When it comes to firewood, there are a few important qualities of the wood and the way it burns to keep in mind. Some of these include the amount of heat given, the length of time the wood burns for, and the smoke that comes off it. While the type and species of the wood has a lot to do with how it burns, there are other factors that apply to all wood; the moisture levels and how clean the wood is.
How does moisture affect wood burning?
Wet wood burns much less effectively than dry wood. There’s a reason water is used to put out fires after all! Fire requires oxygen gas to burn. Water, along with other compounds that extinguish fires, put out fires by removing that oxygen so the fire has no fuel to burn. This means that burning wetter wood is much less efficient. Instead of creating heat, much of the fire goes to boiling out the moisture in the wood instead of creating heat.
Wood with less than 20% moisture content can heat at 5kWh- Wood at 30% moisture content heats about 3.3kWh
- Wood at 40% moisture content heats about 2.7kWh
Wet wood can also be dangerous as well. If you’re able to get wet wood to burn, you’ll notice that it burns with much more smoke than dry wood. Along with extra smoke, wet firewood produces more creosote too. Creosote is a tar-like substance that is difficult to remove and can clog airways and chimney flues. In high amounts, creosote is toxic and can cause respiratory issues and irritation in the skin and eyes.
What are the benefits of clean firewood?
Any commercial firewood not only has a low moisture level, but it also thoroughly cleaned before selling too. Clean firewood has several benefits over dirty firewood; even if it does take a little bit of time to clean up. Some of these benefits are:
- Cleaner burning. Logs found out in nature can have all kinds of contaminants on them. They can have animal by-products, dirt, mud, and other things. Unlike wood, most of these things don’t burn well and can cause smoke and other air pollutants to be released into the air. Clean firewood has fewer of these making the air quality better for you and the people around you.
- More efficient. Clean firewood burns better, and more of it will be used up in the burning process. The fire will stay burning for longer so you won’t have to replace the wood as often when it’s clean.
- And it looks nicer! For most people, aesthetics aren’t the most important part of firewood. But it’s a nice bonus to have, especially if your wood storage solution is part of your outdoor design.
Clean, dry firewood is your best option
Whenever you have the option, going for dry, clean firewood will give the best results. Clean and dry firewood creates minimal pollutants when burning. It is more efficient to burn, with more of the wood being burned for a longer period. You’ll get a better burn that’s longer lasting, which also means a lower cost.
Posch Spaltfix K-540If you’re considering selling firewood on a large scale, adding in a cleaning process can help you have a better-quality wood. We have solutions like the Posch Logfix that removes woodchips, dirt, bark, and splinters. We also have powerful firewood processors to speed up the job like the Posch Spaltfix K-540 that makes quick work of even the toughest logs. To find out more about our firewood processors, give us a call or contact us today.
Posted: 13 October 2020