If you live in the United Kingdom, then you may already be aware of the new legislation retarding the burning of wet wood. DEFRA announced than they are banning the sale of wet wood in the United Kingdom. This is wood that has a moisture content of more than twenty percent. This means firewood suppliers are being more environmentally conscious, selling wood that has a moisture content of less than twenty percent.
Any firewood that is not kiln dried will need to be seasoned for a minimum of two years to reduce the moisture content to the allowed percentage. As a result, kiln dried logs are the way to go moving forward. They are burn ready and guaranteed to have a moisture content of less than twenty percent, resulting in less smoke, less ash, and less creosote.
Many home owners were burning unseasoned wood, which can cause a build up on creosote in your chimney and flue, increasing the risk of chimney fires. Not to mention the pollutants that are released into the atmosphere, having a negative impact on our environment.
Kiln Dried Logs
Kiln dried logs can be found with ease on the internet. They come in different crate and palette sizes. You have a choice of log types, the most common are oak, ash, and birch. These are hardwood’s that are dense with a good heat output and long burning time.
Ash, oak, and birch are readily available, making them a sustainable source of firewood.
Types of Logs for Sale
When you choose ash kiln dried logs, you will find they light easily, burn a long time, and provide an excellent heat output. Ash has been a leading choice for firewood, though oak and birch are growing in popularity.
Oak kiln dried logs is an excellent option to warm your home either in your wood burner or fireplace. Oak has a thick bark with a rough texture. It takes slightly longer to reach temperature, but once it does it generates a lot of heat, considerably more than ash. Oak also has a pleasant smell when burning. It tends to burn for an extended period, reducing how often you need to maintain your fire.
Kiln dried birch, on the other hand, is a great choice for smaller stoves. It is fast lighting with flaky bark. It also tends to generate heat quickly, as the logs are slightly thinner. It is a good species for wood burners. It also tends to be slightly more economical when compared to ash or oak.
The size of your wood burner plays a role in how much wood you will burn. On average, you will use less logs when using kiln dried logs when compared to seasoned or unseasoned firewood, as they have a longer burn time with an excellent heat output.
Warming Your Home This Winter
The less moisture the logs have the less water the fire needs to evaporate. If you burn unseasoned wood that is wet, you will find it won’t produce heat, that is because the fire spends all its energy on drying the wood, rather than heating your home. Kiln dried logs are the ideal fuel for wood burners and fireplaces. Ash and oak are exceptionally dense hardwood’s, that burn for an extended period.
The kiln drying process reduces the moisture content evenly to less than twenty percent, meaning the wood can generate twice the heat when compared to seasoned wood.
Great Alternative
Kiln dried ash, oak, or birch logs are a great alternative to cheaper seasoned or wet wood that you can buy at your garden centre or petrol station. They do not generate the same heat as kiln dried logs, they are dirty to handle, and you have to be careful where you store them, as they may harbour insects or mould.
Kiln dried logs, on the other hand, are drier, they are insect and mould free, they burn easily, longer, and hotter. They also do not produce as much creosote as seasoned wood, reducing the amount of soot and creosote in your chimney or flue, helping to reduce the risk of chimney fires.
