Is Hardwood Firewood Really Better Than Softwood For Wood Stoves?
Hardwood firewood, in many parts of the world, is the most sought after type of firewood compared to softwood. Is hardwood really that much better and is there really a noticeable difference between the two? There is a difference between the way some hardwoods and softwoods burn. I say some hardwoods because there are some hardwoods that burn more similar to softwoods. The biggest difference between the two is the density. Many hardwoods like oak and hickory are much more dense than softwoods. But some hardwoods like cottonwood, alder and aspen are more similar to softwoods in density. High density hardwoods that are considered by many to be the best firewood, are some of the most dense woods. This means there is more actual solid wood in any given sized piece. Since there is more actual wood in dense hardwoods, they also produce more energy and burn longer than less dense softwoods. For heating a home with a wood stove this makes hardwood a good choice since the wood will last longer
