gradation, known rocks follow the same sequence. Their humidity decreases from 40% to 5%. A similar picture emerges with volatile substances. In this division, anthracite occupies an advantageous position.
3. Classification by calorific value. We had to introduce the calorific value parameters earlier, so it makes no sense to duplicate the indicators. It should only be emphasized that this classification is decisive when choosing fuel for a home stove.

Basic principles of furnace firing

In order to understand how to properly heat a stove, you need to become familiar with its internal structure and how to control the intensity of the fire in the firebox.

Device diagram

Any stove, boiler or fireplace consists of three main parts:

1. Firebox.
2. Heat exchanger.
3. Pipe.

• The firebox, or combustion chamber, serves to create a controlled fuel combustion process. It is a conditionally closed space intended for burning combustible materials - wood, coal, peat, etc. A necessary condition for the manufacture of a combustion chamber is high heat resistance.
• The heat exchanger is the part of the furnace through which the heat of the burned fuel is transferred to the environment. This could be the boiler coil or just the furnace wall. The main task is to convert the thermal energy obtained from the combustion process into another form: to heat the air around the fireplace or the liquid inside the boiler. In fireplaces, as in a fire, infrared radiation plays the role of a heat exchanger.
• The pipe serves to remove smoke generated during the combustion process. And also to create thrust - accelerated movement of air flow, which promotes combustion. The pipe is the prototype of all turbines that are used today in both ordinary cars and spacecraft. The higher the pipe, the greater the power of the furnace.

Diagram of the Russian stove

Control is carried out using 4 controls.

Two doors - one for the combustion chamber, the other for the blower. Chimney damper (or damper) and view.

The combustion chamber door is designed for placing firewood, coal, and briquettes into the firebox. In working order it must be tightly closed. For this purpose, it is equipped with a locking device in the form of a bolt or latch.

The ash door is one of the main levers of influence on the combustion process.

With its help, the supply of oxygen-enriched air into the combustion chamber is regulated. When lighting wood, it closes tightly. As the combustion process stabilizes, it opens and remains in this state for the entire duration of the fire. If we draw an analogy with a car, this is the accelerator, the gas pedal.

The view is installed directly at the transition from the firebox to the pipe. With its help, you can regulate the outflow of smoke, as well as separate the firebox from the chimney after the fuel has burned out. This allows you to keep the house warm longer during the cold season. For the manufacture of views, cast iron is traditionally used, which can withstand significant temperature changes for a long time. The frame is mounted in brickwork, on top of which a lid is placed, and then a pancake.

Recently, the view has been used less and less. Stove makers prefer to install another additional valve instead. The advantage of the valve is that it is easier to control the flow of smoke, your hands do not get dirty with soot, there is no need for gloves (touching the view with your hands without gloves can lead to burns).

Classic cast iron viewer for a Russian stove

The chimney valve is installed on the pipe after the view and is a device for regulating the exhaust gases. In interaction with the view, the valve serves to optimally adjust the combustion process. In addition, in harsh climatic conditions, with the help of a chimney valve, the best operating conditions for the pipe, which is susceptible to frost and acid corrosion, are achieved. If the stove chimney is made of brick, then a cast iron valve is installed, consisting of a frame and a slider. If the pipe is metal, the valve is made of the same material.

Russian chimney valve in a Russian stove

Features of furnaces using coal

The vast majority of real stove models that we remember from our grandparents were adapted to use wood and coal. This averaging of the design was carried out on purpose, because it was difficult to predict what would have to be used to heat the stove in each specific season. However, if you take a detailed approach to the construction of the furnace, then these options should differ.

The temperature inside the firebox when burning coal is much higher than when burning wood. This leads to the fact that the walls of the metal firebox are strengthened using thicker sheets. The volume of the firebox increases due to the lower location of the grate. The ash pit is built to be larger in volume, since the amount of ash when using coal is much greater than that of firewood.

Getting ready to light the oven

How to properly heat a stove with coal, wood and other fuels in the house - instructions and recommendations

In addition to fuel, preparatory work should be carried out and special tools should be purchased.

