What kind of firewood is best for heating a stove, tips for choosing the type of wood

To fire a sauna stove and fireplace, you need to choose wood that has good heat transfer and emits a pleasant smell. It is better to give preference to firewood from deciduous trees, since pine and spruce firewood emit acrid smoke when burned, and the resin contained in coniferous wood contributes to the formation of soot in the chimney.

For a sauna stove, you need to choose wood with long burning and high heat transfer. They should not smoke and leave a minimal amount of ash after combustion. The highest quality firewood is obtained from trees cut down in winter, when sap flow in the trunks stops. Firewood must be dry.

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A couple of phrases about calorific value

In terms of its chemical composition, wood is a rather complex material. It contains the main components - lignin and cellulose. But besides them, the tree contains:

• resins;
• proteins;
• tannins and other ingredients.

When logs burn in a stove (or simply when trees burn in a forest), these components interact with the air at a chemical level. The calorific value of wood (as well as any fuel), or thermal conductivity, is the amount of thermal energy that a unit of weight of the fuel material (in our case, 1 kg of wood) produces during combustion. Kilocalories are used to measure quantities.

The chemical composition among most tree varieties has minimal variations, which causes differences in the number of calories emitted. That is, the heat of combustion of some types of firewood can be as follows:

• for deciduous species the figure is 4460 kcal/kg;
• for coniferous species - 4560 kcal/kg;
• for mixed breeds – 4510 kcal/kg.

As you can see, the differences are minimal. At the same time, it is easy to understand that it is better to use coniferous wood for the stove due to its greater thermal conductivity. Only firewood is supplied to the market depending on volume, not weight. That is, the main criterion for choosing firewood is cubic meters. Density plays an important role here, because the higher it is, the heavier the wood.

For example, let’s take 1 cubic meter of birch logs as a starting point. Then the ratio of the volume of different rocks will look like this:

• oak logs - 0.75 cubic meters. m;
• alder logs - 1.1 cubic meters. m;
• pine logs - 1.2 cubic meters. m;
• spruce logs - 1.3 cubic meters. m;
• aspen logs - 1.5 cubic meters. m.

That is, 1 cubic meter of birch and 0.75 cubic meters. m of oak logs, 1.1 cubic meters. m of alder wood (and so on) will produce the same amount of heat. Knowing this, now, depending on how much firewood costs, you can get profitable savings for yourself.

Choosing what is best for a bath...

To understand what you are dealing with, it is correct to compare different options. We have already written about the popular dilemma of choosing between linden and aspen, now we will consider two other pairs that are compared a little less often.

Pine or aspen

Be prepared for the fact that there will be no clear answer. Because first of all, you need to look at the quality of the same pine and the same aspen - there are regions where one is better than the other.

By the way! According to tradition, pine was usually used to build a house, and aspen - a bathhouse.

But it is always difficult to obtain good, functional aspen without rot inside; there is a lot of defects at the selection stage. Here, by the way, is a big piece of advice for the owner of a future bathhouse - check each log yourself when purchasing - so that the core is intact, it suffers primarily from rot.

You need logs - 15-20 centimeters or more, so be careful - trees of this thickness most often have a problematic core.

ON A NOTE! Rotting aspen is accompanied by the smell of vanilla - if you smell it, put the log aside from healthy ones.

In this regard, pine is less susceptible to rot and pests, but it swells greatly from water. And resin is a problem in a steam room.

We do not recommend pure pine without interior decoration of a steam room, so there is no need to say which is better: a bathhouse made of aspen or pine - the choice lies between a pine bathhouse with aspen clapboard inside the steam room or an aspen bathhouse without clapboard trim.

If you prefer a log house in its pure form, if there is no need for additional insulation, then make it from aspen - everything will be fine, it will only become harder later, water “hardens” it.

If there are problems with a good aspen, if you know that a poplar can be slipped in instead of it (they are relatives, the wood is very similar, but its quality is different, aspen grows in a swamp, hence its resistance to water, poplar does not have it), then take a good construction pine , build a log house from it, and protect yourself from resin with a clapboard made of aspen or linden (or other hardwood). See more information about pine here.

Alder or aspen

But here it’s more interesting - both species are deciduous, both are suitable for finishing a pair of rooms. As for a log house, aspen is definitely suitable for its construction, and alder is considered a good interior(!) material - its characteristics are similar to linden.

Therefore, we would risk recommending the following: focus here on the quality of the material. Since there is little good aspen, and specifically in your region there is good alder, you can build from it, but on condition that the lower crowns are made of oak or larch (contact with water and soil for alder leads to rotting).

