Most important to the efficient operation of any
wood heater is the firewood that you put in it. Using softwood such as pine
for kindling is fine but once you have a good flame its time to load in the
hardwood.
Using good hardwood will generate heat for a longer burn time and produce coals that will stay hotter longer but most importantly, you will save in maintenance. If you live in our area we recommend :
Using good hardwood will generate heat for a longer burn time and produce coals that will stay hotter longer but most importantly, you will save in maintenance. If you live in our area we recommend :
Using any bits of wood that
you may find seems cost effective on the surface but you will soon find that
your firebox and flues are dripping with creosote and soot build-up, impairing
the efficient operation of your heater. So although your local chimney sweep
will be happy for the work, you will have an expensive and unsatisfactory
heating experience.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t collect your own timber but if you do, remember species and moisture content are very important so try to work a season ahead splitting and stacking your wood in a dry place for the next winter. Oh! And be careful where you take wood from, small animals need a home too and some areas are protected.
If you prefer to buy your firewood make a few calls around your local area and you will probably find there are a few options from ‘pick-up’ your self to home delivered and stacked.
You can use the guide ‘Firewood Species and their Properties’ to evaluate species in your area but generally if you can get iron bark, red box or yellow box, grab it! Here’s a few tips. ( see links and interesting sites for more)
That’s not to say you shouldn’t collect your own timber but if you do, remember species and moisture content are very important so try to work a season ahead splitting and stacking your wood in a dry place for the next winter. Oh! And be careful where you take wood from, small animals need a home too and some areas are protected.
If you prefer to buy your firewood make a few calls around your local area and you will probably find there are a few options from ‘pick-up’ your self to home delivered and stacked.
You can use the guide ‘Firewood Species and their Properties’ to evaluate species in your area but generally if you can get iron bark, red box or yellow box, grab it! Here’s a few tips. ( see links and interesting sites for more)
Well
seasoned wood still contains about 20% moisture.
Always
fully open air control when starting or refuelling so you can ‘burn off’
or evaporate this moisture. This takes about ten or fifteen minutes then reset
to normal position.
If
your glass door turns black, your firewood is usually the first culprit but
it can also be a result of cutting the air back too early.
Stack
your wood to achieve as much ventilation as possible (in a dry place).
If
you don’t already have them, get a block splitter, a small axe or tomahawk
for splitting kindling and a block. Your timber supplier may be able to help
with the block . Also you’ll find it easier on your back if you elevate
the block so that your strike position is about 90 degrees.
When
splitting large ‘chunks’ of hardwood, look for the grain and go
with it. After a little practice you’ll make it look easy.
Never
burn painted or treated timber.
If
you stack your timber with smaller pieces at one end and larger chunks at the
other, you can easily access a graduating range of sizes which makes starting
and building a fire much easier.
FIREWOOD
SPECIES AND THEIR PROPERTIES |
|||||||
| Firewood Species Common & Botanical Names | Heat per unit Volume (%) | Density (Air Dry, kg/m sq) | Splitting | Ignitability | Coals | Sparks | Availability |
| Eucalyptus spp. (Mallee Roots) | 100 | N.A. | Difficult | Poor | Excellent | Few | Limited |
| Casuarina spp. (Belah, Buloke) | 100 | 1121 | Good | Poor | Excellent | Few | Limited |
| Eucalyptus microcarpa (Grey Box) | 100 | 1121 | Difficult | Poor | Excellent | Few | Good |
| Eucalyptus Laryiflorens (Black Box) | 100 | 1005 | Difficult | Poor | Excellent | Few | Limited |
| Eucalyptus sideroxylon (Red Ironbark) | 97 | 1005 | Difficult | Poor | Excellent | Few | Good |
| Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow Box) | 91 | 1041 | Difficult | Poor | Excellent | Few | Good |
| Eucalyptus Polyanthermos (Red Box) | 91 | 1073 | Difficult | Poor | Excellent | Few | Good |
| Eucaltptus Leucoxylon (Yellow Gum) | 90 | 993 | Difficult | Poor | Excellent | Few | Good |
| Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River Red Gum) | 80 | 897 | Difficult | Poor | Excellent | Moderate | Good |
| Eucalyptus globulus (Blue Gum) | 80 | 977 | Fair | Fair | Good | Few | Good |
| Eucalyptus macrorhyncha (Red Stringybark) | 72 | 865 | Good | Good | Good | Few | Good |
| Eucalyptus radiata (Narrow Leafed Peppermint) | 68 | 801 | Excellent | Good | Good | Few | Good |
| Eucalyptus obliqua (Messmata) | 68 | 721 | Good | Good | Good | Few | Good |
| Eucalyptus regnans (Mountain Ash) | 53 | 673 | Excellent | Excellent | Fair | Moderate | Good |
| Callitris columellaris (White Cypress Pine) | 60 | 673 | Good | Excellent | Poor | Many | Limited |
| Pinus Radiata (Radiata Pine) | 45 | 512 | Fair | Excellent | Poor | Many | Good |
Warm your home without warming the planet.