Required materials and tools

In order to make the furnace fire safe and comfortable, special devices and tools were invented. With their help, a whole set of simple actions are performed to ensure conditions for normal operation of the furnace.

• Axe. One of the most ancient instruments. With its help, houses were built and firewood was collected. Using an ax, it is good to chop wood of the required size and cut wood chips.
• Poker. An indispensable tool for laying and screwing firewood (or other fuel) into the stove. This handy poker is made of metal but has a wooden handle. It comes in different lengths, which should be selected in accordance with specific operating conditions. A properly selected poker should easily penetrate between the grates to clean it from ash.
• Metal scoop. Needed for regular cleaning of the oven. The size of the scoop is selected based on the size of the blower - the shovel should fit freely into the opening of the blower door.
• Metal tongs. A very convenient tool that allows you to manipulate all the hot parts of the stove - the doors of the firebox, the ash pan, the wood basket in the fireplace, etc.
• Grip made of heat-resistant material. As a rule, it is made in the form of a mitten for the right or left hand. It differs from a regular mitten in that it is made of materials that are resistant to combustion and do not conduct heat well. The grip is protected on top by a special fiberglass fabric and filled with heat-resistant cotton wool inside. With its help, you can safely move the valves on the chimney without fear of getting burns. A high-quality grip is made of a material to which soot practically does not stick.
• Metal bucket. Serves to clean the ash cavity from ash and ash.

Set of tools and accessories for the fireplace

Fire safety rules for the operation of stove heating and preparatory work

In order for the stove to serve for many years and not cause trouble, certain rules must be followed. They were “invented” by life itself, which forces us to treat the stove not only as a source of heat, but also as a potentially dangerous unit. Careless handling of fire can lead to disastrous and even tragic consequences.

Folk sign. If in a house heated by a Russian stove, the next morning your eyes become watery or sour (as with conjunctivitis), it means carbon monoxide is seeping through the cracks in the stove. The stove needs repair. And until it’s done, you can’t leave the heat in the stove overnight; you can only heat it during the day. It is recommended to ventilate the room before going to bed.

First of all, the stove must be in good working order; there should be no cracks, sagging or poorly closing doors. The furnace pipe must comply with the standard dimensions. It is best to cover the floor in front of the firebox with a metal sheet. The recommended size is 1 m from the blower door. Firewood should be stored out of the area of ​​possible ignition.

You need to light a fire with small wood chips, birch bark, and paper. Starting with low heat, gradually bring the oven to operating mode.

It is strictly forbidden to use flammable liquids such as gasoline, alcohol, or diesel fuel for ignition. It is acceptable to use dry alcohol in tablets.

Dry alcohol in tablets

Before each new firebox, the cavity of the combustion chamber, grate bars and the space of the ash compartment must be cleared of ash and ash. Only under this condition will the oven function optimally.

The chimney should be cleaned at least once a year.

If the stove has been idle for a long time, the first time it needs to be prepared for regular heating. To do this, paper is burned in the firebox. You need to burn it until there is a stable draft in the chimney. Views and shutters should be as open as possible. The blower is covered, the thrust is created by the nozzle of the fuel chamber.

Video: how to light a brick stove at the dacha

Only after this should the main portion of firewood be laid. Laying methods can be varied, but the basic rule is that the distance between the logs should be such that air can freely flow around the fuel from all sides. Usually this is about 1–2 cm. In this situation, the firewood begins to burn together, releasing maximum heat.

Correct placement of firewood in the firebox is the key to long service life of the stove.

How to properly heat a stove with wood: the “black” method

At the beginning of lighting the stove, the amount of firewood is small, just enough to get stable coals. Approximately, this should be a layer 30–35 cm from the grate plane. If the kindling is made with peat or granulated briquettes, the layer may be smaller - about 15–25 cm.

If the combustion process has become stable, the next portion can be added only when the fuel has burned down to 50%.

Premature intervention (scooping, adding new firewood, etc.) can extinguish the flame of the fire.

When laying a new portion of firewood, it is recommended to completely close the vent so that smoke does not penetrate into the living area. As the chimney warms up and a stable draft forms, the ash door is gradually closed.

