How to Choose Firewood for Your Fireplace

Choosing firewood may seem as simple as picking up a bundle and bringing it home, but the type and condition of the wood can make a noticeable difference in how your fireplace performs.

The right firewood can provide a longer-lasting fire, produce less smoke and help reduce the buildup of creosote in a wood-burning chimney. Poorly seasoned or inappropriate wood can be harder to burn and may create more smoke and residue.

Whether you use your fireplace occasionally for ambiance or rely on a wood-burning appliance for supplemental heat, knowing what to look for can help you make a better choice.

What Makes Good Firewood?

Good firewood is generally dry, seasoned and appropriate for your fireplace or wood-burning appliance.

The most important factor isn’t necessarily the name of the tree. Moisture content matters enormously.

Firewood that has been properly dried burns more efficiently than freshly cut or wet wood. Wet wood can hiss, smoulder and produce more smoke because some of the heat from the fire is used to evaporate the water contained in the wood.

For seasoned firewood, look for pieces that:

• Feel relatively light for their size
• Have cracks developing across the ends
• Have a duller, weathered appearance
• Sound hollow or give a sharper sound when two pieces are struck together
• Are dry rather than damp on the exposed surfaces

A moisture meter designed for firewood can provide a more reliable measurement than appearance alone.

Hardwoods vs. Softwoods

One of the first decisions you’ll encounter when buying firewood is whether to choose hardwood or softwood.

Hardwood

Common hardwoods include:

• Maple
• Oak
• Ash
• Beech
• Birch
• Hickory

Dense hardwoods generally provide a longer-lasting fire and are often preferred when you’re looking for sustained heat.

Softwood

Softwoods include species such as:

• Pine
• Spruce
• Fir
• Cedar

Softwoods can be useful for starting fires and for shorter fires because they generally ignite more readily.

That doesn’t mean softwood is inherently bad firewood. Properly seasoned softwood can burn quite well when used appropriately.

Which Firewood Burns the Longest?

Dense hardwoods generally burn longer than less-dense woods because there is more wood fibre packed into a similarly sized piece.

Oak and maple, for example, are popular choices when homeowners want a longer-lasting fire.

However, species isn’t the only consideration. A large piece of properly seasoned wood will behave differently from a wet piece of the same species.

Dryness, piece size, wood density and how the fire is managed all affect burning performance.

Why Seasoned Firewood Matters

Freshly cut wood can contain a considerable amount of moisture.

Seasoning allows much of that moisture to leave the wood before it is burned.

Burning wet or insufficiently seasoned wood can result in:

• More smoke
• Difficulty maintaining a fire
• Less useful heat
• More incomplete combustion
• Increased creosote formation

For wood-burning fireplaces and appliances, properly seasoned firewood is therefore an important part of responsible operation.

How Dry Should Firewood Be?

For most wood-burning appliances, firewood with a moisture content of 20% or less is commonly recommended.

The most dependable way to check is with a moisture meter.

If you’re buying firewood, ask the seller whether it has been properly seasoned and what its approximate moisture content is.

If you’re checking your own wood, split a piece and measure the moisture content on the freshly exposed interior surface rather than simply testing the outside of the log.

Don’t Judge Firewood Only by the Bark

A piece of wood can look dry on the outside while still retaining significant moisture inside.

This is one reason simply leaving logs outside for a few months doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ready to burn.

Splitting the wood helps expose more surface area to air and allows moisture to escape more readily.

If you’re seasoning your own firewood, split it to appropriate sizes before stacking.

How Long Does Firewood Need to Season?

There isn’t one universal seasoning time.

Drying time depends on factors such as:

• Tree species
• Log size
• How the wood is split
• Climate
• Sun exposure
• Air circulation
• How the wood is stacked
• Starting moisture content

Some firewood can take considerably longer than a single season to dry adequately.

Instead of relying solely on a calendar, check the wood’s moisture content before burning it.

How to Store Firewood Properly

Even properly seasoned wood can absorb moisture if it is stored poorly.

Keep firewood:

• Off the ground
• Protected from rain and snow
• In a location with good airflow
• Loosely stacked rather than packed tightly
• Away from damp areas

A roof or cover over the top of the wood can help keep precipitation off it while allowing air to circulate through the stack.

Avoid wrapping an entire woodpile tightly in plastic. Trapping moisture can interfere with drying and encourage mould.

Don’t Store Large Quantities of Firewood Against Your House

It may be convenient to stack firewood directly against the house, but it’s better to keep the main woodpile away from the building.