BY THE WAY! The rule of the lower crowns, that is, making them from more durable and rot-resistant species, can be applied to aspen - only you will do it better.

In addition, the areas under the windows usually rot - this is a reason to take care of additional protection of these areas or to abandon windows as much as possible, leaving only the necessary ones.

In general, in the question of what is better for a bathhouse: alder or aspen, we place our bet on aspen, relying in this, as you already understand, on tradition.

Characteristics of firewood

In order to choose the right type of wood for the firebox, you need to know some of its characteristics. Firewood is distinguished by heat transfer, flammability, ash content and the amount of smoke it produces when burning.

High-quality firewood is distinguished by good combustibility and heat transfer, the ability to produce a minimal amount of ash and avoid excessive smoke. To choose exactly these, you need to pay attention not only to the type of wood, but also to its dryness, since it must contain a certain percentage of moisture.

Everyone knows that logs cut from a freshly cut tree will burn poorly due to excess moisture in them. Therefore, the preparation of firewood, and wood for outbuildings, furniture making and other needs, is usually carried out in the middle of the winter period. At this time, the trees “sleep”, and their trunks do not have such intense sap flow as, for example, in spring or summer.

The dense structures of deciduous trees are suitable for producing good heat in the firebox. They burn brightly, generating a lot of heat in the process. The trunks of fruiting trees smell pleasant when burned, which makes them indispensable in fireplaces and open hearths.

The smell of smoldering mass depends on the content of esters, resins, and tanning components. Oak releases tart tannins, rosewood scents the space with vanilla, and backout feels about the same.

Coniferous trees have an intense flame, but when burning they emit more smoke than deciduous trees. When using them, the walls and ceiling of the room, as well as the inside of the chimney, become clogged faster. The smell of turpentine, which comes from pine and spruce, spreads into the room.

Oak in the hearth

Initially, oak is considered as a valuable wood for production, so discarded trunks or measured waste are used for fuel. If we talk about full-fledged logs, their cost is high, so such options are rarely used.

It is better to burn with wood cut from middle-aged and not very old trunks. This guarantees long combustion and release of a large amount of energy. Young specimens give off a not too intense heat, and the room in the house has the smell of smoldering wood. Old trunks will leave a lot of ash in the residue, while the energy released is weaker.

Linden for bath

When burned, linden wood produces an even heat throughout the entire process. This is the kind of combustion that is required when heating steam rooms and baths. The raw material is used to maintain uniform temperature in the heating compartment.

Linden firewood emits a sweetish odor that is beneficial for the respiratory organs. It is difficult to ignite raw materials in the firebox, so torches and thin logs are used. Firewood is stored for two years, then its properties begin to decline. The calorific value of linden firewood is 2040 kcal, which is not enough to fully heat a house. Sometimes fuel is used in stoves for cooking.

Birch logs

In terms of density, birch is equal to oak, therefore it is a high-quality fuel for stoves. Its ability to transfer heat is lower than that of valuable wood, but is a quarter higher than that of coniferous trees. When burned, the raw material gives an even flame and does not emit sparks. In terms of calorific value, a cubic meter of birch firewood replaces:

• 1.15 m³ alder, pine;
• 1.3 m³ spruce;
• 0.76 m³ oak logs;
• 1.52 m³ aspen.

Logs are placed in the stove, after removing the top layer. The soot released during smoldering clogs the chimney and narrows the working channel of the exhaust gases. When burning birch fuel, a unique smell is felt; volatile substances disinfect the atmosphere and prevent respiratory infections in households. By analogy with linden, birch is stored for only two years.

Aspen in the firebox

It is rarely used, as it takes a long time and is difficult to light. Produces little heat in the fireplace and burns quickly, leaving a small amount of ash. The firewood produces a long, bright red flame without releasing any aggravating substance that clogs the chimney.

Aspen logs are placed at the end of the firebox with resinous firewood. The tree partially clears the channel walls of accumulated soot. Such firewood is not suitable for full heating of a house, so it is almost never harvested.

Alder, poplar, willow

Royal wood flares up quickly in the oven, smolders without smoke, releases a lot of energy and does not contain resinous additions. The pleasant smell is the reason for using alder in a fireplace or steam room furnace. Similarly, it removes soot deposits from the walls of the smoke channel. Good for cooking and barbecuing, smoking fish and meat. It can be stored for about three years without loss of quality.

Firewood from poplar and willow is also prepared for heating. These options are available when other raw materials are unavailable. Low-grade wood provides heat to a room if large quantities are burned. This is due to the fact that due to its low density, the material burns too quickly, but produces little heat. Even the low cost cannot cover the cost of heating a home.

