Fireplace owners should pay attention to the type of wood they use because not all wood is created equal. In addition to ensuring that the wood has been seasoned for at least six months, they should determine whether the logs are hardwood or softwood. With so many species of trees on the planet, it is important to know which ones burn the most effectively.
Hardwood trees are plants whose seeds develop within an ovary that becomes a protective vessel. Hardwood is dense, hard, and burns more efficiently than softwood. Softwoods are plants whose seeds develop in a cone or at the end of a short stalk. The faster a tree grows, the softer its wood will generally be. Softwoods are not as hard, are less dense, and burn quicker than hardwoods.
Reproduction method, not density, determines whether wood is hardwood or softwood. For example, balsa wood is one of the least dense and lightest woods available but it is considered a hardwood. Teak, oak, maple, birch, aspen, elm, walnut, ash, and mahogany are other popular hardwoods. Fir, cedar, spruce, and pine are common softwoods.
Wood is a repository for solar energy so when it burns, this stored energy produces light and heat. All types of wood have nearly the same amount of energy per pound. What varies is their density, with denser wood having more energy per volume. Softwood is ideal for kindling because it ignites easily and burns quickly.
When shopping for the next cord of wood, inquire whether it is hardwood or softwood. Both types help create a successful fire in a fireplace or wood stove but each plays a different role. Using softwood to get the fire going and then adding hardwood logs should result in a long-lasting blaze that provides warmth and illumination to the room.