The color of the flame can be a good guide. The best heat transfer rates will be when the fire emits a light yellow color. If the color is red, it means the combustion temperature is low. The firewood may not have been dried enough. A white glow indicates excessive draft, similar to that created in a forge using bellows. In this case, you can close the blower door or reduce the cross-section of the pipe using a valve or view. Combustion at high temperatures leads to the fact that the heat, without having time to warm up the heat exchanger, flies into the open space of the street.

Optimal combustion mode of wood in the furnace firebox

In order to increase the efficiency of the furnace unit, you should carefully monitor the position of the doors and valves. Thus, it has been experimentally established that when the combustion door is not closed, up to 45% of the heat evaporates into the surrounding external environment. The door is only 1 mm poorly closed. reduces furnace efficiency by 10%. Therefore, always after adding fuel, it is necessary not only to close the door, but to close it tightly using locking mechanisms. Among other things, this will help prevent sparks from flying from the firebox into the living area, which is likely to lead to a fire.

The duration of combustion of the stove depends on the type of fuel used.

When using wood-burning materials, it is recommended to fire for 1–1.5 hours. The approximate temperature of the furnace walls is optimal in the range of 75–85 degrees. Higher temperatures have a negative impact on the masonry, leading to the gradual destruction of bricks and binder mortar.

If the combustible material is coal, the burning time of which is longer, the whole process is extended to 2.5–3 hours. During this time, the stones should completely burn out, only the non-combustible part of them, the so-called ash, will remain in the firebox.

The combustion process ends after the combustible materials have completely burned out. Evidence of this is usually the absence of a blue final flame, in which the residual carbon monoxide burns. At the final stage, it is recommended to clean the firebox and ash pan, close all doors tightly and reduce the draft in the pipe to a minimum using valves. If everything is done correctly, the stove will give off heat to the living space for a long time, maintaining a comfortable air temperature.

Secrets of lighting a stove

Many people tend to mistakenly evaluate fuel by the ease of its ignition. It will not be possible to light coal without firewood; in addition, the ignition process itself must be carried out correctly. This contributes to a long service life of the stove.

The stove must be inspected externally every time you intend to light it. Substances or objects that are easily flammable and were accidentally placed nearby are first removed to a sufficient distance. Before kindling, the chamber and ash pan must be cleaned, removing unburned food. To prevent small particles of ash from flying around the room, it is recommended to pour a little water into the ash pan.

Household waste containing plastic or bitumen cannot be used for kindling, as they cause the formation of large amounts of soot in the chimney. The firebox door and the ash pan should not be open in pairs. This rule is useful, since when kindling you have to adjust the draft.

Coal is usually stored indoors, but moisture may not be excluded. In this case, it must first be dried. When wet coal is burned, all the water in the form of steam goes up the chimney. A large amount of soot settles on the wet surfaces of the pipe walls.

Crumpled old newspapers are placed on the grate. Small wood chips can be placed on top of them. Wood logs are stacked in a hut or a well, depending on your habits. After this, we light the stove by closing the firebox door and opening the ash pan.

When the firewood begins to burn out and the first hot firebrands form, you can add a portion of small coal, after which larger pieces are gradually added. When burning coal, you should close the chimney damper, this will save heat. But remember that when the damper is closed, there is a high probability of filling the room with carbon monoxide. Watch the flame, a blue tint indicates that it’s time to open the damper.

General requirements for storing firewood

Regardless of the chosen option, the firewood must be well-dried and cut down last year, we have already found this out. All logs should be the same length, of average thickness - in this case, the amount of valuable ash will be optimal.

Note! To get really high-quality ash, you need to use sawdust and old, dried wood. If we talk about birch trees, their ash contains about 8 percent phosphorus, 15 percent potassium and 38 percent calcium. But the ash from willow firewood can even contain up to 45 percent calcium.

Primary requirements

The best firewood for heating stoves is dry. Humidity should be within 20%. This is the main requirement. The calorific value of wood depends very much on its moisture content.

Dry wood flares up and burns well, emits more heat, and smokes less. The logs should not be rotten or saturated with water. Water logs are not suitable for heating stoves.

Good firewood leaves little ash. It is advisable to harvest wood in late autumn or winter, when sap flow stops and the wood is denser.