Because of their strong and pleasant aroma, cherry, apple and plum are stored in storage for frying food over an open fire and for use in the hearth.

Coniferous trunks

Due to the resins contained in wood, logs burn intensely, but they smoke and smoke. With constant use of fuel, all the shortcomings of pine firewood appear, so it is necessary to regularly clean the exhaust channel of combustion products. This raw material is almost never used in home heating stoves and boilers, used only when necessary. Pine is widely used for heating baths and steam rooms. Due to excellent combustion, the temperature in the room rises quickly.

The calorific value of coniferous species is about 4920 kcal, provided that dry specimens are used. A kilogram of dried raw materials releases about three kilograms of water vapor. Oils entering the air have a positive effect on the respiratory system and tone the body when in the steam room.

The raw materials are used in fireplaces and open hearths, but the danger arises due to the high sparking of the fuel. Pine logs crack and emit hot particles into the surrounding space, so spruce firewood is often used instead. The pros and cons of fuel are balanced against the background of the low cost of raw materials. The emission of burning sparks is eliminated by installing protective screens made of heat-resistant glass or other materials.

A short excursion into the world of botany

Aspen is often called trembling poplar, and indeed, it has a lot in common with poplar. As a rule, this is a tall, straight-trunked tree with abundant foliage. The dense foliage looks very beautiful in the fall, when it takes on a bright reddish hue. Apparently, it was aspen groves that once inspired Alexander Pushkin during his Boldino autumn.

In the modern world, this tree is a very popular species among municipal green building workers. On the one hand, it grows quickly, on the other hand, it greatly decorates and enlivens the city landscape in the autumn. It is not for nothing that breeders have worked hard and developed various forms of this tree, including pyramidal and dwarf ones, for the needs of urban farming.

The aspen tree has a very developed deep root system, which allows aspen trees to withstand intense continuous forest fires. The distribution area is very wide and starts from the border of the tundra in the north and ends in the forest-steppe. Even in the steppe zone, aspen splinters are a common occurrence. The most characteristic feature of this tree is the slight characteristic noise that the foliage makes at the slightest breath of wind. The reason lies in the wide leaf blade and long thin stalk. That’s why the aspen leaf trembles and makes noise in the wind.

Softwood firewood

For heating a stove or fireplace, hardwood is most often used, which burns for a long time and has good heat transfer. Among them, the first place is occupied by oak firewood, followed by birch, alder, linden, ash and others. In addition to them, firewood cut from fruit trees performs well. Such wood is very often used for smoking products, as it has a special aroma.

Conifers also burn well, but give less heat transfer and a large amount of soot due to a very high percentage of resin.

To make a choice, you need to consider each type of firewood separately.

Birch firewood

This type of wood has special qualities, so it is often used to fire saunas. The heat that birch gives is a disinfectant for the room and releases the fragrant aroma of a real Russian bathhouse. In addition, it is also credited with medicinal properties that help speedy recovery during a cold. But birch firewood cannot be kept in woodpiles for more than two years - it loses its properties and begins to deteriorate, turning into dust.

Birch firewood

Dried birch wood, as well as its bark, has a high content of tar, which is a carbon compound, so firewood quickly ignites and burns together, without leaving behind a large amount of ash. Splinters made from dry birch logs are used to light other firewood made from heavier wood. When burning, birch gives off good heat transfer, releasing heat of such intensity that is 22-25% higher than the flame from aspen or pine wood.

Oak wood for heating a stove is considered an elite fuel, so it is quite expensive. Oak is a hard wood, it burns for a long time and has very good heat transfer, surpassing even birch firewood in this quality. For heating, middle-aged trees are harvested - they are the ones that have the properties described above.

Oak firewood

It is interesting that famous Italian restaurateurs and cafe owners, adhering to ancient traditions, use exclusively oak firewood to prepare real pizza, although such wood is rare and has a fairly high price. Firewood from the trunks of fruit trees, such as a pear or an apple tree of a certain age, has somewhat similar qualities, but it is quite difficult to find them in large quantities.

Alder firewood

Alder firewood is popular because it does not require special conditions for drying - it reaches the required humidity on its own. This happens because those alder species that grow in places where the soil does not have excessive moisture are selected for firewood. Such wood can retain its aromatic properties for more than three years, and also does not lose its other positive qualities.

These include excellent heat transfer and low resin content - thanks to this quality, it produces less smoke when burning. Therefore, alder firewood has long been often used in bathhouses that are heated in black. Another good quality of this wood is that the evaporation from it helps clean the chimney of soot deposits.

