Once again winter is approaching, making the next few weeks and days the best time to shop for hardwood logs. You will agree and support the fact that: this type of logs have previously proven to be extremely reliable in turning up the heat as well as providing adequate lighting. Take note, even though lighting up a log might seem like such a simple task, it is important to make sure that you use the correct type of wood. For instance, it is strongly advised that you always use dry logs, the question, therefore, is how dry should these logs be?
The best thing to do when out shopping for logs is to buy yourself a simple moisture meter. These devices are usually very affordable (costing around £20 on average). They are very important in helping to make sure that you shop for dry logs in the sense that they are specifically designed to test the actual moisture content of individual logs.
Speaking of the moisture content, always keep in mind the fact that: anything around 20% dry is fine for use, though the lower the moisture percentage the better. Take note, drier wood has been proven to provide more heat and leave behind fewer residues. This means, by using dry logs, expect to do very little cleaning of your log burner, if any.
When out shopping, it is also strongly advised that you focus on choosing hardwood logs as opposed to softwood logs. The main reason for this is simply because the former serves as a guarantee for higher calorific value as well as a longer burn time which is unlike the latter (in this case : softwood logs).
Besides the type of wood and level of dryness, another very important factor to take into consideration is the size of the logs. The best logs are those which are not more than 10cm in diameter and easily split. In case you come across any larger logs, be prepared to split them once or twice again since this is the only way you will be able to make sure that they burn properly.
Logs, in general, have been found to be a wonderful solution for an eco-friendly source of heat. In addition to all of the above, you should also be aware that it is way better to shop for logs in volume rather than by weight. This is because according to reports: between 35% and 65% of the weight of all freshly felled wood is usually water. Speaking of wet wood, know that poplar is by far one of the wettest woods and ash is one of the driest. Take note, trying to burn wet wood would only result in the production of steam, very little heat and worse off make the chimney extremely faulty not to mention polluting the immediate environment.
The good news is that seasoning has been found to help significantly reduce the moisture content of logs. Simply put, any wood that is felled during one winter season should be seasoned all year until the next season in preparation for use. In the process of seasoning, the logs should be stored under cover and in an airy place. Everything taken into consideration, do not shop for any wood whose moisture content is anywhere above 30% especially if you urgently need it for use during winter.