These charts were compiled from various sources so some comparisons between species may conflict some due to variables in laboratory variables of how much actual solid wood is in a cord. I was offered a weeping willow tree for firewood, for free. Salix fragilis, with the common names crack willow and brittle willow, is a species of willow native to europe and western asia. Wood species type btu values of a cord for burning wood in. Lhv 983 btuft it is assumed that the firewood is dried to a 20% moisture content and the potential btus the firewood can generate is calculated using the heating value of 8084 btu per pound of wood. Combustion of wood heat values engineering toolbox. Madrone, excellent, high, hard, easy, light, no, 30. Willow firewood is low in btu, one of the lowest of the broadleaf trees.
Crack willow salix fragilis british trees woodland trust. Because it is a broadleaf tree it is technically a hardwood, but burns more. Wood btu valuesfirewood characteristics university of illinois. You can click on the different types of firewood in the chart to learn more about them. Baskets, utility wood, crates, furniture, carvings, and other small specialty wood items. Softwoods do not produce much heat, partially because they are prone to have more water in their structure. By contrast, firewood made from live oaks produces a btu rating of 34. Find the best firewood types for your needs with our handy firewood btu comparison chart. If youre just starting out and you need business, equipment, tech or training support youre in the right place. Aug 08, 2017 choosing a good firewood can bring months of warmth and relaxation, but the wrong wood only brings frustration. If you are calculating the amount of btu s for your species of wood, 8084 btu s is a good starting point and if you know that your firewood contains a lot of resin then you could use 9000 6% 8460 btu s as a starting point.
Even among the same species, different chunks of firewood are going to burn hotter than others, depending on how dry they are and the. Firewood btu chart and information firewood for life. This article doesnt go into nearly enough depth for what they are attempting to convey. The btu rating is typically assigned to firewood based on the amount of heat produced by burning a cord of wood. It is a vigorous tree commonly reaching 2025 m 6682 ft tall, with leaves up to 15 cm long. The most common logs used for firewood in victoria, bc. Seasoned, they weigh only about half as much as denser species, even though their high moisture content when green may suggest they are denser than they. I have seen wood stacked and not top covered that was useless inside of 3 years from rot due to moisture i have also cut dead standing oak that looked great even on the inside but when you hefted a piece you could tell it was detiorating by the reduced weight of the round and when burnt you could tell it. I dont have to travel far for it, just down the street. Firewood oklahoma forestry services state of oklahoma. It produces less heat than many other woods, but it may be burned unless the tree was recently treated with pesticides. A good firewood which burns well with a pleasant smell.
With increased energy prices, more and more people are showing interest in burning wood. Next, well discuss the best and worst tree species to use for firewood ranked by their total ability to establish and retain heat. Crack willow the wood database lumber identification. It is native to riparian habitats, usually found growing beside rivers and streams, and in marshes and water meadow channels. Green wood, besides burning at only 50 to 60% of the fuel value of dry wood, deposits creosote on the inside of your stove and chimney. The community sausage feed types use only willow for that here. The amount of heat a piece of firewood can release into the air is measured in british thermal units or btus.
A typical waxfiber firelog has about 14,000 btu s per pound. Oak, bluejack upland willow oak sandjack oak cinnamon oak quercus incana 0. At lindemann chimney service, we have often been asked about the best type of firewood to burn. The only sortable firewood btu chart on the internet, with average drying times. Crack willow is sonamed because of its branches and twigs, which are easily broken from the tree, resulting in a cracking sound.
Btus, or british thermal units, measure the heat of combustion. If it has been treated, it may still be possible to use the firewood, depending on what was used to treat the tree. You may notice that as the dry weight per cord increases, so does the btu rating. Garden guides are weeping willow trees good firewood. The chimney sweep online firewood btu content charts. Firewood with high or very high heat output 1 cord 21,000,000 24,000,000 btu 200250 gal. As you can see from the chart below, the famed red oak is not the highest on the list. Firewood guide btu rating chart wood burning stoves forum at.
Doesnt spit too much and small pieces can be burned unseasoned. Non resinous wood has around 8000 to 8500 btu per pound and resinous wood has around 8600 to 9700 btu per pound. This can help you decide what the best firewood type is for your needs. These firewood btu charts compare the heat energy ratings and weight of common firewood species.