The size of firewood for the stove depends on the size of the firebox, usually 35-40 centimeters long. The thickness is medium, thick logs split. Small logs are easy to light. They also burn quickly, which must be taken into account when preparing them.

Furnace operating mode

To get a lot of heat from good firewood, the wood in the stove must be burned correctly. This means that combustion must be properly organized. The most rational (fast and economical) mode is considered to be “bottom combustion”. The firewood in the firebox is stacked in such a way that the stack burns from top to bottom. To do this, there are thick logs at the very bottom, smaller ones above them, and branches, chips and paper at the very top.

The draft in the furnace is variable during the operating stages. When kindling, the draft in the stove is increased due to the opening of the damper on the chimney. Over time, the damper and doors in the oven become closed. This mode is effective in generating heat and saving firewood.

Bottom combustion in the furnace firebox

During normal operation of furnaces, overheating should be avoided. For this is the main reason for their destruction. Brick heat-intensive stoves are not designed for long-term fires. The correct heating mode consumes one firebox of wood, and the stove heats normally.

Overheated stove

Rare types of firewood

Oak

– the best firewood for the stove. The wood is dense, burns for a long time, gives high heat transfer, and is very economical, because compared to other firewood, much less is consumed to heat the same area. Due to its high cost, it is often used as an additive to other wood. A pair of oak logs will make the burning more intense and longer.

Good oak firewood comes from middle-aged trees; when burned, they release a pleasant tart aroma. Oak firewood is ideal not only for stoves, but also for fireplaces.

Excellent, but also one of the most expensive - alder

firewood. They burn hot, without smoke or soot, spreading a pleasant aroma.

Alder cannot be confused with any other firewood; when cut, it has a color from yellow to deep red. Perhaps this is the best firewood for a fireplace; it burns with a mesmerizing, even flame of a beautiful color. A big plus is that alder firewood lasts a long time and can be stored for future use for 5-6 years.

Rare firewood includes linden

. Although linden is common, linden firewood is rare. The wood is hot, although it takes a long time to burn, but then the stove heats up very quickly. The aroma that comes from linden when burned has healing properties. A bathhouse heated with linden firewood is useful for colds, diseases of the bronchi and lungs, and has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin.

Regardless of what type of firewood you purchase, make sure that the wood is not rotten. The benefits of rotten mushrooms are zero. In order for the wood to burn, giving off maximum heat, it must be dry. Undried wood burns poorly, produces a lot of smoke and little heat.

For thousands of years, our ancestors used wood (firewood) as fuel. And today, despite the widespread use of natural gas or coal, they remain a popular type of fuel.

Coniferous (pine, spruce) firewood

Application : for stoves (with strict adherence to safety precautions, since firewood sparks strongly, and coals can fall out of the firebox; regular cleaning of the chimney is also required); for a bath.

In our latitudes, the most common conifers are spruce and pine. Therefore, it is these species that are most often meant when you are offered a machine of coniferous firewood. They are inexpensive, but don’t rush to rejoice. They are far from ideal for kindling.

"Pros" of conifers

• They flare up quickly and give off a lot of heat . Pine is superior to spruce in terms of heat transfer due to its higher resin content. However, this wood also produces more soot.
• They crackle pleasantly when burning . The characteristic crackling sound from burning coniferous trees cannot be confused with anything else. It creates a special coziness in the house, especially on cold evenings.
• They have a pleasant aroma . Conifers are valued for their unique aroma, which has a positive effect on the upper respiratory tract. It is better to add pine “relaxants” towards the end of the kindling.

"Disadvantages" of conifers

• They burn out quickly . You often have to add wood to the firebox.
• They smoke heavily when burning . Due to their high resin content, they form a lot of soot and soot.
• Create a fire hazard . The spruce “shoots” sparks, and the pine smokes.

The radius of fire from spruce sparks is quite high, so when lighting the fireplace, remove all flammable materials from the “affected zone.” Safety precautions should also be observed when heating the stove, because... Coals may fall out of the firebox.