Did you know that by using sustainably harvested firewood to heat your home you can help to reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions? A 2003 CSIRO study for the Australian Greenhouse Office showed that firewood produces the least amount of carbon dioxide of all heating energy sources. (see chart below).
Did you know that by using sustainably harvested firewood to heat your home you can help to reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions? A 2003 CSIRO study for the Australian Greenhouse Office showed that firewood produces the least amount of carbon dioxide of all heating energy sources. (see chart below).
The report states, "sustainable firewood production
systems have the potential to reduce carbon dioxide
emissions". This is because in sustainably managed
forests, growing trees absorb the same amount of
carbon dioxide that is released when firewood
is burnt. There are some other greenhouse gas
emissions associated with burning firewood
and with its transport, but it is practically a carbon
neutral system. Even "green" energy generators such as wind farms,
hydro stations and solar collectors create a lot of
greenhouse gas during their manufacture
and construction.
Firewood should be recognised as a practic
readily available source of "green" energy.
Unlike other sources, firewood does not need major capital investment or infrastructure.
Unlike other sources, firewood does not need major capital investment or infrastructure.
Every tonne of dry firewood contains approximately 20,000 Megajoules of stored energy. To understand how this stored energy compares to other forms of "green" energy such as wind power, you need to convert the electricity they produce from Megawatt hours into Megajoules. One Megawatt hour equals 3,600 Megajoules. This means that a typical 660 kW wind turbine will generate approximately the same amount of energy in one year as you can get from 315 tonnes of firewood. A 2000 study estimate Australia's annual firewood consumption at around 4,000,000 tonnes. This is equivalent to the annual output of 12,700 (660 kW) wind turbines or six large (500 MW) coal fired power stations.
Using firewood to heat our homes is an excellent way to reduce our reliance on coal-fired power generation. Purchase your firewood from FAA certified suppliers to be confident that the wood has been harvested legally from sustainable sources so that biodiversity and threatened species have been protected. Avoid disreputable firewood sellers by seeking out a certified sustainable firewood supplier to be sure that you are actually getting the wood type and quantity that you pay for. By burning properly seasoned sustainable firewood, sold by FAA licensed suppliers, in a well maintained fireplace or woodheater you can enjoy your fire knowing that you are helping the environment.
©
Abbey Design 2011.
All Rights Reserved.
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ABBEY
FIREPLACES SYDNEY
26 Roger Street, Brookvale, NSW 2100
Ph (02) 9939 9848 , OR Ph or Fax (02) 9939 4818.
For email go to contact us page.
26 Roger Street, Brookvale, NSW 2100
Ph (02) 9939 9848 , OR Ph or Fax (02) 9939 4818.
For email go to contact us page.
ABBEY FIREPLACES SOUTH COAST
136 Industrial Road, Oak Flats, NSW 2529
Ph (02) 4256 5555
For email go to contact us page.
136 Industrial Road, Oak Flats, NSW 2529
Ph (02) 4256 5555
For email go to contact us page.
