We all know that seasoned hardwood with a moisture level of 20% is perfect for a wood-burning stove. It offers the optimum balance between durability, while creating significant heat, burns very slowly and has a moisture level of 20%. The next question is which types of wood offer these characteristics?
The difference between hardwood and softwood
Before we look at specific wood types, it is worth reminding ourselves of the difference between hardwood and softwood. In simple terms, hardwood is denser which means it burns relatively slowly which creates significant heat. Softwood is less dense meaning that it will burn quicker, create less heat and be ultimately more expensive to use. As the average density of softwood is around half of that associated with hardwood, it burns twice as quickly.
How wet is fresh wood?
We often hear of the need to season hardwood before it is used in a wood-burning stove. When you bear in mind that fresh wood can have a moisture level of between 65% and 90%, there is an awful lot of drying out to do. As we touched on above, the optimum moisture level for wood-burning stove fuel is 20% or under. A word of warning, the level of 20% or just under is perfect for stove fuel because if it is any drier then it will burn quicker and be less efficient from a cost sense. It is not simply a case of making your wood as dry as possible!
Research also shows that hardwood should be seasoned (left to dry) for at least one year if not two. You can check the moisture reading of the wood with a moisture meter which is extremely simple to use. Thankfully, for those who do not have the facilities to dry wood for anything up to 2 years you can buy it pre-seasoned.
Types of wood to consider
It is impossible to list every type of hardwood let alone every type of wood in the world. However, we know from research that various types of wood are more appropriate for wood-burning stoves than others. Some of the types of wood to consider include:
Apple wood
While Apple wood is something more associated with construction and decorative timbers, it is actually a perfect fuel for wood-burning stoves. The fact it is a dense wood means that it burns relatively slowly but creates significant heat. It also emits a relaxing fragrance at the same time!
Ash wood
As the natural moisture level of ash wood is around 66% it does take some time to season to a moisture level of around 20%. As it is extremely common across the UK it is no surprise to learn that Ash wood is one of the more popular wood-burning stove fuels.
Blackthorn wood
While Blackthorn wood may not be the most well-known to the majority of the UK population, it is popular amongst stove users. The fact it is used to carve riding sticks and walking sticks shows it is an extremely durable hardwood. In common with many hardwood fuels, Blackthorn wood burns slowly, creates significant heat but thankfully minimal smoke.
Hawthorn wood
Like many hard woods, Hawthorn wood is probably more associated with construction and decorative furniture. It is commonly used in cabinets, boxes, tool handles and boat parts. However, the fact it is extremely dense, slow burning and creates significant heat makes it just perfect for wood-burning stoves.
Horse chestnut wood
Creating a strong flame and significant heat output, horse chestnut wood is one of the few hardwoods used solely for fuel purposes. As it is readily available across many parts of the UK it also offers excellent value for money.
Maple wood
While maybe not as common in the UK, as the US for example; Maple wood is an extremely hard material which is perfect for wood-burning stoves. It is probably more expensive than the likes of horse chestnut wood but may be something to consider.
Oak wood
Oak wood is probably one of the best-known types of wood in the UK and is commonly used in construction, flooring and even wine barrels. As this hardwood is relatively dense it burns relatively slowly but emits significant heat.
Sycamore wood
Commonly available across many parts of the UK, Sycamore wood is a type of hardwood which makes it perfect for wood-burning and multifuel stoves. The fact it has historically been used on boats, ships and the construction of timber frames perfectly illustrates its strength.
Conclusion
It is not difficult see a pattern emerging when looking at the more appropriate types of wood you should consider for your wood-burning stove. Hardwood is dense, slow burning but emits incredible heat especially under highly efficient stove fuel burning conditions. There are minimal emissions from these types of wood which are burned, re-burnt and re-burnt again during the primary, secondary and tertiary burning stages. As the government continues to crack down on inefficient stoves and fuel which may be potentially harmful to the environment, hardwood will become ever more popular.