Whether you have recently moved into a home with a wood burning stove or fireplace, or you have enjoyed the convenience of a crackling fire for years, you have probably had some thoughts on which wood is the right option. Wood briquettes are often overlooked, as they do not have the same aesthetic appeal as traditional firewood, while others find briquettes are their go-to choice, offering a cost effective fuel solution.
Efficiency and Calorific Values
Calorific value is the value of the heat released during combustion, indicating the efficiency of the fuel. All wood has the same calorific value, but there are factors influencing it, such as the density of the wood and the moisture content. Firewood typically has a density of around seven hundred kg/m³, with a moisture content of more than twenty percent, while briquettes have a low moisture content, well below twenty percent, combined with a higher density. Therefore, wood briquettes are more efficient with a higher calorific value.
Affordability
Firewood prices vary based on the type of wood, moisture content, and where you buy it. Firewood appears a cheaper option, especially when working it out per kilogram, but it has a high moisture content and low density, which means you need more firewood to achieve the heat you need to warm your home. Wood briquettes, on the other hand, are more expensive per kilogram, but thanks to their high heat efficiency and long burn time, they actually cost you less in the long run.
Ease of Use
Ease of use is an important consideration when deciding between briquettes and traditional firewood. Firewood requires effort when it comes to lighting and maintaining a steady fire, where our briquettes are easy to light and manage.
You also need to take cleaning up after your fire into consideration. Traditional firewood leaves a lot of ash, which requires more cleaning before your next fire, not to mention the amount of creosote build-up in your chimney or flue that will require regular cleaning to reduce the risk of fire. Wood briquettes, on the other hand, provide a clean burn with minimal ash and creosote, making it cleaner, easier, and safer.
Storage
How and where do you intend to store your wood fuel? You will need a fair amount of storage if you intend using traditional wood, where wood briquettes are compact, uniform in size, and easy to stack. They can also be stored indoors, in fact we recommend it. They are packaged in boxes, making it easy for indoor storage.
Comfort
The final benefit of briquettes is that they do not crackle and spit when your fire is lit. You spend less time tending to your fire and more time enjoying the comfort of the warmth the briquettes provide. On the other hand, firewood is aesthetically pleasing, offering the crackling sound and aroma you expect when burning wood. For a modern fire, briquettes are quieter, cleaner, and offer a uniform burn with an excellent heat output, keeping you and your family warm on the coldest of winter nights.
What’s Your Choice?
When it comes to choosing an efficient wood fuel that offers a clean burn with high heat output and a long burn duration, then our Ready to Burn briquettes are the right choice for you. They produce minimal smoke, making them ideal for smokeless zones across the UK, while being an environmentally friendly choice. Are you ready to try briquettes in your home? Contact Thomson Wood Fuel Ltd today.
