FAQs

We recommend burning one of the many hardwoods that are available in the UK on a wood burner or open fire.

Hardwoods are generally more dense than softwood and therefore burn for longer and produce more heat. Hardwoods are also less resinous than softwoods and are therefore less likely to result in a build up of tar deposits in your flue, reducing its efficiency or increasing the risk of a flue fire.

Despite providing a more efficient fuel source, hardwood can be difficult to ignite from cold. Softwood kindling is therefore best used to get a fire started, the resinous and fibrous nature of softwood helping it to burn from cold. Once a fire is established and there is some heat in the base of the fire, it should be fuelled with hardwood to maintain a slow burning fire with a good heat output.

Softwood can produce a pleasing flame to look at but it will burn very quickly and you will get through a large volume of wood in a short time.

All wood should be seasoned before burning for the appropriate amount of time. Different woods have different initial water content, often determined by where a tree grows. Willow, for example, likes to grow in wet soils or besides water bodies, therefore the wood from this tree has a high water content and requires longer seasoning. Firewood should have a moisture content of below 20% at least for burning. The density of the wood also affects how long it needs to be seasoned for. Oak is a very dense wood and can take up to 2 years to season fully.

Most resins seem to be found in coniferous trees, not in deciduous trees.

Incomplete combustion of wood can cause a build up of chimney creosote. Resinous woods can add to that.

Usually, yes. Both woods have fibrous properties: fibers are longer and thinner in softwood and shorter and thicker in hardwood. Softwood is known to burn more easily that hardwood so is often used as kindling.

Softwood has a larger flame that doesn’t last too long.

Trees do have different water content.

Yes, it can take between 10 and 20 percent longer for dense wood to season.

It can take up to 24 months to season oak because it is a dense wood.

Between 6 and 24 months for hardwood and between 6 and 12 months for softwood.

Kiln dried wood can kill fungi and insect infestations and the water content can be easier to control. However, drying out wood too much can cause it to burn too fast. However, wood that has been seasoned correctly is just as good as kiln dried wood for burning.

We recommend burning one of the many hardwoods that are available in the UK on a wood burner or open fire.

Hardwoods are generally more dense than softwood and therefore burn for longer and produce more heat. Hardwoods are also less resinous than softwoods and are therefore less likely to result in a build up of tar deposits in your flue, reducing its efficiency or increasing the risk of a flue fire.

Despite providing a more efficient fuel source, hardwood can be difficult to ignite from cold. Softwood kindling is therefore best used to get a fire started, the resinous and fibrous nature of softwood helping it to burn from cold. Once a fire is established and there is some heat in the base of the fire, it should be fuelled with hardwood to maintain a slow burning fire with a good heat output.

Softwood can produce a pleasing flame to look at but it will burn very quickly and you will get through a large volume of wood in a short time.

All wood should be seasoned before burning for the appropriate amount of time. Different woods have different initial water content, often determined by where a tree grows. Willow, for example, likes to grow in wet soils or besides water bodies, therefore the wood from this tree has a high water content and requires longer seasoning. Firewood should have a moisture content of below 20% at least for burning. The density of the wood also affects how long it needs to be seasoned for. Oak is a very dense wood and can take up to 2 years to season fully.

Most resins seem to be found in coniferous trees, not in deciduous trees.

Incomplete combustion of wood can cause a build up of chimney creosote. Resinous woods can add to that.

Usually, yes. Both woods have fibrous properties: fibers are longer and thinner in softwood and shorter and thicker in hardwood. Softwood is known to burn more easily that hardwood so is often used as kindling.

Softwood has a larger flame that doesn’t last too long.

Trees do have different water content.

Yes, it can take between 10 and 20 percent longer for dense wood to season.

It can take up to 24 months to season oak because it is a dense wood.

Between 6 and 24 months for hardwood and between 6 and 12 months for softwood.

Kiln dried wood can kill fungi and insect infestations and the water content can be easier to control. However, drying out wood too much can cause it to burn too fast. However, wood that has been seasoned correctly is just as good as kiln dried wood for burning.

If you live in a smoke-control area you can only burn certain kinds of smokeless fuels – not firewood logs – in a burner that vents out of a roof chimney. You can still burn firewood in a garden chiminea, firepit or pizza oven in a smoke-control area. Learn more aboutsmoke control area rules on www.gov.uk.

Here in Weybridge, we’re not in a smoke-control area. Check with your local council to find out if you live in a smoke-control area, or use DEFRA’s interactive map.

There are many efficient wood-fuelled heating options available, and a modern wood stove can allow you to rely less on other fuels for heating your home. Learn more about wood-fuelled heating systems from The Energy Saving Trust.