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Everyone knows a toasty fire can turn even the chilliest night into a pleasant evening. But if your fires are more fizzle than flame, the comfort may not be worth the effort. The wood you choose to stoke your chilly days and nights does make a difference. We started with a search on "best firewood" and quickly found our answer. Master Sweep Chimney Service provides a thorough background on how to pick your wood. Master Sweep says, "It does not matter what kind of wood you burn: as long as it is really, truly seasoned." Seasoning wood is the process of letting the wood dry thoroughly over a period of a year or more. Unseasoned wood contains too much moisture,
smolders instead of burns, and doesn't produce substantial heat. Putting aside the issue of seasoning wood, they recommend burning hard woods such as oak, madrone, eucalyptus, or walnut. For those who light up only occasionally, they recommend fir for its easy, consistent burn and pleasant smell. Still smoldering for more information, we found a chart based on data from the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory. These numbers suggest using black locust, beech, or ash to really fan the flames. While there seems to be no consensus among wood aficionados, we're sure these sites and a spark of common sense will help you pick the right wood to grace your fireplace.
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