Selecting the right firewood

It’s fireplace season and for some of the people making calls to buy firewood I have some bad news: you probably won’t find what you are looking for. You can at least know how to prevent being taken advantage of by unscrupulous sellers, though. Don’t let your need for warmth get you burned in the wallet.

The first step in choosing the best firewood is understanding the different types available. Broadly, there are hardwoods and softwoods. The density of wood also affects how it splits and how well it holds up in storage. Hardwoods found in the Mat-Su include Alder, Willow, Birch such as White and Paper, Cottonwood, Mountain Ash, and Aspen. Alaska's native hardwoods are generally less dense than hardwoods found in other regions such as oak or hickory. Hardwoods are denser and produce longer-lasting, hotter fires. Softwood ignites more quickly but burn faster and can be less efficient. Local softwoods include Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, Alaska Larch, and the infamous Black Spruce. Choose dense hardwoods for a longer, more efficient burn; there is no advantage to softwoods except cost.

Arguably the most misused word for firewood sales is “seasoned.” Seasoned wood is wood that has been allowed to dry properly, usually for at least six months to a year. It ignites easier and burns more efficiently because the moisture content has reduced, typically to around 20%. Green wood contains a higher moisture content and can be challenging to ignite and sustain. Always choose seasoned wood for optimal results.

Moisture content is crucial in determining how well wood burns. Green wood with high moisture content can produce more smoke and creosote because of their slower and more incomplete combustion, This will lead to a buildup of soot in the chimney and significantly increase the risk of a chimney fire. Clean your chimney more often if you must burn wetter woods

Two ways to protect your home and improve your efficiency is to only buy seasoned wood and to invest in a moisture meter to make sure the wood you select has a moisture content of 20% or lower. A visual inspection of firewood is important: seasoned wood will be a consistent color from bark to the core. Wet woods will be darker in the center (for rounds) or triangle (for splits). Wet woods sound full and heavy when dropped, while dry woods tend to have a hollower sound to them.

Different woods impart unique scents and aesthetics to your fire. For a pleasant aroma, some people will burn pine or spruce. These can add an extra layer of ambiance to your fireside experience, but they may produce a lot of resin and creosote, which may not be ideal for indoor use. Do not burn softwoods for their odor unless you adjust your chimney cleaning/

Depending on your location, some types of firewood may be more readily available than others. Choosing local, sustainable options can reduce transportation costs and environmental impact. Explore what grows in your area and get guidance from local suppliers. You can order other woods from out of the region such as oaks and elms, but there is a large shipping cost added to those costs.

Storing and seasoning firewood is just as important as its selection. Wood should be stacked in a way that allows for good airflow and protection from rain and snow. Covering it with a tarp or storing it in a well-ventilated shed can help. The longer you can season the wood, the better it will burn. Do not styack the wood next to a structure, especially your home. An ember landing in the woodpile from a wildfire or campfire can lead to disastrous results. And a fire in a woodpile is more difficult to put out.

This is the part most purchasers make a mistake: don't wait until the first frost to buy or obtain firewood. Plan ahead and purchase or gather wood in the spring or summer. This gives it time to season and be ready for the colder months.

When you order your wood, make sure you get what you buy. A true cord of firewood will be four feet high, four feet wide, and eight feet long, or 128 cubic feet. A pickup bed is not a cord, a trailer made from a pickup bed is not a cord, and the back of a Suburban is not a cord. It costs more to have them stack it on delivery, but that is the only way to be sure it is a complete cord as you ordered.

Safety must always come first, last, and between every step. Avoid burning wood that has been treated with chemicals or paints, as they can release toxic fumes. Burning treated lumber or wood obtained from a torn-down building is never a good idea because of the chemicals it has absorbed.

Christian M. Hartley is a 40-year Alaskan resident with over 25 years of public safety experience and public service. He runs a freelance business, Big Lake Writer, from home in Big Lake that he shares with his wife of 19 years and their three teenage sons.