Folk tales

Superstitions and beliefs circulate among the people. For example, it is believed that it is better to prepare firewood for a bath during the waning moon. Moreover, the thinner the sickle, the stronger the logs are endowed with healing powers. Once upon a time, the Slavs believed that people who left the world turned into maples in their lives. The appearance of its leaves is akin to open palms, and its branches represent hands raised to the heavens. For this reason, they never fired maple stoves.

In the old days, residents of the Tambov province heated their stoves exclusively with apple trees to keep the house warm throughout the winter, including especially frosty days. Whether to believe all this or not is everyone’s business, but what happened was what happened.

How to heat correctly?

To reduce wood consumption and improve combustion, the stove maker advised doing the following:

1. You need to put logs into the stove that are approximately 5 cm shorter in size than the length of the firebox. If, when preparing firewood, you make it approximately the same size, it will be much easier to burn.
2. The logs are laid in such a way that there are gaps for air.
3. Although the stove can, in principle, be heated with raw wood, this is fraught with the release of tar with smoke and in considerable quantities. In this regard, it is better to deal with dry fuel (no more than 25 percent humidity).

And finally - about how to start lighting the stove.

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Which ones are best for the oven?

Any wood can be used as fuel. The main thing is that they exist. Each region has its own preferences, depending on what trees grow in the area. Many people believe that birch or alder are the best. The choice is yours.

To the bathhouse

The choice of logs for heating a sauna depends on the design of the stove. Many people prefer:

1. Alder. They produce a persistent heat and burn almost smokelessly. There is a popular belief about their healing power;
2. Birch. Burns evenly, the heat is strong;
3. Willows. The heat transfer is low, you will need a lot of them, but the spirit in the bathhouse will be especially light.

It is not recommended to use oak ones - they take a long time to burn out, the heat is intense, and they emit a large amount of carbon monoxide. Periodically, aspen is used to clean the chimney. If the furnace firebox is remote, the main selection criterion is heat transfer.

For home heating

Hardwood firewood has the best qualities and is used more often. Birch, oak, linden - any, depending on their availability and needs. The main thing is to be dry. In fireplaces it is better to use those types that smoke less and do not “shoot”.

What is better to heat and what to choose: pros and cons of different types of fuel

There are the following types of fuel for stoves and fireplaces:

• natural gas;
• hard and charcoal;
• diesel fuel;
• firewood, wood briquettes and pellets;
• peat and others.

The choice of a specific type of fuel depends on many factors. These include the region of residence, the area of ​​the premises, the type of boiler or furnace equipment. In addition, different types of combustible materials have different costs, which also affects the final result. If the house is located in a wooded area where there is a lot of natural wood material, there is no point in heating it with expensive imported coal or diesel fuel. And, conversely, in regions where coal is mined, but with a steppe landscape, it makes more sense to use coal.

Each type of fuel has its own advantages and disadvantages. This table shows the most characteristic properties of combustible materials from the point of view of convenience and safety of their consumption.

Table: comparative characteristics of various fuel materials

Among other things, combustible materials can be compared in terms of their coefficient of performance (efficiency).

Table: Efficiency of various energy carriers

The vast majority in our country uses firewood. Despite some disadvantages, firewood belongs to the category of renewable fuels and its resource in the forest zone is practically inexhaustible. Therefore, we will consider the main characteristics of this unique and affordable type of fuel in more detail.

First of all, you need to know that different types of wood produce different amounts of heat when burned. This is due to the density of the wood itself and the amount of moisture contained in them. For example, tree species such as willow, linden, poplar, and aspen contain a lot of bound water, and drying takes a long time (up to 2 years when stored under natural conditions). Procuring them as fuel is not recommended.

The best raw materials for firewood are oak, pine, larch, and birch. Apple, pear and cherry trees burn well, but they are not harvested on an industrial scale. The table below shows data reflecting the calorific value of various tree species.

Table: calorific value of firewood from various tree species

Different calorific values ​​for different types of wood

An important indicator of the effectiveness of firewood is its degree of dryness.

Wood moisture content is considered optimal not exceeding 25%. Raw, freshly cut wood has a moisture content of about 60%. Drying in natural conditions (under a canopy that protects the warehouse from precipitation) lasts from 1 to 1.5 years, depending on the region and climatic conditions.

