Dry Firewood - how to get the most out of your Fire
Dry Firewood makes Winter so much easier - What you need to know!
When the chill of winter sets in, nothing compares to the warmth and comfort radiating from a crackling fireplace. Nothing beats the comforting warmth of a crackling fire fueled by dry firewood.
But are you truly maximizing your warmth? The secret to a toasty home lies not just in having dry firewood but in understanding how to use it effectively.
Say goodbye to struggles with damp firewood and hello to a roaring fire! We will unlock the secrets to identifying the dry firewood for a great fire!
Why is Dry Firewood so important?
Dry firewood is essential for a great fire for following reasons:
- Efficiency: Dry wood burns hotter and more efficiently than wet wood. This means you get more heat from less wood, which can save you money in the long run.
- Less Smoke: Burning dry firewood produces less smoke, which is better for air quality. Wet wood emits more creosote and pollutants, contributing to air pollution and increasing the risk of chimney fires.
- Easier to Light: Dry wood catches fire more easily compared to wet wood, reducing the amount of time and effort needed to start a fire.
- Longer Burn Time: Wood that is properly dried has a lower moisture content, allowing it to burn longer and more consistently, providing sustained heat.
- Reduced Creosote Buildup: Using dry firewood helps minimise creosote buildup in chimneys, decreasing the likelihood of chimney fires and reducing maintenance needs.
Firewood should ideally be seasoned for 6–12 months, stored in a dry place that allows good airflow.
We have come along way with clean air in Christchurch
How to know you have Dry Firewood
To determine if you have dry firewood, you can check for several signs:
- Moisture Content: Ideally, dry firewood should have a moisture content of around 20% or lower.
- Weight: Dry firewood is significantly lighter than wet firewood.
- Smell: Dry firewood tends to smell dusty, damp wood has a musty smell.
- Cracking and Splitting: Look for visible cracks or splits in the ends of the logs. Dry firewood often has cracks, which indicate it has lost moisture. (See photos below for examples)
- Bark Separation: The bark on dry firewood may begin to separate from the wood itself. If the bark comes off easily (this also makes great kindling).
- Burn Test: If you burn a piece and it ignites easily and produces a steady flame with minimal smoke.
Where to Buy Dry Firewood
If you don't want to go the hassle of drying your own firewood make sure you buy from a GOOD WOOD MERCHANT. Garden Box is proud to have been a registered Good Wood Merchant since we started trading in 2018.
Be careful buying from unregistered suppliers offering good "Cash Prices" as they may not comply with the Good Wood Merchant Standards.
All Garden Box Firewood is Dry and Ready to burn when sold.
Garden Box Firewood FAQ:
How do your sell firewood?
Firewood is sold in "SCOOPS" which are 1/3 of a m3 (3 Scoops to the m3).
A single scoop of wood can be stacked in the boot of most cars. We have dedicated loading bins at the yard.
Trailers - Garden Box has trailers for hire that can take up to 6 scoops (2m3)
Do you deliver?
Delivery is based on volume and location. Our Online Ordering system calculates delivery costs for you or you can call the Garden Box team for a Quote.
FREE DELIVERY, if you order over 4m3 (12 scoops), delivery is free in Christchurch city area, West Melton, Prebbleton, Lincoln, Tai Tapu and Rolleston.
We deliver 7 days a week.
Do you offer deferred payment options?
Yes! To help spread the cost we now have ZIP and Afterpay deferred payment plans in place – up to 6 weeks interest free! (T&C apply).
To use deferred payment order online or come to the yard (Sorry we can't process on the phone).
Whats the difference between stacked and thrown wood?
Garden Box sells wood as a thrown or tossed measure, this means that the volume of wood is calculated as if the wood has been dumped into a container and not stacked.
1 tossed cubic metre will reduce by approx 1/3 when stacked neatly.
What is a Cord of Firewood?
A cord is an old measure of stacked firewood - 8 feet long and 4 feet high and wide.
We don't sell in cords - we use m3
Can we order mixed scoops of firewood?
YES!
We encourage mixing firewood types to get the best options for different stages of the fire's life.
Starting: Kindling and Soft Wood (Pine)
Getting it going: Soft or Medium wood establishes a great base of embers.
Settling in: Hardwood - heavy wood that burns long and hot.
Will you stack my wood for me?
YES!
Contact Garden Box for a quote to stack your wood away.
How much firewood should I budget for?
This is a really hard question to answer. It all depends on:
- Number or people in the house.
- Size of the house.
- Are you home all day.
- Type of wood you burn.
- Type of fire.
On average our customers use 6 to 12 m3 per winter (very rough guide).
Do you provide Free WINZ quotes?
YES
We are set up as an approved WINZ supplier and can provide a quote normally within a couple of hours.
Follow this link for a quote