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Advantages of Kiln-Dried Firewood

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Kiln-Dried Firewood

The advantages of kiln-dried firewood that we're going to look at in this article include the following:

  • It lights more easily
  • More efficient
  • It offers a clean burn
  • Produces less smoke and sparks
  • Easy to transport and store
  • An excellent choice for chefs
  • It's easy to transport and store
  • Environmentally friendly
  • You can store kiln-dried logs for longer

Now, let's go through these benefits in depth so you know what to expect from kiln-dried firewood.

Kiln-Dried Firewood Lights More Easily

Kiln-dried firewood has a moisture content of less than 20%, which is a good indication that the logs will light easily. Since the water and sap have been dried at a high temperature, the wood becomes easy to ignite, giving it a higher combustion temperature. As a result, you'll get a hotter and longer-lasting fire when using kiln dried firewood.

It can be challenging and frustrating to start a fire with high-moisture firewood. Besides taking time to start the fire and using too many match sticks, it takes away all the fun. Also, getting the moisture levels down in air-dried wood can take a very long time compared to kiln drying.

It's More Efficient

When you burn firewood that is not completely dry, some heat is lost through the smoke. Kiln-dried wood burns hotter for longer; since it smokes less, it's more efficient.

Using efficient firewood minimizes the number of logs you can use, saving you money.

Offers a Clean Burn

Enjoy a clean burn from kiln-dried firewood

Enjoy a clean burn from kiln-dried firewood

When choosing firewood, you want to ensure a quality product that offers a clean burn. Kiln-dried firewood will deliver precisely this and more, as its drying process results in a much drier product than air-dried wood.

Clean burning means there will be:

  • Less soot blacking your stove: One effect of wet wood is producing soot and other small particles which quickly build up on your stove glass. Soot on your stove means cleaning it more often, which can be time-consuming, especially if you're busy with other things. Unlike air-dried wood, kiln-dried logs produce less soot, saving you time and money that you could have used to buy detergents for cleaning.
  • Less tar or creosote buildup in the chimney: Creosote is a dangerous byproduct of wood burning. The creosote buildup hangs on your chimney like a time bomb, ready to go off at the right temperatures.

Chimneys subjected to creosote buildup need regular cleaning, so you will cough up some cash whenever it needs cleaning. This will happen more often when you use regular firewood. However, kiln-dried firewood reduces creosote buildup, meaning your family and home will be safer.

One disadvantage of kiln dried firewood is that it's a bit more expensive than air-dried wood. However, kiln-dried firewood is the way to go if you're looking for logs that will offer a clean burn and give you a bang for your buck.

Produces Less Smoke and Sparks

Imagine having your friends over, and you decide it's time to add warmth to the house. You finally manage to light the fire, but unfortunately, the room is filled with smoke. Your friends are coughing, and some even excuse themselves to go out and breathe some fresh air. Embarrassing right?

The good thing is that you don't need to be embarrassed anymore! Switch from air-dried regular logs to kiln dried firewood, and your friends will enjoy more late-night talks in your home. On top of this, open fires will be more enjoyable.

Using air-dried or greenwood in your home can cause burning eyes, a runny nose, or other allergies. On top of this, the smoke permeates the room during strong winds or if your chimney is blocked. Worse still, your clothes pick up the smelly smoke, which can be very unpleasant.

Another issue with wet firewood is that it contains moisture pockets with gases that explode from high heat, leading to spark production.

When the pockets pop, they can send sparks and hot embers into the chimney, which can cause a fire if the flue has creosote buildup. You can use kiln-dried logs like hornbeam firewood since it spits and sparks less.

Easy to Transport and Store

Kiln-dried wood is light since it has a lower moisture content. Too much moisture causes the wood to be heavy, making it hard to move from one place to another.

With kiln-dried firewood, your hands and back will carry less weight. For example, moving the firewood from the store to an outside fire pit can be challenging if the wood is heavy.

