Which wood is right for your stove?
2 min read
Spruce for a fire that catches quickly, beech for a steady bed of embers: that is a useful starting point. Dry logs of the right size matter more than the species name, though. The fuel must also be suitable for your particular stove.
Spruce and fir for getting the fire going
Softwood catches readily. Small pieces of spruce or fir are useful for lighting and building a lively fire. They can suit a fireplace insert or wood stove when you want warmth fairly quickly.
Softwood is a normal fuel for suitable closed appliances. Its resin can make it crackle and throw sparks, so open the door carefully and only add the specified fuel load.
Beech for steady embers
Beech is denser than spruce and produces a substantial bed of embers. That can be useful when you want sustained warmth or are continuing to cook on a wood-fired hob. Oak is another dense firewood.
Check the unit when buying logs. A stacked cubic metre of beech contains more energy than the same volume of spruce. By weight, the species are much closer. Compare the quantity and dryness of the wood as well as the price of a stack.
What to burn in a storage stove
A masonry stove stores heat from a vigorous burn. It does not need a fire that smoulders for as long as possible. Spruce may be suitable too. The design and operating instructions specify the right fuel quantity and log size.
With a wood cooker, think about the task: small logs to bring it up to heat, or steady embers to carry on cooking. When we show you how to use your cooker, we explain how to achieve both.
Our main advice: use dry logs
Choose untreated, properly dried wood. Around 15–20 per cent water content is a common guideline. Water content and the wood-moisture reading on a meter are different measurements. Take the reading on a freshly split inner face, rather than on the bark.
Damp wood wastes heat and encourages soot. Start with properly dried logs and the correct air setting for your stove.