Alder firewood

Alder has more than 25 species, and each of them has its own shade - beige and brown, bright red and almost white. By this feature, it can be easily distinguished from other wood.

If alder is sawed in the yard of the house, then you must place a piece of fabric or polyethylene under the sawing site to collect all the sawdust. They are useful for smoking meat and fish dishes, and they are also good to add to the grill when preparing barbecue.

Aspen firewood, just like alder, helps clean soot deposits in the chimney. The flame from this firewood itself does not produce soot, but the rising aspen heat makes the soot already accumulated in the chimney loose, and it begins to separate and crumble into the firebox.

Aspen firewood

However, they also have a huge drawback - aspen firewood burns quickly, giving low heat transfer, so they are not popular and are rarely used, mainly for kindling or cleaning the stove.

Linden wood, although it burns slowly, produces excellent heat, and therefore good heat transfer. Almost any linden components - leaves, color, bark and wood - are medicinal. Therefore, such firewood was often used in baths - a little honey was added to it, which gave a unique thick aroma to the steam room, which was used to treat lung diseases or long-lasting wounds.

Linden firewood

The disadvantage of linden firewood is their short shelf life - no more than two years.

Poplar and Willow

Firewood from poplar
Firewood from these types of wood burns hot and burns quickly, so you need to buy a lot of such firewood. But they are considered low-grade and not very suitable for heating, so finding them even at a very low price will not be difficult.

All coniferous wood is saturated with resins, so it burns very quickly, producing less heat than firewood from deciduous trees. However, when they burn in a steam room, a fragrant smell of pine forest appears, due to the high content of essential oils in them. This air helps cleanse the respiratory system and calms the nerves.

Larch firewood

If we compare pine with spruce, the former burns much hotter and faster, since it is looser and more resinous. Larch wood is the least enriched of conifers with resins and essential oils, but when burning it emits a large amount of carbon monoxide. Therefore, if you use it in a bath, you need to act very carefully.

When burning, coniferous wood tends to shoot out embers, so it is better not to use it for an open fireplace insert. The disadvantage of pine firewood is that when the resins burn, the chimney pipe becomes clogged quite quickly.

Coniferous trunks

By the characteristic crackling of the logs, which literally caresses the ear, and the bright scattering sparks, you can determine the combustion of pine logs. They give off a lot of heat, but burn out quite quickly. But many shortcomings are quickly forgotten thanks to the unique resinous aroma that comes from burning pine or spruce firewood.

It is worth noting that pine logs produce more heat than spruce logs. Largely due to the high content of resinous substances, due to which the above-mentioned aroma is released. Pine and spruce, it produces an equally invigorating effect. In addition, it can have a tonic effect on the organs of the upper respiratory tract.

As for larch, rarely does anyone light a firebox with such wood due to its low prevalence. It should be taken into account that when logs burn, carbon monoxide is released in large quantities. For this reason, you should not immediately close the damper, and your country house or country cottage should have high-quality ventilation.

This tree, which does not last long on the root, is easily affected by rot, and insect larvae appear under the bark. She is cut down for firewood at the age of 42-45, when she is in her prime.

As for wood harvesting, it is not fundamentally different. Trees are cut down, branches are cut off, and cut into firewood.

Aspen cuts gently and does not dull the chains. When felling, it cracks and bursts with a loud sound.

Preserving aspen firewood is quite simple. This type can be preserved for a long time in moisture without cracking or warping when drying. Well logs have long been knitted only from aspen.

You can store firewood in the open air, in a woodpile, covering it with slate sheets or film. Or put them in a shed with little air flow.

Aspen is characterized by thin fibers and a small number of knots in the massif.

When the material is properly processed, it acquires high strength, which is practically not inferior to the strength of birch.

The construction made from it becomes stronger every year. Also, it is not afraid of moisture, humid environments, and does not rot at all.

The material is characterized by relative cheapness: the price of 1 m3 of edged boards is approximately 3800-4500 rubles, and firewood is 1300-1400 rubles.

The wood of the trembling tree is whiter than other species; resistant to friction; easy to cut, simply processed on a lathe; is homogeneous, which allows you to make cuts without crushing or chipping it.

Since ancient times, this material has been used to make durable and lightweight dishes, since it contains antibiotics and complex esters.

Nowadays, this building material is widely used for the construction of baths, thanks to some of its features: wood is durable and strong, retains heat well, and does not burn the body when touched.

The smoldering temperature of aspen is 200 degrees Celsius. However, it is almost impossible to achieve such a temperature in a bathhouse.

