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Installation and Operation Manual - HE275CF
ENGLISH
3.1 Tree Species
The tree species the firewood is produced from is less important than its moisture content. The
main difference in firewood from various tree species is the density of the wood. Hardwoods are
denser than softwoods.
Homeowners with access to both hardwood and softwood use both types for different purposes.
Softer woods make good fuel for mild weather in spring and fall because they light quickly and
produce less heat.
Softwoods are not as dense as hardwoods so a given volume of wood contains less energy.
Using softwoods avoids overheating the house, which can be a common problem with wood
heating in moderate weather. Harder woods are best for colder winter weather when more heat
and longer burn cycles are desirable.
Hardwood trees like oak, maple, ash and beech are slower growing and longer lived than softer
woods like poplar and birch. That makes hardwood trees more valuable. The advice that only
hardwoods are good to burn is outdated. Old, leaky cast iron fireplaces wouldn’t hold a fire
overnight unless they were fed large pieces of hardwood.
3.2 Log Length
Logs should be cut at least 1" (25 mm) shorter than the firebox so they fit in
easily. Pieces that are even slightly too long makes loading the fireplace very
difficult. The most common standard length of firewood is 16" (400 mm).
3.3 Piece Size
Firewood dries more quickly when it is split. Large unsplit rounds can take years to dry enough
to burn. Even when dried, unsplit logs are difficult to ignite because they don’t have the sharp
edges where the flames first catch.
Wood should be split to a range of sizes, from about 3" to 6" (75 mm to 150 mm) in cross
section. Having a range of sizes makes starting and rekindling fires much easier.
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