Furthermore, the lighter the logs, the more you can carry, meaning your trips between the log storage and your stove are reduced. Since kiln-dried firewood is easy to transport and store, it makes an excellent choice for campers.

Kiln-dried firewood storage is easier than air-dried logs as well. Therefore, you can store them indoors, such as in a log store. This helps prevent exposure to moisture and keep out pests and molds.

An Excellent Choice for Chefs

barbeque on an open fire

Cooking with kiln-dried firewood adds unique taste to your meat

If you're a chef, you know that the quality of your food can depend on the quality of your firewood. This means that some chefs use firewood as their secret ingredient. Some chefs say that food (especially meat) cooked using firewood has a unique taste compared to that cooked on a stove. However, it's not just any firewood! If you use logs that are not completely dry, your food may have a smoky taste. That's why many top chefs only use kiln-dried firewood for cooking their food.

Kiln-Dried Wood Is Environmentally Friendly

Using fuelwood is often associated with pollution, especially wood with more than 20% moisture levels. However, kiln dried firewood is termed an eco-friendly product since it does not produce smoke or particulate matter that pollutes the air.

As indicated above, burning firewood with a higher water content produces too much smoke, which wastes heat. Kiln-dried logs keep the heat, meaning they will burn for longer. So, you will use less wood, thus protecting the environment.

You Can Store Kiln-Dried Logs for Longer

Seasoned logs absorb moisture easily, unlike kiln-dried ones. Further, the firewood has been sanitized by the high heat during the drying process, killing all bugs and pests. Pest-free logs mean you can store them for longer. This is a plus, especially if you're considering starting a firewood business.

You only have to ensure that you keep them in a place with good airflow and ventilation. Also, avoid laying them on the floor. Instead, you can raise them off the ground using a rack, box, or pallet.

Good for Aesthetics

Kiln-dried logs such as oak firewood produce a mild aroma when burned. The fragrance brings a real fire ambiance into your home. Additionally, because the wood is dried with care, kiln-dried logs come in a visually appealing shape.

Reduced Respiratory Problems

Burning wood leads to smoke, which is the emission of fine particles and gases such as carbon dioxide. Breathing too much smoke can lead to eye and respiratory issues. Some of these problems might include burning eyes, running nose, wheezing and sneezing, blocked nostrils, throat irritation, runny nose, and illnesses such as bronchitis.

Smoke and other particles can also trigger irregular heartbeats, asthma, and other respiratory conditions.

Using kiln-dried firewood reduces the effects that can be caused by wood that produces too much smoke. For example, kiln-dried oak firewood reduces smoke production, so you can fully enjoy your fire without worrying about triggering your asthma.

What Is the Best Kiln-Dried Firewood?

The kiln-dried oak firewood is the best wood that you can choose for your fire. It's the most popular option since it burns slowly, is hotter, and produces fewer sparks. Ashwood, birch, alder, and hornbeam firewood also offers excellent fires.

In addition, if you're looking for the best firewood that will burn longer, burn hotter, spit less, and require less storage, go for kiln-dried hardwood. This is because softwood tends to burn faster, making it only a good option for starting your fire but not sustaining it.

Seasoned Wood vs Kiln-Dried: What's the Difference?

Seasoned firewood is left to air dry for six months to a year. On the other hand, kiln-dried firewood is wood that has been dried in a kiln. It is typically drier and lighter than seasoned firewood and burns more evenly. However, it also tends to be more expensive.

So which type of firewood should you buy? It depends on your needs and preferences. If you want a cheaper choice, go for seasoned firewood. However, go for kiln-dried logs if you're looking for the best quality wood to give you a consistent fire that burns hotter for longer.

Does Kiln Dried Firewood Need to Be Seasoned?

No. You don't have to air-dry firewood in order to kiln-dry it. The one advantage of kiln-drying firewood is saving a lot of time. It usually takes 6-7 days to dry firewood in a kiln, compared to 6–18 months of air drying. However, the exact duration will depend on the type of wood.

 
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