You and your partner sitting in front of a fireplace sipping coffee, it’s a cozy and romantic feeling. However, you can get this feeling only when you are using well-dried firewood. It should be wood that produces more heat and less smoke and ash. Moreover, you don't want it to burn in no time. So, when you are purchasing or storing firewood, you want to make sure that it provides the warm experience you want.
The amount of heat your firewood can produce depends on tree species, moisture content, size and quantity of wood. If you are buying from any random supplier, he cannot guarantee the quality or performance of the firewood. After determining the quantity, you should learn about the type of wood (hardwood or softwood), maximum moisture content, maximum cross section and log length. This way, you can determine whether the firewood can meet your needs and expectations or not.
Buy Local
Even when firewood tree species grown in some other region is better than the local tree species, you should choose the local trees. Firewood from some other region can bring invasive insects or diseases that can be harmful to the local species. Buy firewood from species grown within a radius of 10 miles.
Quantity
Firewood is measured by the cord. A cord is 8 feet wide, 4 feet deep and 4 feet high stack of wood. You need 128 cubic area to store one cord. If you are throwing the wood in a pile, you need 180 cubic feet area to store a cord. However, if you are living in Sydney or anywhere in Australia, keep in mind that firewood is not measured in cords.
According to the National Measurement Institute, firewood in Australia can be sold/purchased by
Some buyers purchase logs and then cut these logs at home. What they purchase is called a “pulp cord” or “loggers cord”. However, the term cord is loosely used for smaller volumes as well. A “fireplace cord”, “face cord” or “rick cord” is used for measuring smaller volumes of firewood.
A long bed pickup truck with no racks can hold about ½ cord of firewood. And, when you are buying firewood by weight, one cord of firewood can hold 3000 to 3500 pounds of hardwood with a moisture content of 20%. And, if it is softwood with 20% moisture content, one cord can hold 2300 to 2600 pounds of firewood.
Wood Species
Wood is sold as softwood or hardwood. You should consider the density, structure and other distinctive characteristics while choosing firewood. Following are the Australian firewood species with respective heat potential.
Cross-section Size
The amount of heat your firewood can produce depends on tree species, moisture content, size and quantity of wood. If you are buying from any random supplier, he cannot guarantee the quality or performance of the firewood. After determining the quantity, you should learn about the type of wood (hardwood or softwood), maximum moisture content, maximum cross section and log length. This way, you can determine whether the firewood can meet your needs and expectations or not.
Buy Local
Even when firewood tree species grown in some other region is better than the local tree species, you should choose the local trees. Firewood from some other region can bring invasive insects or diseases that can be harmful to the local species. Buy firewood from species grown within a radius of 10 miles.
Quantity
Firewood is measured by the cord. A cord is 8 feet wide, 4 feet deep and 4 feet high stack of wood. You need 128 cubic area to store one cord. If you are throwing the wood in a pile, you need 180 cubic feet area to store a cord. However, if you are living in Sydney or anywhere in Australia, keep in mind that firewood is not measured in cords.
According to the National Measurement Institute, firewood in Australia can be sold/purchased by
- Weight (tonnes (t) or kilograms (kg))
- Volume (cubic metre (m3))
- Lot (stack, trailer or truck load)
Some buyers purchase logs and then cut these logs at home. What they purchase is called a “pulp cord” or “loggers cord”. However, the term cord is loosely used for smaller volumes as well. A “fireplace cord”, “face cord” or “rick cord” is used for measuring smaller volumes of firewood.
A long bed pickup truck with no racks can hold about ½ cord of firewood. And, when you are buying firewood by weight, one cord of firewood can hold 3000 to 3500 pounds of hardwood with a moisture content of 20%. And, if it is softwood with 20% moisture content, one cord can hold 2300 to 2600 pounds of firewood.
Wood Species
Wood is sold as softwood or hardwood. You should consider the density, structure and other distinctive characteristics while choosing firewood. Following are the Australian firewood species with respective heat potential.
- Grey Box - 100%
- Red/Grey Ironbark - 97%
- Yellow/Red Box - 91%
- River Red Gum - 80%
- Southern Blue Gum - 80%
You can dry firewood quickly by splitting it. Dry firewood burns better and produces less smoke and more heat. Regardless of size, all the logs should be split. The cross-section should not be larger than 6 inches.
Moisture Content
Firewood with moisture content less than 20% is ready to burn. The ideal moisture content is 15%. Well seasoned firewood has cracks in the ends. You can use moisture tester to test the moisture content of firewood.
Storage
A firewood box is the best option for storing firewood. Your firewood is protected from the rain. This keeps the firewood off the ground. However, you may not be able to use your firewood box if you have purchased bulk firewood which is not dried well. Stack your firewood on pallets and cover the top to protect from rain and snow. However, make sure that air can flow between the logs.
Comments
Post a Comment