Getting the right fuel for your wood burning stove can mean a more enjoyable experience, less maintenance and even big savings. Following are some of the reasons to consider kiln-dried firewood for your wood burning needs.
Time – it can take many months to properly season firewood to the optimal 20% humidity level needed for good firewood. Kiln-dried firewood offers the benefits of dry fuel in less time because the wood is placed in a large oven-like structure to dry thoroughly.
Smoke Reduction –– because kiln-dried oak can contain as little as 10% moisture on the outside and less than 15% at the middle, there is almost no water to create a lot of smoke. Smoke is not just unpleasant to those in that vicinity, it is also bad for your wood burning stove or chimney. The more smoke the more chances of a hazardous creosote buildup. So, this means a longer lasting fireplace and improved fire safety as well.
Higher Heat –– logs that contain too much moisture will not produce as much heat. This is because all that heat energy is being applied to removing the moisture from the wood. With kiln-dried firewood, the moisture has already been removed and is therefore capable of producing higher temperatures.
Longer Burn Time –– a longer burn time is another good advantage for a suitable choice for fuel. Longer burning fuel supplies mean that the fire will not need to be maintained as frequently and also means more heating is provided from each log of fuel. So this means more bang for your buck!
Unseasoned wood is basically a very poor fuel and this is because the moisture content of an unseasoned logs means a superb deal of the energy, which is released during combustion, is simply wasted. We don’t want this, and that’s why kiln-dried firewood can be the answer. Kiln drying reduces the moisture content from around 50-60% in unseasoned wood, right down to 15-25% in seasoned hardwood logs. This percentage change makes an incredible difference to the fuel efficiency of the wood as combustion releases more energy more effectively. The reduced moisture content in seasoned kiln dried logs means not only is it much easier and quicker to light a hearth , but the fireside also will burn much hotter and for extended because the combustion is much more efficient.
Conclusion
Of, course, the cost of a kiln-dried logs are bit higher than the regular seasoned wood. But, when you consider all the advantages of kiln-dried firewood in both the long and short term, this additional cost is offset by energy and fireplace saving benefits.
