WHICH WOOD IS BEST FOR YOUR NEEDS?

Before you decide which wood is best it is vital it has the correct moisture content ie 20% or below, water does not burn well! look for woodsure acredited “ready to burn” suppliers.

Many of us use biomass boilers or wood stoves in our homes. But while some enjoy the look and the feel of the real fire in their home, to get the most out of your heating system you must use the correct wood for your needs.

From various wood stoves, log-fed biomass boilers, we discuss the best wood for different heating systems.

BEST WOOD FOR LOG-FED BIOMASS BOILERS

Log-fed biomass boilers can be one of the most cost-efficient ways to heat a home. This low carbon option is often cheaper than other heating options, and in some properties could benefit from the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

While to optimise your biomass boiler for your specific needs may differ, as a rule of thumb, one should look for larger hardwood logs, around “18.

Hardwood is produced slow-growing trees that lose their leaves in autumn, because of this, these logs have a greater density than faster-growing softwoods from evergreen trees, like pine. They have a higher British Thermal Unit energy potential, thus providing you with a longer burn. For a log-fed boiler owner, this means fewer refills and longer-lasting fire, especially useful over night for when you want piping hot water whilst waking up to a warm house.

BEST WOOD FOR SOLID FUEL STOVES

Solid fuel stoves are an efficient way to produce heat whether direct or with an incorporated boiler for hot water and radiators compared with an open fire.  Today solid fuel wood stoves are highly efficient and can often heat the entire property if used correctly. The ‘high efficiency’ and ‘clean burn’ models can offer over 80% efficiency ( 80% heat goes into room and 20% up chimney), efficiency and can come with integral boilers, so hot water can be supplied as well.

TWO TYPES OF SOLID FUEL STOVES

Mutlti fuel and wood burning stoves are the two types of solid fuel stove.

Multi fuel stoves can burn wood, smokeless fuel and coal.  They have an air intake from below very often the stove will have a grate for fuel to sit on, making them ideal for use with coal.

Wood burning stoves are designed for burning wood only wood burns best when sitting on a bed of ash, with air circulating from the top

As with biomass boilers, the best type of wood to use with multi-fuel stove is hardwood although softwood also works very well, it just burns quicker. Softwood can be useful for lighting the fire and getting up to temperature (ideally 500 0c) quickly due to it being less dense. A rule of thumb is soft wood can burn between 25% and 30% quicker, this is refelected in the price, you just need to put more on the stove!