Woodstoves have long been used as a heating source, and it’s easy to see why: wood is an extremely affordable and efficient fuel, and a well-managed woodstove can provide heat to a large area with very little cost. Plus, in some homes, there’s just something so comforting about gathering around a wood fire for warmth.

There’s an art to running a woodstove.  Here are a few tips we like to share with our customers to help them get the most enjoyment from their firewood.

4 Tips for Managing Your Woodstove

1 – Place it near stone

Stone of almost any sort – including brick and concrete as well as natural stonework – is excellent at capturing and radiating heat.  If you keep your woodstove near a stone wall, or better yet in a corner formed by two stone walls, they’ll act like heat reflectors and help spread the warmth around the room.

2 – Don’t try to burn fresh-cut wood

You might be tempted to save even more money by cutting your own wood, if you have a source.  However, trying to burn freshly-chopped wood is a bad idea.  It’s hard to ignite, and even if you succeed, it’ll produce more smoke than heat.

Proper firewood should be seasoned (dried out) for at least 6-12 months.  Therefore, most people today choose to buy firewood from reliable sources.

3 – Pick wood based on the weather

Experienced woodstove owners keep more than one type of firewood around, because the type of wood affects the output.  Lighter woods – like poplar and pine – burn faster and cooler than heavier woods like oak.  In fact, heavy woods can easily over-heat a room, and should be reserved for especially cold days.

4 – Don’t burn the stove 24/7

Yes, lighting a wood fire can be a pain.  However, keeping your woodstove burning unattended around-the-clock can cause more problems.  This can quickly overheat rooms.  Also, if the coals at the bottom are kept smoldering, they’ll produce a lot of smoke.  That is unpleasant by itself, but it can also cause buildup of creosote on everything nearby.

For Safe High-Quality Firewood, You Want Best Firewood! 

For over 35 years, stove-owners in the Chicagoland area have turned to Best Firewood and Mulch for all their firewood needs.  Our wood is safe, pest-free, and fully seasoned for maximum efficiency and enjoyment.  Contact us directly to learn more!