A fire can be a wonderful source of economical warmth as well as a comforting necessity in colder months. Like other woods, cypress timber should be seasoned before use in the fire for the best results. May, 2017 the btu rating is typically assigned to firewood based on the amount of heat produced by burning a cord of wood. In the end, when i cut my own firewood i normally dont get too caught up on the exact amount of btus a specific firewood type creates. Top 10 most popular wood burning and multifuel stoves july 20, 2018 root protection for veteran trees may 29, 2018 pollards, the forgotten artdiscussion may 3, 2018.
Reliable information on different types of firewood, regarding heat content, ease of lighting, splitting, carrying, sparks. Wood stove temperature meter best temp zone to minimize creosote in case you were wondering about those waxy energy duraflame type firelogs typical oak firewood has about 8,500 btu s per pound. We had the chance of two artic loads early last year,nothing over 10 dia,the price was right so we went for it. I have a small 8 ton splitter and as soon as the rounds hit the wedge they popped apart. The answer is usually hardwoods that are properly cut, split and dried. If youve done it, made it, got a van load of oily tshirts and have decided to give something back by sharing your knowledge or wisdom, then y. Notice how the wood looks gray in color with cracks forming on the ends of the split logs. You should allow willow to season at least one year before using it. Btus measure how much heat is given off by a piece of wood. Because it is a broadleaf tree it is technically a hardwood, but burns more like a softwood and is softer than a lot of softwoods.
It is generally recommended to use the hardest woods available in your area for home heating. This can mean much longer burn times and less loading. Firewood guide btu rating chart wood burning stoves forum. Burns well with a pleasant smell and without spitting. Firewood btu ratings charts for common tree species. The calculation is based on the lower heating value lhv of natural gas.
Less dense wood have less material for combustion and may require two cords to produce the same heat as one cord of a heavier, denser wood. So when you hold a piece of firewood from each tree one is heftier. Some willows, like weeping willow, can sometimes be extremely dense in foliage and. In determining a good wood for fires, the most important thing to think about is the amount of heat it creates per cord. Of the several species of willow in the us and canada, they are all low density woods that are usually not that popular as firewood. If willow firewood is stored anywhere where it can obtain moisture it can sprout and grow. Wood species type btu values of a cord for burning wood in a. Willow even when very wellseasoned willow produces poor slow burning. Firewood cost is usually more stable than the cost of gas and fuel oils. Many people are particular when it comes to the types of wood they want to burn in their fireplaces. Species red denotes species we regularly stock relative heat.
Less dense softwoods have less btu per cord than more dense hardwood but they also weigh less per cord. I live in a low rain area, desertlike, so trees grow slower and are probably denser and higher btu rated than the charts suggest. Weeping willow trees have a lot of character, but they are notorious for having limbs break off when they get big and old. The adverts tell you that it can be harvested approx 2years, is that true. They are the same size but the lowrain tree is twice as old, and the density is much higher. Jan 10, 2012 seasoning your firewood is the process of drying it out in order for it to burn at its best ability. Willow is easy to split, and i do all my splitting with a splitting maul. Firewood measurements 1 cord measures 8 feet long, 4 feet high and 4 feet wide or 128 cubic feet. Wood has close to the same btu per dry pound regardless of species. The best wood to use in your stove and why it is important to use the correct type.
Willow is a lightweight hardwood with good shock resistance, but overall is weak for its weight. A cup of hot cocoa, a warm crackling fire, and good company. If willow firewood is stored anywhere where it can obtain moisture it can sprout and grow into another tree. They are hardwoods, so they give off ample heat, and they both work well for cooking, too. You can be self sufficient with firewood with a relatively small area of willow, plus you can make all your own log baskets etc, and when they wear out just burn them. In fact, the wood contains so much moisture it will rot before it dries out if you dont split it.
Firewood btu ratings chart best firewood heat energy content. If you are calculating the amount of btus for your species of wood, 8084 btus is a good starting point and if you know that your firewood contains a lot of resin then you could use 9000 6% 8460 btus as a starting point. Softwoods such as willow have low ratings on the btu scale, while hardwoods such as oak have a higher rating. If it has been treated, it may still be possible to use the firewood, depending on what was used to. Firewood is easier to split while it is still green. Firewood species burning properties and comparisons. Heating value is based on density, weight, btus, and coaling ability. Some examples of lowheat firewoods include willows, basswood, cottonwood, and yellow tulip poplar.
