When it comes to choosing fuel for a wood burner or open fire, it’s important to understand what are the best logs for burning. Logs that burn well and last a long time will help you preserve heat and make your fire more cost-effective. It’s also important to choose wood from sustainable sources.
What type of logs burn the longest?
Hardwoods are generally the best option when it comes to choosing logs. They are dense, have lower moisture content when properly seasoned, and provide a hotter, longer-lasting burn compared to softwoods. Seasoned logs are essential. Our logs are seasoned and dried outside for around 18 months to ensure that the wind and sun dry the sap through the wood. This helps ensure they burn well and shouldn’t blacken the glass of your wood burner or stove.
Do different woods burn differently?
Here’s an overview of some of the best firewood types:
- Ash – burns at a high temperature and lasts well, providing good, steady heat. Unlike some hardwoods, ash has a lower moisture content even when green, so it seasons quickly and is relatively easy to split. It’s ideal as a high-quality firewood which provides reliable heat.
- Beech burns hot with a long time, similar to oak. As a dense wood, it produces a steady warmth over time. It’s best when fully seasoned, which can take a while.
- Birch – burns hot and relatively fast compared to denser woods. It’s easy to ignite, making it great for starting fires. As it burns faster than oak or ash, it’s helpful to mix with slower-burning woods to maintain a long-lasting fire for quick, high heat output.
- Cherry – offers a decent burn time and pleasant aroma, so popular for indoor fireplaces. It burns at a moderate temperature with a steady, clean flame.
- Hazel—Although not regularly used, Hazel is a good option for producing good heat with attractive purple and yellow flames.
- Oak – one of the densest and longest-burning woods, providing excellent heat output. It can take up to two years to properly season, but it’s perfect for long-lasting fires and efficient heating.
Earth Cycle logs contain a hardwood mix of Ash, Silver Birch, Hazel and Cherry. This mixture works well with low moisture content, good heat temperature, a good scent, and the benefit of burning well without spitting.
What’s the best wood for a log burner?
For the best log burner fire, start with a fast-burning softwood or kindling to get the fire going, and then add denser hardwood logs such as oak or beech to maintain a steady, long-lasting burn.
Types of wood you should not burn
Burning manufactured such as MDF, chipboard, or varnished wood should not be burned as the chemicals in the varnish or adhesive used can be harmful to breathe in and can damage your log burner flue. Always stick with natural, seasoned logs for your wood burning in the home.
You should also ensure that your logs are dry, as burning wet logs can cause a lot of smoke which can clog up your flue with soot and will not result in a nice burning fire!
Ordering Logs from Earth Cycle
Our logs have been fully seasoned for over a year and have a low moisture content, which means they offer a consistent and even burn.
Earth Cycle logs are delivered in bulk bags, direct to your home. We don’t pre-cut the wood until your order is placed to ensure the logs are as dry as they can be.
More Inspiration
For the ultimate guide for wood, pick up a copy of Norwegian Wood. With more than 500,000 copies sold this guide is the definitive handbook on the art of chopping, stacking and drying wood in the Scandinavian way.
