Are wood burners a good choice for heating homes?
They can be…if wood is properly air-dried and burned in an efficient, modern wood- burning stove; the heat from a cord of native hardwood can produce a lot of heat. Hard woods give off more heat when burned. Studies have shown that hardwoods, thoroughly dried for a year, have the best combustion efficiency and produce fewer pollutants and gases than softwoods. Most wood should be seasoned 6 to 9 months, preferably over the summer months. Wet wood reduces the overall heating efficiency since the cooling effect of the water prevents complete combustion. Wet wood ignites more slowly, it will go out more quickly, and it is more likely to smoke. Softer woods can be used as kindling or for heating on warm days. Soft woods are not a good source of heat. You can also visit our sister site at. www.rangenet.