It is believed that Jesus' cross was made of aspen, and therefore God cursed the tree. Another legend says that Judas, who betrayed Jesus, hanged himself on it, whom not a single tree was willing to accept, and only the aspen allegedly allowed him to commit suicide with its help.

Another legend says that demons live in the leaves of the “cursed” tree, and that it is guilty of allowing the cross to be put together for Jesus Christ. Since then, its leaves have been trembling, it does not bear fruit, and the shadow cannot shelter a person from the sun. It is also believed that during the crucifixion of the Mission, all the trees, mourning, bowed their tops, and only the trembling poplar remained straight.

Optimal options

Alder firewood. Alder logs are considered the best, optimal firewood for use in a bathhouse. In ancient times, the baths of the nobility and kings were heated with alder. It is believed that the best firewood is obtained from alder, which grew in dry soil, away from rivers and lakes. The wood of such trees is porous, light, it dries easily and is stored for a long time without losing its basic properties. When lighting such wood, the fire quickly catches on.

A distinctive feature of alder firewood is the absence of smoke, while it produces a lot of heat. The fact is that alder wood contains practically no resinous substances.

Alder firewood can be safely used in a black sauna without fear of getting burned from the smoke. When burned, the wood of this type of tree releases a pleasant aroma, so alder sawdust is actively used when smoking meat and fish. The wood burns steadily, calmly, without sparks or crackles. The cost of alder firewood is quite reasonable, and wood is almost always available from trading organizations.

Birch - traditions should not be broken

Most people are inclined to believe that such firewood is the best fuel for starting a fire in a fireplace, stove or sauna. And all due to invaluable advantages:

• easy to light;
• burn for a long time;
• the flame turns out beautiful and even;
• no sparks;
• copious heat generation.

But the advantages don't end there. Since ancient times, the healing properties of birch have been known. The pleasant aroma has a beneficial effect on the human body, protecting it from colds and chronic diseases. In other words, birch firewood has a disinfecting effect, which causes approval among those who like to take a steam bath.

When burning, logs emit a small amount of carbon dioxide, and this is certainly a plus. But there is also a minus - a high concentration of tar. And this combustion product is no longer beneficial to health. In addition, soot and soot form on the walls of the stove and in the chimney. As a result, over time, not only is traction lost, but the risk of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning increases. Therefore, when choosing this firewood, it is also worth mastering the profession of a chimney sweep, as well as maintaining safety.

But, despite its shortcomings, birch is the most popular, cheapest and most practical fuel.

Alder - a royal gift

If you want to feel like a member of the royal family, you should get hold of some alder logs, because it’s not for nothing that they are popularly called royal logs. They flare up quickly, emit a huge amount of heat, and produce virtually no smoke, which also eliminates the appearance of soot and soot. In addition, logs burn for a very long time. That is, the question of what kind of wood is best to heat the stove in the house has already been resolved!

But the main highlight is the unique aroma, which has a healing effect. It has long been accepted that if you heat a bathhouse using alder wood, you can forget about colds once and for all. Moreover, even in ancient times, it was alder logs that were put into the royal furnaces, as well as the fireboxes of other estates of rich peasants or nobles.

A fresh cut of alder has a red-orange hue, giving the woodpile an unusual and bright appearance. However, there is one interesting feature that everyone should know about. All the benefits described apply to trees that grew in dry areas. If the plants bloomed in the swamp, then there will be soot and unbearable heat.

Alder is especially popular among those who like to smoke meat or fish. Under normal conditions, wood dries quickly, and it retains its healing natural properties for 3 years.

How to store it correctly?

One of the options for proper firewood storage

It’s not enough to just buy Euro fireboxes, excellent pine or aspen firewood, the main thing is to store them correctly so that they serve you reliably and efficiently.

Avoid sawdust; do not collect firewood directly from the ground with your own hands, especially if it has been lying there for a long time.

When a tree comes into contact with the ground for a long time, it absorbs toxins and harmful substances, which will then spread through the air when burned. In addition, they will be wet, which will damage easy, simple ignition.

Aspen logs should be obtained from dry forests, avoid those that grew in the swamp. You need to collect it in the winter season, when the tree is dry, it will be easier to store it throughout the required period. If you have a special woodpile, then they need to be laid in a special way, with the bark on top, to extend their service life and prevent moisture from entering.

Fruit trees for flavor

Of course, no one will specifically grow fruit trees for the sole purpose of using them for firewood. However, there is still an apple, pear, plum or cherry tree on the site. Over time, you can collect a lot of branches and twigs, which you can put into the firebox. Some people make fires right away, but it would be much more correct to carefully cut them and put them in a woodpile.

