Making a Fire and Choosing the Right Solid Fuel

At this time of the year it’s important to start thinking about what fuel to use for your open fire or stove.  There are many suppliers of logs and kindling but some offer a far more superior product than others.  We have tried to outline some of the things you should consider when buying your solid fuel for the winter to help you decide what is the most suitable for you.

Fire Starters

There are several different ways of starting a fire in a stove or grate but once you get the knack of it you will be able to start them quickly and efficiently every time.  The best method to start the fire is-

Compressed Blocks

These are small odorless blocks made from combustible materials (usually compressed sawdust), which has been soaked in an accelerant such as kerosene.  They often have a thin plastic cover to avoid any transfer to your hands.  Because they ignite very quickly they reduce the need for so much kindling.

Liquid Petrol and Petrol Blocks

These fire lighters/starters contain a petroleum based lighter fluid.

You then build the fire starting with….

Kindling

Everyone remembers to buy logs for the fire but they can be difficult or impossible to start burning without kindling.  Kindling are small pieces of dry wood that are used to start a fire because they are easily combustible.  The smaller and drier it is, the easier it will catch fire.  Kindling is the perfect base from which to start your fire.

Lastly and most importantly you then add….

Logs

We recommend logs should be seasoned for 2 years or more to achieve a moisture content below 20%.  This will not only give up to twice the output of freshly felled timber but help avoid a build up of tar in your stove/fires flue.  A well seasoned log burned efficiently should burn for over an hour.

Logs are a renewable fuel, which is better for the environment.  When it is burned efficiently very little smoke and carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.

Seasoned logs are more efficient and burn for up to twice as long because any moisture in the wood has to ‘boil off’ before the wood can start to burn.  Damp/unseasoned wood also produces more tar & smoke, which can lead to a build up or corrosive and toxic substances, which in turn increases the chances of a chimney fire.

If there are radial cracks in the log and the bark comes off easily this is a good indication that the log is well seasoned.

Another thing to consider when buying logs is the type of wood.  Hard woods (from deciduous – trees that loose their leaves) are denser than soft woods (evergreen/coniferous trees).  For example a cubic meter of hardwood would take up less space than a cubic meter of softwood but would burn for up to twice as long.  This is also means your need to top up your stove/fire less often.

It is also wise to remember that everything that burns will leave trace materials behind no matter how efficient and clean the fuel.  So to maintain the life of your chimney flue & appliance as well as for piece of mind for the safety of your family, it is recommended that chimneys with solid fuel fires or stoves are swept at least once if not twice a year.