Firewood is a staple for many people during the winter months to provide warmth to a house. Fires are also used decoratively to provide some ambiance on a cold winter’s night. Read on to learn about firewood so you can be an educated consumer of firewood!

First: The Type of Wood Matters

This subject is a little bit of a conundrum. Yes, the type of wood you burn has an impact on almost all aspects of woodburning from start to finish. Generally, harder woods burn hotter and longer. Softer woods burn faster and produce less heat. Softwoods, such as pines burn fast. Sometimes this wood produces a lot of smoke, making it unpleasant to burn almost anywhere. The Janka Hardness Scale rates wood according to density. This chart can be used to help you determine which species of wood burns better.

Discussing the types of wood that burn best is great. It’s something wood burners should know. If you ever go out into your local forest, you have probably noticed that geographic location pretty much dictates what trees grow where. Consequently, local firewood is usually sourced from local forests. As a result, you probably won’t have a choice of which wood you get. This usually means more hardwoods in the middle and eastern parts of the US. Some venders may separate oak from maple and poplar etc. Logically, there are more softwoods as you go west. In conclusion, you can always ask, but you may not get a choice of wood types.

Second: What Does Seasoned Mean When Referring to Firewood

Bear with me while I do a little explaining. Live wood that was recently cut is usually referred to as ‘green’ wood. It is full of moisture because and will not burn. If it is not pine, it is easy to tell green wood because it smokes: a lot! It is hard to light, difficult to keep lit, and it does not burn hot. Seasoned wood refers to green wood that had been left to dry for a reasonable amount of time. This ensures that the moisture content is low, therefore the wood lights easily, burns hot, and doesn't smoke.  The only caveat to this is if the tree was dead for some time before being cut up for firewood. In this case, it doesn’t require a long time to season, because it seasoned naturally.

It is not always easy to tell if wood is seasoned. If wood looks freshly cut and clean, it may not be seasoned. Also, just because wood may look weathered doesn’t mean it is seasoned either. The only foolproof way is to check the moisture level of the wood. The second-best way to tell is to buy from a reputable vendor.

Finally: Know a Little About Wood Quantities

People sell firewood by all sorts of measures. Some sell it by the full or half truckload, rack or cord. The exact measurement of a cord of firewood is 4’x4’x8’. This is equivalent to 128 cubic feet. Similarly, a half of a cord is 4’x4’x4’ or 64 cubic feet. When buying wood there are two more thing to think about. First, you will get more wood if it is stacked in a truck than if it is just thrown in, assuming you are buying by the truckload. Some vendors will measure the quantity of wood, then load it into a large truck with a machine. Like everything else, there are lots of variables, and few absolutes.

If you are really interested in more detailed information about firewood, check out this link.