In this regard, granulated wood briquettes have a significant advantage, which during the manufacturing process undergo forced drying in industrial dryers.

Video: making a sawdust press

Video: do-it-yourself briquettes for heating stoves

The best of the best: fruity, birch and linden

This list is also supplemented by fruit trees: pear, apple tree.
They emit a pleasant aroma and burn well, but it is difficult to make kindling with any hard logs. Birch and linden are considered the best for heating a stove. Birch has a low amount of moisture even in its raw form. Logs can be placed in the firebox without drying, they will still give off great heat and will smolder for a long time. Linden is valued for its healing properties. If you heat the stove with linden wood, you will have a healing microclimate in your house or bathhouse. Linden burns slowly, with good heat transfer. Thus, the best varieties are hardwoods, and of these, birch and linden.

Softwood

Soft varieties of wood melt quickly, but require drying to a residual moisture of 20% and proper storage. These include coniferous varieties. Disadvantages: large amount of resins, high sparkle (with an open firebox the fire hazard increases). As a rule, common types are used: pine and spruce. They are easy to chop and saw, the cost of purchasing this firewood is quite low.

Conifers

These rocks are good for heating stoves. They burn well, but only for a short time. Scattering sparks in all directions creates an unsafe situation.

Pine

Pine firewood contains resin, which contributes to the formation of soot in the firebox and chimney. Working with pine leads to the appearance of tart fumes in the air due to the combustion of resin.

Spruce

Spruce firewood burns just like pine wood. Working with spruce logs leads to the release of essential oils. This is accompanied by toning of the respiratory tract.

How to store it correctly?

To maintain the quality of firewood for a long time, you need to ensure proper storage. No special conditions are required for this; a number of points need to be taken into account:

• The woodpile should not be located in a low place where water can accumulate. Otherwise, the wood may rot.
• Logs should be stacked loosely to ensure good ventilation.
• To provide protection from precipitation, a canopy is made.
• There is no need to stack firewood immediately after harvesting. It's better to do this in a few months.
• It is recommended to store it near the house so that there are no difficulties with access to the woodpile.

How to stack logs correctly

To ensure that firewood remains usable, it must be stacked correctly. To do this you need to adhere to the following rules:

1. If there is no special structure for firewood, and you will be storing it in an open area, place trellises under the firewood.
2. Important point. The first row of stacked firewood should be located two to four centimeters above the ground.
3. Firewood stacked in a row must be laid at an angle to the next row.
4. If there is no woodshed for the woodpile, you need to strengthen the firewood with vertical supports.
5. Be sure to cover the firewood with slate or film on top.

How much does firewood cost?

How much firewood for a stove costs is a question that worries those who do not have the opportunity to prepare it themselves. Their price depends on many factors: wood type, region of residence, humidity, packaging (can be bought in nets).

The price range is wide - from 500 rubles per 1 cubic meter to 3,000 rubles. You will also have to take into account the cost of their delivery. The issue of price is also important for those who prepare it themselves. Self-harvesting is often more expensive if you count the costs of material resources, time, and your own labor.

Birch - traditions should not be broken

Most people are inclined to believe that such firewood is the best fuel for starting a fire in a fireplace, stove or sauna. And all due to invaluable advantages:

• easy to light;
• burn for a long time;
• the flame turns out beautiful and even;
• no sparks;
• copious heat generation.

But the advantages don't end there. Since ancient times, the healing properties of birch have been known. The pleasant aroma has a beneficial effect on the human body, protecting it from colds and chronic diseases. In other words, birch firewood has a disinfecting effect, which causes approval among those who like to take a steam bath.

When burning, logs emit a small amount of carbon dioxide, and this is certainly a plus. But there is also a minus - a high concentration of tar. And this combustion product is no longer beneficial to health. In addition, soot and soot form on the walls of the stove and in the chimney. As a result, over time, not only is traction lost, but the risk of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning increases. Therefore, when choosing this firewood, it is also worth mastering the profession of a chimney sweep, as well as maintaining safety.

But, despite its shortcomings, birch is the most popular, cheapest and most practical fuel.