As winter approaches, everyone tends to use a variety of heating options. Regardless of the type of heating element, there are criteria to be met to achieve optimal combustion. In the case of a chimney or wood stove, it is vital to know the good properties of firewood in order to have a good fire. To obtain a quality ignition, it is first necessary to know the fire triangle. This triangle is indeed the combination of three elements: fuel, energy and oxidizer. Here, wood is the fuel: it is the material that can catch fire. So how could you get a nice combustion in a chimney and a wood stove?
Recognize the quality of the wood and choose the right one
Wood quality has a significant influence on combustion, as this element is expected to catch fire with the action of the other elements of the fire triangle. To be able to distinguish quality wood, two types of wood will be chosen in general. Hard woods such as beech, oak or birch provide long-lasting combustion, while soft woods tend to burn more quickly: pine and fir are particularly recognizable. In order to avoid clogging the ducts of your heating element, it is advisable not to use softwood. To have a good quality of heating requires dry wood, i.e. the humidity level must be less than 20%. In addition, freshly cut wood gives off half as much heat as dry wood. In short, a quality fire is obtained with dry wood that has a large amount of air coming in and a good smoke evacuation produced. This combustion naturally rhymes with the efficiency which means a reduced consumption of wood for a consequent heat as well as a very moderate smoke. Good quality dry wood contains no traces of fungi or mould, the bark is easily removable and the flame is blue during combustion.
The best firewood
With a chimney or wood stove installation, the best firewood offers several advantages to consumers and the environment. Indeed, these advantages are presented as energy saving, quality combustion and a soft and homogeneous diffusion. In order to obtain quality wood, do not hesitate to ask your supplier for the following criteria: moisture content, wood species and calorific value. In addition, there are often certifications that note in advance the qualities of such a type of wood. Depending on the choice of gasoline, duration and quality, combustion will be affected by this criterion. Concerning the calorific value of wood, we are talking here about a quantity of wood of different types that produce heat for the same weight taken into account. The best firewood is found in the hardwood group: for example, oak, ash or maple. Their calorific value is such that the emission of smoke is lower compared to other types of wood.
The different forms of firewood
Apart from the traditional shape of wood, there are different shapes that bring warmth to your home. The most recognized forms are bulk wood pellets: they have a high calorific value because their humidity level is very low: less than 10%. Compressed wood logs tend to replace conventional firewood because they have not undergone any treatment requiring chemicals: they are produced with wood residues assembled and shaped to give a solid appearance. Their humidity level is less than 8%. Wood chips are in the latest list for wood heating: their humidity is still high, but they offer a high calorific value and have a relatively low price compared to other types of wood.
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