Why Kiln Dried?
Why kiln dried?
Burning wet wood is inefficient. A proportion of the heat is used to drive off the moisture which also reduces the temperature of the fire, this results in incomplete combustion of the wood and the gases and charcoal it produces.
Kiln dried firewood logs burn with a higher heat output and greater efficiency than wet logs, giving better fuel efficiency and fewer problems with stoves and flues.
Kiln dried hardwood firewood logs can give 3 times as much heat as the same amount of wet softwood logs
Why hardwood?
The density of softwoods is about half that of hardwoods but heat output/kg is roughly the same. Therefore it requires almost twice as many softwood logs to produce the same amount of heat as the same sized hardwood firewood logs. Softwoods also produce tars and resins that cause problems with stoves and flues.
Why pack the logs in bags?
After the logs are dried they are packed into plastic bags as soon as possible. This helps prevent the logs reabsorbing moisture from the atmosphere. It also provides a convenient way to transport and store the firewood logs. As they are waterproof the bags can be kept outside without additional protection from the elements. The bags will allow the logs to be carried into your home without leaving a trail of bark and sawdust.
Drying the Logs
Our premium quality firewood logs are first seasoned in open barns. To achieve maximum heat output they are then dried to below 20% moisture content through the same process used for drying timber for constructional use.
The drying process is undertaken via a carefully controlled programme where temperature and humidity are monitored throughout. This avoids the residual pockets of moisture and patches of burnt wood that can result from shorter drying times using a higher heat input used by other companies .
Growing the logs
The timber used to produce our firewood logs is sourced from well managed broadleaved woodlands.
As a woodland matures the trees require more light and space so the number of trees is gradually reduced leaving the healthiest to grow on. This process is known as thinning, as well as helping the trees this operation lets more light into the woodland which benefits the plants and animals that live there.
Even trees die eventually, before this happens they are harvested to provide products from floorboards and furniture to chipboard and paper – and of course firewood.
After harvesting the wood is replanted and the cycle begins again.
It’s a long process, some of our woods here in the Forest of Dean were planted over 200 years ago at the request of Admiral Lord Nelson to provide a reserve of timber for the Royal Navy!
.
