What is the difference in the types of wood?
A. Softwoods such as fir and cedar, grow fast and burn fast and hot. They are best for starting the fire. Hardwoods are primarily deciduous trees such as oak and maple and they burn longer than softwoods. See a chart of wood heating values at www.lrapa.org for more information on which wood is best. Q. “Is it important to season wood before burning it?” A. The seasoning, or drying, process allows most of the natural moisture found in wood to evaporate, making it easier to burn. A properly seasoned log will have 20%-30% moisture content. Wood only dries from the surface inward so un-split pieces dry very slowly. To properly season wood, split the logs as soon as possible and stack them in a dry spot for 6-18 months. Pile the wood loosely, allowing air to circulate through the split logs. Hardwoods take longer to dry than softwoods. Humidity and temperature levels also impact drying time. Q. “What’s the best way to load wood into my stove or insert?” A. Avoid placing pieces of wood in pa
