Firewood Buying Guide
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Burning firewood is a source of renewable energy. Heating BTU's of firewood verses other fuel types is
comparable and many times superior. The more seasoned the firewood the more BTU’s you will see.
If you are buying green firewood it should be well seasoned before you burn it for the maximum BTU's.
The greener the wood the less heat is produced. Seasoning wood is basically drying the wood letting the
hot sun bake out the moisture. If wood is green it contains a high moisture content. Burning green wood
takes all the heat of the fire to cook out the moisture. When burning firewood if you notice water bubbling
at the cut ends the wood is still too moist to burn and you will get very little heat.
Hardwoods are the most preferred types of firewood to burn. In many areas of the country hardwood is
next to impossible to get and pine is the most available wood. Burning pine will give you heat but the
downside are the pine tars and large quantity of creosote from them.
Make sure you get what you pay for when buying firewood. A full cord is 4ft high X 4ft deep X 8ft long. If
the firewood is cut to 24” lengths you should have 2 rows 8ft wide. If the firewood is cut to 18” Lengths
you should have 3 rows 8ft wide. If it is cut to 12” Lengths you should have 4 rows 8ft wide. Firewood is
sold in full cord, half cord and ¼ cord. A face cord is only one row 4ft High X 8ft Long and the depth
depends on the length of the log. A rick of firewood has no standard measurement. The dimensions are
made up by the seller.
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Firewood Tips great article on selecting firewood.
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Firewood rating chart gives you the BTU's ratings off firewood.
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Fatwood a great natural fire starter.
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How to start a fire great article for the novice or professional boy scout.
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