It costs nothing to saw and chop firewood; the apple tree is the leader in terms of heat release, and there is practically no smoke. But this choice is more of an aesthetic nature.

Firewood from fruit trees

Such firewood is suitable for heating a house, but the wood of old trees is used for this, as well as for a bathhouse or fireplace. They burn well, have a light aroma, and do not produce strong burning when burned. This wood is often used for smoking meat and fish, as well as for making barbecues and kebabs.

Application area

Aspen is used in agriculture - for arranging log houses for wells and cellars. Roofing shingles, also known as shingles, are made from it. It also goes on ploughshares - special planks designed to cover church domes.

Aspen, like linden, is suitable for finishing saunas and baths, and for creating carved products.

Usage

Aspen is also an approach for creating barrels and food containers. It can be used to make frames, dishes, kitchen utensils, decorations and much more.

Roofs that were created using aspen boards or at least elements have been performing well for centuries. The roof dries quickly after rain and does not rot. Over time, the wood becomes an unusual, pleasant gray-silver shade, which favorably emphasizes the texture and naturalness of the products.

Products, furniture, and finishing made from aspen boards have excellent performance properties. These lumber are becoming the best option for residential homes and bathhouses. With the correct installation and care technology, wood can last a very long time.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=JJmav4eCsBY

Oak - fortress of spirit

Which firewood burns longer? Of course, oak! They are characterized by high strength and density. It is no coincidence that experts jokingly classify this breed as an elite variety, and only then it is valued as a type of fuel. Due to these features, oak logs maintain heat at the required level, produce intense heat, and the negative impact of various external factors does not in any way affect them.

The aroma emanating from the firewood is so pleasant, tart and soft that you can feel the breath of the forest expanses. Like birch, oak can have a beneficial effect on the human body, in particular on the nervous system. It also promotes relaxation and strengthens the immune system.

Wood is long-lived, and finding wood suitable for kindling is not so easy. Not just any logs are suitable for this. Firewood from young plants will not produce much heat, but when old plants burn, a large amount of ash is formed, the air becomes too heavy - not every bathhouse visitor will be able to withstand it.

Heating a house with wood from middle-aged trees works well - they provide just as much heat as needed, or even more. But they are not so easy to find, so oak is rarely used as fuel, and it also grows very slowly.

For reference: once upon a time, good and strong ships were built from oak. Now it is believed that truly tasty and juicy pizza can only be cooked using oak wood. They are also ideal for lighting a fireplace, the only difficulty is that such wood is not easy to split.

General points

It often seems to the average person that there is plenty of firewood for a bathhouse, but this is not entirely true. For example, old wood, rotten boards and stumps are not the most suitable option for lighting a stove in a bathhouse, despite the fact that no preparations can match the efficiency of such wood. This wood provides practically no heat transfer, it smokes and smokes, and besides, the space of the bathhouse is gradually filled with the unpleasant smell of burning mold. As a result, using rotten wood will not allow you to spend time normally in warmth and comfort, but will only complicate the whole process.

It is not without reason that they say that properly heating a bathhouse is a whole art, which was valued by our ancestors, and the aura of mysticism only added to the authority of professional bathhouse attendants. Nowadays, when everyone has access to information, you can quickly analyze the most popular types of firewood and choose the most suitable option for yourself in terms of price and quality.

The main feature of good wood is its density. Firewood from trees with a dense structure burns better and produces more heat. Since heat is one of the main indicators for a bathhouse, the easiest way is to consider the quality of firewood by its heat transfer, and only then by other parameters: smoke emitted, smell, rate of combustion of logs in the stove. Let's look at the most suitable firewood for a bath from different types of trees.

What kind of firewood is not suitable for a sauna or fireplace?

Some firewood is not of suitable quality for heating a fireplace or sauna, since these stoves require healthy wood, which will bring a pleasant aroma and pleasure from it to the room.

Some people manage to sell supposedly “special firewood for the bath,” which promotes health, etc. etc., but it’s all a scam, don’t fall for these tricks! There are several types of firewood that are not recommended to be burned in the fireboxes of a fireplace or sauna, and this does not depend on the type of wood; it is better not to use:

• rotten wood, which will not provide good heat transfer, but will leave a lot of ash;
• old wood, which will bring heavy air and an unpleasant odor into the room;
• wood painted or impregnated with some substances - when burned, they release substances that can harm the health of everyone who is in the room where the fireplace or sauna stove is lit;
• thin branches - they burn quickly with minimal heat transfer, while taking up a lot of space;
• damp firewood can generally harm your sauna, since the fire on them will often go out until it dries out. During this entire time, they will release moisture in the form of steam, and the steam will be deposited in the chimney, which will clog it 10 times faster! You don’t want to clean the chimney three times a month!?

