Why choose a wood burning stove? 26th July 2012

Although we can’t claim that burning any fuel is good for the environment, the big advantage of wood is that its a renewable resource. As long as new trees continue to grow in place of those used for fuel, the process is sustainable. Some carbon emissions will be caused by the cultivation, felling and transport of the wood, but as long as the fuel is sourced locally, these can be kept to a minimum. If you’re interested, its worth asking your wood supplier whether their work is ‘sustainable’. SEASONED WOOD A single cubic foot of live oak can contain around 5 and a half litres of water! (the equivalent of one and a quarter gallons). So its important to season wood, allowing it to dry naturally to remove the moisture content. Burning ‘wet’ wood is less efficient and can produce only ten percent of the heat that would be generated by burning properly seasoned wood. So-called ‘ green’ wood can also cause build ups of tar within the flue. Hardwood usually needs to be seasoned for at least two years. To view the full article please lcick on the link below.