Our homes are our havens. A place of comfort and happiness. Our own little world within a world. This idea becomes even more apparent during the winter. We open and close our front doors. Warm air wraps itself around us. Our bodies start to relax in the soothing heat. We’re home. There are many fuels you can use to keep your place nice and toasty. So today, we’re going to take a look at wonderful wood, more specifically the best wood to burn in a log burner.
What is the Best Wood for a Wood Burner?
The common misconception is that any wood will do. We burn wood and obtain fire and heat right? Not exactly; you see not all wood is created equal. Much like how you need to put the right petrol in your car, you need the right wood in your log burner for optimal performance.
The Drier The Wood, The Better The Burn
The best wood for stoves and burners should be as dry as possible. It’s basic chemistry; essentially the more internal moisture within your wood, the more inefficient and colder the burn. This is because most of the energy from combustion will be used up to evaporate the water, rather than being converted into heat.
Wetter wood also contains more impurities and volatile compounds. So when it burns, it emits more smoke which can lead to tarring, as well as a creosote build up in your burner chimney or flue. Over time this will damage your log burner, lowering overall performance.
Top Tip – What’s the best and driest wood for your wood burner? You should be burning wood with an internal moisture level of 20% or less. Big K Kiln Dried Hardwood logs and compressed heat logs are ideal.
The Denser The Wood, The Longer The Burn
Wood is a tissue composed of interwoven fibres. So the denser the wood, the more fibres – meaning there’s more available wood ‘material’ to burn. This means your fire will burn for longer and produce more energy that can be converted into heat. When you consider these two characteristics, denser wood is a more economical and efficient choice of fuel.
Top Tip – What’s the best wood to burn with the highest density? We’d definitely say that hardwoods are the way to go. This is thanks to their higher fibre count.
What Kind of Hardwood is Best For Your Log Burner?
While the world of wood is wonderous, there are countless species with varying internal moisture levels, depending on how the logs are produced. For some, this can be a little overwhelming when it comes to choosing the right logs for a log burner or stove. We’re here to help make things a touch easier.
Take a look at the two reference tables below, highlighting some of the best dry hardwoods and their burn characteristics, as well the internal moisture levels of different kinds of logs.
Some of The Best Hardwoods for Your Log Burner
| Species of Hardwood | Heat & Smoke | Wider Burn Characteristics |
| Oak | Strong heat with little smoke. |
Burns slow and sready to ash. |
| Birch |
Medium to strong heat with little smoke. |
Burns quicker with a pleasant aroma. |
| Beech |
Medium to strong heat with medium smoke. |
Burns streadily but can spit embers when burning. |
| White Ash |
High heat with low smoke. |
Strong flames and a longer burn time. |
| Maple |
Medium heat with low to medium smoke. |
Medium burn time and slightly above average flames. |
| Elm |
Medium to high heat with medium smoke. |
Medium to long burn time. |
| Walnut |
Medium to high heat with low smoke. |
Medium to above medium flames with a pleasant aroma. |
Internal Moisture Levels For Different Kinds of Logs
| Type of Log | Drying Process | Internal Moisture Level (%) |
| Seasoned | Natural outdoor drying over a period of years. | 22 - 35% (Depending on Seasoning Time) |
| Kiln Dried | Heated in special kilns at high temperatures. | 10 - 20% |
|
Compressed |
Wood fines and other biomass fines and compressed at extremely high pressures, removing the majority of internal moisture. | 6 - 9% |
A Quick Recap
To wrap everything up in a concise manner; we’d say that Kiln dried hardwood logs and compressed heat logs are the best wood for stoves and wood burners. The material density and the internal dryness are there – meaning longer, hotter and more efficient burns.
Hunting For Wood For a Log Burner? Big K Has It Covered
Looking for wood for your log burner? There’s no need to grab your axe and head for the forest, simply go online and check out the heating section at bigkproducts.co.uk. We have all kinds of logs, from Kiln dry hardwood logs and compressed heat logs to instant light logs. You’re sure to find the best wood for your wood burner or stove.
Here's a Little More Info on What You'll Find.
Big K Kiln Dry Logs FSC®
Our Kiln Dry logs are a classic, versatile and hard-working choice. We’re talking FSC® certification, a cleaner, longer, burn and sub 20% internal moisture levels. We don’t need to convince you about our Kiln Dried Logs – we’ll let the product do the talking. Cast your eyes on the details below. Oh, if you’re on the hunt for extra value, you can go big and save big with deals on our pallets and bulk bags.
- Kiln dried hardwood logs, 100% Grown in Britain
- FSC® & GiB certified and Woodsure Ready to Burn accredited
- Consistent moisture level of under 20%
- Easy to light and long lasting
- High heat output with less smoke and a better flame
- Ideal for stoves, chimineas, fire pits, pizza ovens, cookers and open fires
Compressed Heat Logs
Compression holds the key. Our Compressed Sawdust Heat Logs are fully sustainable and super-dry too – hello sub 8% internal moisture levels! When we compress the recycled wood fines at extremely high pressures, even more water is removed, producing a drier log with a hotter burn. Get your hands on some of the best fuel for your wood burner.
- 100% natural compressed heat logs
- Made with no additives or binders
- Only contains by-products of managed forests and recycled wood
- Suitable for fireplaces and stoves, leaves little ash
- Under 8% moisture level with no sparks or spitting
- 12 logs per pack
We hope you’ve found all the information and insights useful. Now you know the best wood for your log burners, stoves and fireplaces; we’re sure your home will be even cosier this winter. Stay tuned for another blog to warm your spirits coming soon. Happy heating all!