As long as its a good quality piece of wood, a few firewood btus here and there really wont make a huge difference. Willow is easy and fast to grow, but not the greatest domestic firewood, fine when baled and chucked into drax. Koch is by far the most common clone of crack willow in great britain and ireland, very easily propagated by cuttings. Arrange the logs in a loosely structured stack off the ground, as on a. Forest products laboratory and numerous other sources. Wood species type btu values of a cord burning wood in a wood stove. Cracked under pressure fixing a smashed fingernail a cheap, effective. Green firewood refers to wood that has just been cut. Here is a complete chart of many species commonly found in north america that are used as firewood. Splitting willow can range from easy to difficult depending on the tree and the section of tree you are attempting to split. The more dense a wood is, the more weight and btu it will have. These firewood btu ratings charts compare the heat energy content of common firewood types along with both green and dry weight per firewood cord. All firewood should be obtained, stacked and air dried at least six months prior to burning. Ive been reading about hybrid willow and it seems to be the fastest growing tree about that coppices well and is relatively good for firewood and charcoal making.
Those species shown at the top of the list are the better woods to obtain more wood content per unit volume. Is willow tree wood good for burning in a wood stove. The firewood btu rating charts below give a comparison between different firewood types. This seasoned firewood is ready to burn and will provide you with a. Sold the lot by xmas and everyone who tried it wanted more. A good firewood but due to its high water content of approximately 140% more water than wood. Wood pieces should be split along check lines, cracks that have already formed in the piece during drying. Depending on the species of tree you cut, season and burn, the btu british thermal units will vary. Cutting a tree in autumn or early winter is typically a good bet, as the tissues naturally contain less moisture at the onset of the cold season. The obviouse benifit with this system is the early and regular cropping for smaller areas. This is dried and hopper fed into an appropriate type fire.
Measurements for energy values are presented in millions of btus per cord. It is surpassed by other varieties that have as much as 37% more btus per cord. Sep 15, 2008 has anyone had any experience with the fast growing willow variety to be used for firewood as our central heating is now multifuel and we also have two woodburners so need a good supply of wood. Im looking forward to burning some two years from now, most is still pegging the moisture meter. High gross heating value of 8600 btu s per pound of dried wood. The most common logs used for firewood in victoria, bc are douglas fir, big leaf maple, alder and arbutus. Willow wood may be burned in a fireplace if it is adequately cured dried.
I scored 2 12 cords of northern pin oak late spring and it was some of the easiest firewood i ever split. Hardwoods tend to provide the longest burning coals and burn most efficiently. Green firewood does not burn as well as seasoned firewood, which has time to dry out for a while. I have a reference book that has a bunch of cool stuff in it, 780 pages of stuff and it fits in your pocket as the name implies handyman inyourpocket by richard young and thomas glover. A cord is a stack of wood that is 4 feet deep by 8 feet wide and 4 feet high. Seasoning time varies, but usually at least six months is needed. The higher the btu value, the more heat you get per unit of wood. This table shows those variables that should be evaluated when purchasing firewood. The beauty of growing it like that is the logs only ever reach about 4 in diameter so there is no splitting required. Calculate the amount of btu s one cord of firewood potentially can produce based on species basic specific gravity. We have single trees and tree packs to meet your needs, from wildlife to woodfuel. Firewood with high or very high heat output 1 cord 21,000,000.
Joined feb 6, 2007 messages 14,825 location warshington. Some woods can have up to 50% of its weight in water when freshly cut. Firewood burning chart measured in btus victoriafirewood. Willow alder pine cottonwood spruce cedar large heat powered wood stove fan. I was just wondering if it was any good for firewood. When selecting the perfect firewood to deliver to our clients, willow tree and landscape services looks at a number of factors. Learn all about crack willow, one of the largest willows in the uk. If wood is burned when it is still too wet, the fire will be smokey and slow burning, if it burns for long at all. Softwoods can be used but its extra important that they are properly dried because. Salix fragilis is cultivated as a fastgrowing ornamental tree.