Why You Should Never Burn Unseasoned Wood

You should never burn unseasoned or green wood in your fireplace, because it contains a much higher volume of water than seasoned wood. When the moisture content is at 25% or more, it will be duly regarded as unseasoned wood. It can take a couple of years before the moisture in the wood is finally reduced to be considered seasoned wood.

  • What are the risks

Since unseasoned wood has more moisture, it does not burn as hot or as effectively as properly seasoned wood. This affects the efficiency of your fireplace and ultimately impacts all areas of performance. Burning unseasoned wood also can increase creosote build-up.

  • What you should do

You can help prevent future issues with your wood burning fireplace by ensuring you have your chimney swept by a professional. The frequency of sweeping will depend on how much you use your fire. Although even seasoned wood does contribute to chimney residue, it produces less residue than if you were burning unseasoned wood.

  • Ventilation

The flue system for your slow combustion wood burning fireplace must always vent outside and have a cowl on top of the flue run. If you are unsure, you can always contact a professional fireplace expert in Melbourne to come and have a look at your fireplace and offer you suggestions.

  • Cleaning

There are some maintenance tasks that you can complete as a fireplace owner, such as cleaning out ash from the firebox, and cleaning the glass. Always consult your owner’s manual for information on how to perform these tasks.

Understanding which firewood is the best for your fireplace is essential when wanting to strike up a nice warm fire and one that is both efficient and safe. If you need more information or want to get in contact with a professional wood fireplace expert in Melbourne, consider Quadra-Fire as your heating solutions specialist.