Burning firewood to heat your home can be a great way to save money on your next heating bill. But if you are considering this route, it is important to note that burning firewood to heat your home is very different from using a thermostat controlled central heating system. Check out these tips for getting the most out of heating your home with wood this winter.
Pick the right wood
Burning the right type of wood is essential when it comes to heating your home. First, you will want to burn wood that has been seasoned. This means the wood has been dried and the moisture content is very low. It can take a long time for wood to dry out after being cut from trees which is why seasoning wood is done many months prior to winter.
There are a few different species of wood to choose from when picking your firewood. For long burning fires with the most heat hardwoods such as oak, sycamore, beech, ash, and birch are best. For hot fires that are easy to light and burn quickly, choose softwoods like spruce, pine, and larch.
Plan enough wood for the winter
There are a few factors that will determine the amount of firewood you will need to last you through the winter. Things like the efficiency and size of your fireplace or wood stove, type of wood you use, frequency of use, how well your home is insulated and how cold the winter is. All these factors are important to keep in mind when purchasing your firewood for the season, the last thing you will want to do is not order enough wood to keep your home heated through a long cold winter.
Learn to build a fire
Building a fire can seem like a complicated task if you have never done it before, but it doesn’t have to be. There are 3 components to get a fire started, fuel, heat, and oxygen. You can use small bits of tinder such as twigs or newspaper to get the fire started then add in kindling such as small branches, sticks, and small logs. Once you get the flame started, begin to add more wood making sure not to smother out the flames. Never use lighter fluid, kerosene, or other flammable liquids in your fireplace or wood stove.
Take into consideration homes insulation
If this is the first time you are using wood burning to heat your home you will want to make sure your home’s insulation is up to par. To successful heat your home with a wood fire it helps tremendously if you have good insulation. Fill all cracks in your insulation, and consider replacing windows with storm windows or double pane insulated windows. This will all help keep the warmth from the fire in your home where it belongs.
When it comes to making the switch from traditional heating to wood burning heating in your home it can be a big jump but these tips can make the process a little easier. Using firewood as a heating source is a great way to save money and energy. At Lola’s Landscape, we provide seasoned firewood to the community of Norfolk County. Call us today to learn more about pricing and delivery of firewood this season!
