At Firewood Ireland, our logs are -

• Quick and easy to light
• Kiln dried with moisture content less than 20%
• Provides optimal heat output
• Carbon neutral
• Low ash content
• Grown from sustainable forest
• High Heat Output – 10 million BTU’s per cubic meter

We have worked out that you would need to use 3 untreated logs to 1 of our Kiln Dried Firewood logs.

Moisture content

When wood is cut down its cells are full of water, typically about 60% of the wood weight is water. A 1kg log of fresh wood will contain about a tea mug's worth of water.

Such wet or 'green' wood does not burn well, but worse, it wastes most of the heat it produces in simply making steam. Worse still, the steam dissolves-out flammable, acidic tars which will cling to, block up, and can very rapidly damage, a stove and chimney. 

Almost all problems associated with burning wood are caused by damp fuel. To burn effectively, wood needs to be dried out, 'seasoned', to a maximum of 15 to 20% water.

The draught depends on four things.

1. Heat

The gases inside the chimney must stay VERY hot, or they will not rise. Large voids inside the flue mean a large area of masonry to cool down the gases, especially if their outer surface is outside the building and exposed to the cold. Efficient modern stoves release less heat into the flue and therefore their chimneys need special consideration.

2. Height

The higher it is, the more draught will be generated. For typical domestic chimneys and appliances in Ireland, Document J suggest a height of about 4.7 meters of straight, smooth, insulated chimney above the appliance. Less than perfectly sound chimneys will need to be taller to compensate. 

3. Route 

The entire route from fire to chimney terminal needs to be smooth, straight and vertical wherever possible. Where bends absolutely cannot be avoided, they should be very gentle (say a maximum of 2x 45º) and the chimney height increased by at least a meter to compensate. The flue needs to be absolutely sealed, without the slightest tiny crack at any point which might let cool air in. 

4. Air supply

There needs to a route by which outside air can enter to replace the volume being lost up the chimney. While this can sometimes be provided by air leaking in through doors, windows etc., it is often necessary to fit a purpose-made air vent. An extractor fan, or another fuel-using appliance, even in a different room, can remove this air and compete with your appliance.

Best type of wood for burning

In general ash, oak, beech, birch, sycamore, hornbeam are all excellent firewood. All Conifers such as pine burn very hot when properly air dried. Alder, willows and poplars have traditionally been considered poor firewood due to their high moisture content and tendency to smoulder in an open fire. Remember that some types of tree make better firewood than others, and not just any wood should be used in your fire..