| Whether you are using firewood to heat your home, | | | | can tell if wood is more dense by it's dry weight. The |
| or for a campfire, the type of wood you burn will | | | | heavier the wood the more dense it is and the more |
| make a difference. The type of wood that will be | | | | heat it will produce. |
| the best to burn will depend on what you will be | | | | Hardwoods tend to be more dense than softwoods, |
| using it for. | | | | but not all of them. There are some low density |
| All types of wood will burn, except for wet wood. | | | | hardwoods and they burn more similar to softwood. |
| The most important factor in burning wood is to | | | | Softwood is easier to light and usually burns with |
| make sure your wood is dry. Wet wood will | | | | bigger and more intense flames. But there is less total |
| eventually burn, but only after the fire has dried it by | | | | heat in softwoods and they burn faster. |
| evaporating the moisture out of it. This makes wet | | | | Dense hardwoods are popular for wood stoves |
| wood hard to light because the evaporating water | | | | because they radiate steady heat over a long time. |
| cools the wood. Dry wood is much easier to light, | | | | They produce a nice bed of coals that may still be |
| produces more heat, and less smoke and creosote. | | | | hot long after the flames have died. Less dense |
| It's also lighter in weight and easier to handle. | | | | softwoods are great for starting fires and getting |
| As long as your firewood is dry, it's hard to go | | | | quick heat. They are also good for fires where you |
| wrong. With any dry wood you can light it and it will | | | | want nice flames like a campfire or an open fireplace |
| burn and put off heat. But different types of wood | | | | for the atmosphere it provides. |
| have different burning characteristics and some are | | | | All wood is good wood to burn as long as it's dry. |
| better suited for some burning needs than others. | | | | Both hardwood and softwood have their advantages |
| The main difference in wood is the density. Dense | | | | and disadvantages. For me, I think it's best to have |
| wood will usually burn longer and put out more heat. | | | | some of both. |
| This is because dense wood is less porous and has | | | | Learn more about burning firewood logs. |
| more actual solid wood with less air space inside. You | | | | |