Wood for Warmth

As the nighttime temperatures start to drop below freezing we tend to think more and more about staying warm inside our homes. For most people that means turning on the furnace, baseboards, or other forms of indoor heating. I, however, start to look forward to the opportunity to light a fire in my woodstove. Most months in Wenatchee and the surrounding areas are either too warm, too dry, or some combination of both to need or safely burn a fire. But from November through March, I feel perfectly comfortable burning a fire if I think it’s cold enough outside.

A nice, warm campfire. A similarly sized fire inside a
fireplace would burn well and provide plenty of heat. 
Notice the space between the logs allowing for 
good air flow. 

I enjoy burning wood for a variety of reasons. Some are economical, while others are purely superficial. Burning a fire saves money. When I burn a fire I don’t need to run heat in the rest of my home. I can turn the thermostat off and heat my living areas with my woodstove. I grew up in a home where the heat was left at 60 degrees throughout the winter. (It was even colder during the night.) If you were chilly you either sucked it up or you put on a sweatshirt. I keep my house slightly warmer (~63). My girlfriend hates this. Given the choice she’d have it at 75. I compromise with her by building a fire. The fire will often get the house warmer than I’m willing to keep it with the central air. Everyone wins. I also enjoy the beauty of a fire. There’s something about watching the flames dance behind the glass that’s both enchanting and relaxing.

Now, what do you need to know about burning in your home? Let’s take a look at some of the ins and outs of efficiently and properly using fire.

The most important part of burning is having fuel. And not just any fuel will do. For the most part you should only be burning wood in a fireplace or woodstove. And that wood should come from a tree. Wood that has been painted, treated, or otherwise chemically altered is not fit for burning. Not only could some of those compounds cause the fire to flame up, but there’s a good chance they’re filled with harmful chemicals. Burning such wood is harmful to both your own health and that of the environment. It’s best to stick to wood that’s been cut for the strict intention of burning.

What’s the best type of wood to burn? Dry wood. If your wood is still green or left out in the rain it’s not going to burn well at all. Good firewood should dry at least a year in order to ensure that most of the water has evaporated out. The lower the water content the better your wood will burn. Split your firewood first to ensure it has the largest surface area available to dry with, and don’t stack it too tight. Make sure it stays covered as well.

A fireplace is usually open to the room. Doors or screens

are usually put in front to block things falling in or out.

When burning a fire make sure it stays good and hot. Not so hot your house might catch on fire, but hot enough to keep the wood burning as clean as possible. Don’t pile too much wood in all at once. Keep spaces between the burning wood in order to allow proper air flow. A good way to check your fire is to walk outside and look at what’s coming out of your chimney. If all you can see are heat waves than your fire is burning properly. If you see clouds of billowing smoke than you’re doing something wrong. Either your wood is wet, or it’s not getting enough air flow to burn properly. Not only are you not getting an optimal fire, but you’re polluting the air as well.

What’s the best way to get firewood? That’s up to you. Buying firewood can be quite expensive. A cord of firewood cut, dried, and delivered to your home could easily cost a few hundred dollars. (A cord of wood is a pile measuring 4’x4’x8’. Depending on how much you burn this could last a few weeks or a few months.) Cutting your own is an option, and the basic permit isn’t very expensive, but the amount of work might outweigh the low cost of the permit. To cut your own firewood requires chainsaws, axes, and splitting mauls. Not to mention the ability to haul the cut firewood out of the mountains and back to your home.

A woodstove is enclosed. The door seals, and air enters

through vents. Wood stoves can often heat better 

because of the larger surface area open to the room.

When cutting you have to be aware of where and what you’re cutting. Only cut dead trees, which in our area means watching out for Western larch that only look dead. When in reality they’ve only dropped their needles for the winter. Make sure to avoid any riparian zones. Even if the tree is dead it’s still part of the riparian ecosystem. Don’t travel far from the roadways. It may seem like the better thing to leave trees next to the road, but the dead trees will be removed when they fall over the road later anyways. Also, do you want to haul wood a quarter mile back to your truck?

Another important facet of wood burning is the environmental factor. Burning wood does decrease the amount of electricity you might need for heating your home, but in our area the electricity comes from dams, so you’re replacing a non-air polluting power source with an air polluting heat source. This air pollution includes a lot of fine particulate matter that may be harmful to anyone that breathes large amounts of it. Wood burning can contribute to poor air quality during certain winter conditions. Winter often creates conditions where the air tends to settle in valley areas. The smoke from fireplaces doesn't have a chance or the ability to escape the valleys. We’re left with unhealthy air to breathe. Pay attention to any burn bans that might be in effect. If burning is banned it’s not done to spite you. It’s done because the air quality is poor and doesn't need any more added pollutants.

So, if you’re like me and planning on burning in your home, do it the right way. Make sure your wood is properly prepared. Don’t burn unsafe materials. Watch your fire and make sure it’s burning efficiently. And don’t forget everyone else in your area. Fires are great for heat and entertainment, but keep in mind that other people and the environment might be affected in ways you don't notice.

Stay tuned for next week's article.

Josh