What are the best types of wood to burn in my wood stove?
The woodheat.org website has a list of wood types in the order of BTUs they produce. Hardwoods produce the greatest amount of BTU while softwoods produce the least. If you think about it, it makes sense. You need to see what types of wood are available in your area and the differing costs for each type. If it is legal in your area to gather and cut your own wood, it would be important to find the best type so that you maximize your effort. I have a Kozi free-standing wood burning stove. We use wood that we gather on our lake and store for the winter. Most of the wood in our area is hemlock, fir, pine and cedar. Hardwoods rarely make it into our wood source. I don’t see it on the list, but we find that yellow ceda
A reasonable answer is whatever the hardest wood that is easily available in your area. But for burning qualities, Oak, Maple and Locust are terrific. Locust is common here, and on the two acres we used to have, we had enough deadfall every year to keep the house heated. It handles and splits more easily than oak. Maple’s more brittle. All three burn hot and CLEAN–they won’t gunk up your chimney as much as some of the softer woods. Whatever it is, you’ll do best if it’s split and cut to the right size for your firebox, and is well seasoned and dry.
