I live in the Great Lakes region of the United States, where the majority of homes have at least one fireplace. This is in stark contrast to the real estate featured in the state where I was born and raised—Hawaii. Needless to say, the only fireplaces I saw there were in books.
When I moved to Wisconsin I got a crash course in fireplaces and in firewood. For those of you who buy supermarket bundles and presto-type logs, this blog’s for you:
Types of Firewood
One of the first things I learned about fireplaces in Midwestern homes is that they are often stocked with oak. Generally speaking the most popular burning wood is oak. It burns for at least an hour, smells nice and splits easily, though it tends to be a bit more expensive than other types. Other popular types of firewood include ash, beech, cherry, dogwood, elm, hickory, maple, pine, and eucalyptus (it really depends on the region of the country you reside).
Sources of Firewood
Source counts. And here’s why: According to the National Chimney Sweep Guild, a company which specializes in firewood sales typically dries wood for 15 months before selling it, whereas supermarket brands are usually dried for three months and they will sell it wet, which is why you get the popping and the spitting. Also, some dealers kiln-dry their wood, while others fumigate it to rid the wood of termites.
If you want quality firewood experts recommend knowing your dealer and making sure he or she has a license and sells only properly dried wood. You can call your local National Chimney Sweep Guild for a quality reference. (After all, there’s nothing worse than getting ready for a romantic fire and discovering your supply of wood is wet and non-burnable.)
In my next blog, Firewood 201, I will discuss firewood measurements (what is a cord?) and provide tips on where to store your purchase.