When you’re looking for logs to buy for your home fire, the chances are that you will come across several types of firewood, with some much better than others. Two of the most common types of wood sold for home fires are seasoned firewood and kiln-dried logs. However, you might also come across green wood and wonder what it means. Here, we explain what green wood is and why you shouldn’t use it to set your home fire.
What exactly is green wood?
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Unlike firewood that has been specially dried in a kiln, green wood is essentially raw firewood that has not been dried or preserved in any way. In most instances, green wood has recently been cut, meaning it retains a much higher moisture content than dried wood. For wood to burn efficiently, it really needs to have been dried to a moisture content of 20% or less, which is one of the main reasons why green wood isn’t a good option for your home fire.
When you buy kiln-dried wood, you can be confident that it has been dried out to a relevant moisture content, while green wood has been freshly cut and is likely to contain too much moisture to be effective. You should also be mindful that the UK government has announced that green wood (unseasoned wood) is starting to be phased out, so you should avoid it to ensure you’re not breaking any rules when it comes to setting your fire at home.
Is green wood cheap?
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In most instances, green wood is actually cheaper than kiln-dried wood because it hasn’t undergone a comprehensive drying-out process. Essentially, green wood has just been cut and immediately sold, which is why it is so cheap. Kiln-dried wood, on the other hand, has been dried out over a long period of time, which is what contributes to its higher retail price.
What you need to know about green wood
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While green wood is often widely available, the cons certainly outweigh the pros as far as buying it is concerned. The fact that it has such a high moisture content means that it’s not ideal for burning, and it has been linked to a range of negative impacts on your health and the environment. When you burn green wood, it doesn’t produce high heat, and it releases significantly more creosote than dried wood, which leaves deposits in your flue. This increases the likelihood of a chimney fire.
Conversely, kiln-dried firewood is capable of producing a much higher heat output, as a great deal of the moisture has been removed. It is also much better for the environment as it releases fewer emissions and is a much cheaper type of wood to use. Most of the time, ash and birch are kiln-dried, as they’re the perfect option for your wood burner or stove. Perhaps the only downside of kiln-dried firewood is that it’s more expensive, but as the age-old saying goes – you get what you pay for.
Where to buy kiln-dried firewood for your home fire
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As we’ve established, although green wood is often a cheap option, you shouldn’t be tempted to buy and use it for your home fire for the reasons explained above. In stark contrast, kiln-dried firewood is the perfect solution for your home fire as it will provide you with excellent heat output that burns long and true throughout the night.
Homefire’s kiln-dried firewood has been dried to a moisture content of 20% or less and is perfect for your home fire. Consider combining it with some effective kindling to get your fire off to a roaring start this season.