Calorific value of material

Calorific value is the amount of heat produced when a certain amount of wood is burned together with accompanying internal substances (esters, oils, etc.). The process releases water vapor, which is generated in two ways:

• due to the hygroscopicity of the material, the pores contain moisture, which turns into steam when heated;
• During the oxidation and decomposition of hydrocarbons, water molecules are synthesized and steam is formed from them.

There are several types of calorific value indicators

Depending on them, the combustion of raw materials used to evaporate water and heat steam is taken into account. These indicators include:

• specific calorific value volumetric;
• specific mass working;
• absolute highest;
• working volumetric lower;
• workers mass lower.

The mass specific calorific value of a sample of a certain quantity is calculated for kilograms or tons of wood. Displayed in J/t or kcal/kg.

The absolute degree (highest) is measured taking into account the heat spent on condensing the steam released during combustion. Condensation energy refers to latent combustion indices. Absolute calorific value is determined by burning a piece of wood of a certain weight or volume in a calorimeter with further cooling of all its components to the initial temperature.

The lower working calorific value in volumetric units does not take into account fuel consumption for condensation of steam released during combustion. Since when the previous indicator is identified, it is practically impossible to cool the components until complete condensation appears, the operating characteristic is widely used in calculations.

Create a cozy atmosphere in your home

Working calorific value in weight units is called the lowest mass characteristic. Measured in J/t or cal/kg. To determine it, the following provisions exist:

1. It does not depend on the species, since the weight unit of a completely dry sample of any tree includes the same amount of combustible substance, similar in composition.
2. Depends directly on humidity. A kilogram of wet raw material contains 1 kg of pure combustible component minus moisture, and in a dry sample its weight is equal to the mass of the heating substance.

Firewood stand

A firewood stand next to the fireplace is needed not only for interior decoration - it is intended for storing and drying a batch of firewood for one or several fireboxes.

Firewood, laid out in advance on a stand, will dry well by the time of combustion

Typically, the bulk of wood is stored outdoors. Even if the woodpile is slightly covered on top, this will not save you from moisture from the surrounding atmosphere and from the hot sun. Throughout storage, the stack either gets wet or dries out, and it is not known what the firewood will be like when it is decided to light the fireplace. Therefore, firewood is brought into the room in advance, and as it dries, it will emit a healthy, aromatic smell of the forest and decorate the interior with its picturesque appearance. At the right time, the required amount of firewood will be ready to light the stove. Having used them, you need to immediately replenish the stand with a new batch.

Aspen – cleaning firewood

Aspen also takes a long time to light and burns out quickly. Therefore, you should not use such firewood to heat the stove, as they say, “from scratch.” At the same time, the flames are long and bright. There are also some other valuable properties. In addition to the fact that firewood itself does not form soot, it is able to remove carbon deposits formed from other logs. At the same time, when compared with birch firewood, aspen logs produce much less heat when burned.

But they can be used to “clean” the chimney. For this purpose, it is recommended to add several aspen firewood at the final stage of the firebox. And the chimney will be “cleaned”. Although they themselves do not produce heat, they are able to maintain heat for a long time.

Exotic

As you know, there are quite a lot of tree species, and to list all their types, you could write a thick book, or even more than one.

Therefore, in addition to the varieties listed, it is worth touching on at least a few more:

• Elm. It produces a lot of smoke, is difficult to split and takes a long time to ignite.
• Poplar. Like firewood for a stove - nothing at all. They prick easily, just scatter sparks and burn quickly.
• Beech. It is also difficult to light and split, but can be used raw.
• Fir. Like poplar, it is easy to prick and ignite, but you cannot do without a lot of smoke and sparks.
• Sycamore. Wood is easy to kindle, but difficult to split.

Can they be used for heating in a stove? Everyone can find the answer to this question themselves. But, on the other hand, why not?!

Storage rules

Properly stored firewood has the highest characteristics. They burn quickly and evenly and leave a lot of heat.

The main requirements for wood storage are:

• ensuring air circulation;
• protection from moisture.

To ensure such conditions, you need to adhere to some recommendations for storing firewood:

1. Firewood should be stacked in elevated areas. For convenient use, it is better to place them near the bathhouse. But under no circumstances should you place a woodpile near open fires.
2. The logs are stacked on a special base. This could be brick, stone or logs. The woodpile must be stable so that a cat or dog cannot accidentally destroy the folded structure. The first row of logs is laid across the base.
3. When laying out firewood, keep a distance. There should always be a gap between the wood to ensure uniform air circulation.
4. To light a bath, it is better to stack firewood according to the varietal characteristics. This arrangement will greatly save time when selecting firewood for a sauna stove, and will make it possible to use tree species for their intended purpose.
5. Stacked firewood must be covered. A good covering is roofing felt, tiles or slate. Do not tightly cover the laid wood with film material. Without air access under the film, the firewood will deteriorate. In this way, you can dry the logs, preserving all their natural qualities.

