Firewood: which wood burns best?
Not all wood is suitable for burning in a wood-burning stove.
Make sure the wood you are burning is dry enough; the ideal moisture content is between 16% and 20%. Never burn
Burn wet and/or treated wood, the latter is prohibited and causes a lot of nuisance.
Wood types
Beech & ash wood
Beech and ash wood dry relatively quickly and are easy to find. It is tough and hard and provides slow combustion and good heat, which is why the types are especially suitable for larger stoves. With this wood you have beautiful, clear flames.
Birch wood
A deciduous tree with soft wood that takes on a grayish hue when dried. Kiln-dried birch wood is particularly beautiful to look at and to burn. A type of wood that causes little pollution of the flue due to its clean combustion. The wood also burns easier, especially the bark catches fire quickly, easy wood, which also provides a nice fire with 1 or 2 logs in the stove or fireplace. A major advantage of birch wood is that it does not splash, which gives you a safe feeling.
Oak
This type of wood must first be stored uncovered for two years and then dried for another two years before it is flammable. But then you can really enjoy it. Oak wood burns for a very long time, produces beautiful glowing embers and gives a quiet fire.
Alder wood
A lighter type of wood that burns well, but faster than other heavier types. It therefore releases its heat more quickly to the environment. This makes alder wood extremely suitable for soapstone stoves that are fired exclusively for heat.
Wood from fruit trees
This is popular wood, because it is excellent fuel, but difficult to obtain. A disadvantage is the relatively small trunks that are difficult to split. This means it takes much longer for the wood to dry properly. Fruit tree wood provides a beautiful and peaceful fire.
Softwood
The wood of conifers gives off a lot of heat, but burns out very quickly. It also causes embers to splash and the resin in the bark can cause pollution in the chimney.
Softwood is often used as kindling because it burns quickly and easily.