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Page 11
OPERATING YOUR APPLIANCE (Continued)
Wood
This appliance is designed to burn natural wood only. Higher efficiencies and lower
emissions generally result when you burn air dried, seasoned hardwoods as compared to
softwoods or to green or freshly cut hardwoods. DO NOT BURN treated wood, garbage,
solvents, trash, coal, cardboard, colored paper, or wax impregnated logs (i.e. Duraflame,
etc.). Burning treated wood, garbage, solvents, colored paper or driftwood from salt water
may result in release of toxic fumes and may render the appliance ineffective and void the
limited warranty. Burning coal, cardboard or loose paper can produce soot, large flakes, char
or fly ash that can coat the inside of your appliance, causing smoke spillage into the room.
Choosing the kind of firewood to burn in your appliance depends on what is available to you.
If all you can obtain is softwoods, obviously, that will be your choice.
Softwoods such as pine and fir are easily ignited and burn rapidly with hot flames. Since
they burn so easily and quickly you will have to spend more time loading your firebox,
especially in the high burn mode. With softwoods it will be much more difficult to achieve an
overnight burn. Furthermore, softwoods make it necessary to reload the appliance more
often. The chart below outlines the advantages of using hardwood.
SPECIES* LBS./CORD** BTU's/CORD** Hours per Cord at 40,000 BTU's
per Hour**
ALDER
2540 19,050,000 476
APPLE
4400 33,000,000 825
ASH
3440 25,800,000 645
BIRCH
3040 22,800,000 705
CEDAR
2060 15,450,000 386
COTTONWOOD
2160 16,200,000 405
DOGWOOD
4320 31,725,000 793
ELM
2260 16,950,000 423
FIR, DOUGLAS
2970 22,275,000 556
HEMLOCK
2700 20,250,000 506
MAPLE
3200 24,000,000 600
OAK, RED
3680 27,600,000 690
OAK, WHITE
4200 31,500,000 787
PINE
2250 16,875,000 421
REDWOOD
2400 18,000,000 450
SPRUCE
2240 16,800,000 420
* At 20% moisture content
** All values are approximate
If you have a choice it is best to use the more dense hardwoods for a longer lasting fire. The
best arrangement is to have a mix of softwoods and hardwoods for ease of start-up and a
longer lasting fire. Also, it is a good idea once the fire is established to use larger diameter
logs stacked tightly together. This will promote a longer burn time.
Wood is typically sold by the "cord". A cord is a nicely stacked pile of logs measuring 4 feet
wide by 4 feet high by 8 feet long. Always look for the driest wood especially if you purchase
your wood by weight. Unseasoned, wet wood is much heavier.
Moisture content of the wood greatly affects the way any appliance operates. Well seasoned
wood (split, stacked and kept dry for at least 12 months) is your best fuel choice.