Not all types of wood are welcome in your wood-burning stove or insert. For an efficient, healthy fire, there are 6 criteria to follow:
- The wood should be hard and not resinous: oak, beech, ash, wild cherry, hornbeam and fruit trees produce beautiful flames, little smoke and lots of embers that glow for a long time.
- Wood should be untreated: treated, varnished or painted wood should be avoided, as it produces toxic fumes and clogs up wood-burning stoves.
- The wood must be dry: if the wood has more than 20% moisture content, it will smoke, clog up and waste energy. If the wood whistles, it's damp! It should be stored in a dry, ventilated place for one or two years before being burnt. A moisture meter is an inexpensive device for testing wood at the time of purchase or during storage.
- If it is split, the wood dries more quickly and its combustion improves the efficiency of the wood-burning insert or stove.
- Logs should not exceed 10 cm in diameter for efficient combustion (and therefore less smoke).
- The wood must be tempered: if it is too cold, it will not burn as well. It is therefore important to let it reach room temperature, close to the stove, before lighting it.
For more information, read our article in which we give you our advice on the right ways to light a wood fire.