A woodpile can provide shelter for insects and other pests, and keeping firewood against the exterior can also make it easier for unwanted pests to reach the house.

Store only a practical amount near the fireplace and follow local fire-safety recommendations for clearances.

Be Careful About Bringing Firewood Into Your Home

Firewood stored outdoors can harbour insects, spiders and other pests.

Rather than bringing a large supply indoors, bring in only what you expect to use relatively soon.

Never treat firewood with pesticides, gasoline or other chemicals before burning it.

Buy Local Firewood When Possible

Moving firewood can also move insects and diseases that affect trees.

In Canada, restrictions can apply to moving firewood from certain areas, particularly where invasive pests or forest diseases are being controlled.

If you’re buying firewood, ask where it came from and check current Canadian Food Inspection Agency restrictions before transporting it across regions.

Buying local firewood can also reduce the risk of inadvertently moving pests to a new area.

What Firewood Should You Never Burn?

Not everything made of wood belongs in a fireplace.

Avoid burning:

• Painted wood
• Pressure-treated lumber
• Plywood
• Particleboard
• Construction scraps
• Wood containing adhesives
• Plastic-coated materials
• Household garbage
• Cardboard with coatings or inks
• Pallets unless you know exactly what they contain and that they are appropriate for your appliance

Treated and manufactured wood products can contain chemicals or materials that aren’t intended to be burned in a residential fireplace.

Use only fuel that your fireplace or wood-burning appliance is designed to burn.

What About Christmas Trees?

A dried Christmas tree can burn extremely quickly because of its structure and resin content.

It isn’t a good substitute for ordinary firewood.

If you’re disposing of a Christmas tree, follow your municipality’s collection or recycling program rather than putting the tree into your fireplace.

What About Pine?

Pine sometimes gets a bad reputation as fireplace wood.

Properly seasoned pine can be burned in an appropriate wood-burning appliance. The important issue is that it should be dry and burned according to the appliance manufacturer’s instructions.

Pine can ignite quickly and may be useful for getting a fire started, while denser hardwoods are often chosen for longer-lasting fires.

The old idea that burning pine automatically causes dangerous chimney buildup is an oversimplification. Burning wet wood and operating a wood-burning appliance improperly are more important concerns.

Choose the Right Size of Firewood

Firewood should be appropriately sized for your fireplace or stove.

Pieces that are too large may be difficult to ignite and may not burn efficiently.

Pieces that are too small can burn very quickly.

Follow your appliance manufacturer’s recommendations for maximum log length and appropriate loading.

A mixture of smaller pieces for starting the fire and larger pieces for maintaining it can be useful.

Inspect Your Chimney Regularly

Choosing good firewood is only one part of fireplace safety.

Creosote is a combustible deposit that can accumulate in chimneys when wood is burned. The risk can increase with factors such as burning wet wood, incomplete combustion and poor chimney draft.

Have your chimney and venting system inspected and cleaned as recommended for your fireplace or appliance.

If you notice unusual smoke, poor draft, excessive creosote or changes in how your fireplace operates, have the system assessed by a qualified professional.

Install Working Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Every home with a fireplace or other fuel-burning appliance should have properly functioning smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Test alarms regularly and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for battery replacement and alarm replacement.

Carbon monoxide is particularly concerning because it cannot be seen or smelled.

If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the home and call 911 or your local emergency service from a safe location.

A Simple Firewood Buying Checklist

Before buying a load of firewood, ask:

Is it seasoned?
Find out whether the wood has been properly dried.

What is the moisture content?
A seller who can provide a moisture measurement gives you more useful information than simply saying the wood is “dry.”

What species is it?
Knowing whether you’re buying maple, oak, birch, pine or another species helps you understand how it is likely to burn.

Where did it come from?
Ask about the source, particularly if you plan to transport the wood.

Is it the right size?
Make sure the pieces will fit your fireplace or stove.

Has it been stored properly?
Wood exposed to constant rain and snow may not be ready to burn even if it was seasoned previously.

The Bottom Line

The best firewood for your fireplace isn’t necessarily the most expensive wood or a particular species.

Look for properly seasoned, dry firewood that is suitable for your specific fireplace or wood-burning appliance.

Dense hardwoods such as maple and oak can provide longer-lasting fires, while properly seasoned softwoods can be useful for starting fires or shorter burns. Regardless of species, moisture content and proper burning practices are important.

Store your firewood off the ground with good airflow, avoid burning treated or manufactured wood products, and keep up with chimney maintenance and carbon monoxide protection.

Choosing the right wood is a small part of fireplace ownership, but it can make your winter fires easier to manage, more enjoyable and more efficient.