Choosing firewood
The species you burn and, above all, how dry it is decide whether a fire is warm and clean or smoky and disappointing.
Two pieces of wood of the same size can release very different amounts of usable heat. The reasons come down to the density of the species and the amount of water still trapped inside the wood.
Hardwood and softwood
Hardwoods such as beech, oak, hornbeam and ash are dense. A log of dense wood holds more energy per piece and tends to burn down to a steady bed of embers, which is why beech and oak are widely sold for heating across Germany. Softwoods such as spruce and pine are lighter and ignite easily, making them useful for kindling and for getting a fire going quickly, but a load burns through faster.
Moisture is the deciding factor
Freshly cut wood can be roughly half water by weight. Burning wet wood wastes energy boiling that water away, lowers the firebox temperature, and produces more smoke and tar that coats the glass and the inside of the chimney. Properly dried firewood is the single biggest improvement most households can make.
In Germany the sale of firewood and its allowed moisture for use in small appliances is addressed in the federal small-firing ordinance, and dry wood is typically described as being at or below about one-fifth moisture content. An inexpensive pin-type moisture meter, pushed into a freshly split face, gives a quick reading.
What seasoning actually does
- Splitting logs exposes more surface so water can leave the wood.
- Stacking off the ground with gaps between rows lets air move through.
- A cover over the top, with the sides left open, keeps rain off without trapping moisture.
- Time does the rest: dense hardwoods commonly need a year or more of drying, sometimes two.
Reading the wood
Well-seasoned logs are lighter than they look, show cracks radiating from the centre of the cut face, and make a sharp knock rather than a dull thud when two are struck together. Bark that loosens easily is another sign the wood has dried.
| Type | Examples | Best role |
|---|---|---|
| Dense hardwood | Beech, oak, hornbeam, ash | Main heating load |
| Lighter hardwood | Birch | Easy lighting, pleasant flame |
| Softwood | Spruce, pine | Kindling and fast start |
Note that what burns well is not the same as what is allowed. Treated, painted or glued wood, and household waste, should never go into a domestic stove. The companion guide to safe hearth operation covers that, and the appliance guide explains how stove type affects how the fuel performs.