See also: Basic parameters for choosing an ax

It is possible to determine the suitability of wood by its knocking sound - well-preserved firewood creates a characteristic sound. Also, properly dried logs are several times lighter than raw wood.

In summer cottages, the best place to store firewood is a well-ventilated shed. In such a construction, the logs are not afraid of snow or rain. Many summer residents install a woodpile between trees or along the wall of a building. In houses with high foundations, you can store firewood under the stairs.

If stored improperly, even the highest quality firewood will lose all its beneficial properties. Therefore, when lighting a sauna stove, it is important not only to choose the right type of wood for steam procedures, but also to ensure proper storage of the material.

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Andrey

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This is important to know!

Regardless of the type of trees that will be used for firewood, you need to know about some features:

1. Deadlines. Of course, those logs that have already served their “allotted” time will also burn (provided that they are dry and there is no mold on them). However, most trees retain their aroma only for two years. Alder and aspen are a pleasant exception in this regard - 3 years.
2. Everything has its time. In winter, the humidity of trees is at a minimum level. In this regard, the preparation of firewood must be done during this period. Drying usually takes about 12 months. However, the timing depends on the type of forest, harvesting time, storage conditions and a number of other factors. In this case, the duration may increase significantly or, conversely, decrease.
3. Dimensions. Which firewood is more profitable? Of course, those with optimal sizes. And these are 40-50 cm in length and 8-10 cm in thickness. This is how they are convenient to store and are suitable for any firebox.
4. Rot. Under no circumstances should you use rotten firewood. Keeping logs on the ground for a long time results in the accumulation of toxic substances released during combustion, which is not beneficial to humans. For this reason, when cutting down branches, you should immediately take the correct measures to store them. When choosing raw materials for heating among dead wood, you should not take into account long-fallen branches.
5. Storage issues. Logs should be laid with the bark facing up. This will protect the firewood from accidentally entering moisture, which evaporates faster from the surface of the bark. And if you show your imagination, you can build an original woodpile to the delight and surprise of your guests.

As can be seen from this material, it is not enough to know which firewood is best for the stove. It is equally important to ensure that they are stored correctly.

Regarding the arrangement of a woodpile, you can always come up with a lot of different ideas: from the most creative and crazy to the simplest to implement.

Advantages of this type

Logs that you can collect with your own hands or purchase ready-made are always an excellent solution for every modern person. Durable, Euro aspen firewood has an impressive number of advantages, namely:

• They are light and melt quickly. It is convenient not to light a fire with them, as when using sawdust, but to throw them in during the combustion process so that it flares up stronger, is brighter and heats more efficiently. This firewood does not create soot, burns absolutely cleanly, without leaving long-smoldering coals, so they are rarely used for barbecues and other activities where coals are needed;
• If you purchase compact euro briquettes, you can store them for up to three years, this is the advantage of aspen. It does not deteriorate for a long time, unlike other types that you can chop with your own hands, such as pine. A normal tree is stored for a maximum of two years;
• For those who are wondering what kind of firewood is better, euro aspen briquettes will help not only keep you warm on cold, frosty evenings, but also clean even the most dirty chimney of soot from previous use;
• In terms of cost, aspen firewood is much cheaper than, for example, alder firewood. Therefore, they are gladly purchased by people who do not want to make firewood with their own hands, but would rather buy a ready-made version or sawdust at an affordable price.

In fact, pine and alder firewood, despite the higher price category, also have a number of excellent properties, but this will be discussed later.

Folk tales

Superstitions and beliefs circulate among the people. For example, it is believed that it is better to prepare firewood for a bath during the waning moon. Moreover, the thinner the sickle, the stronger the logs are endowed with healing powers. Once upon a time, the Slavs believed that people who left the world turned into maples in their lives. The appearance of its leaves is akin to open palms, and its branches represent hands raised to the heavens. For this reason, they never fired maple stoves.

In the old days, residents of the Tambov province heated their stoves exclusively with apple trees to keep the house warm throughout the winter, including especially frosty days. Whether to believe all this or not is everyone’s business, but what happened was what happened. What do you, dear readers, think: what kind of firewood is better for a stove, bathhouse or fireplace?