DISPOSAL OF ASHES
Ashes should be placed in a metal container with a tight fitting lid. The closed container of ashes should be placed on a noncombustible floor or on the ground, well away from all combustible materials, pending final disposal. If the ashes are to be disposed of by burial in soil or other wise locally dispersed, they should be retained in the closed container until all cinders have thoroughly cooled.
SOFTWOOD VS HARDWOOD
Softwoods contain about 15 percent highly flammable resin which generates creosote soot in the chimney flue. Burning softwood exclusively may not be as desirable nor as safe as burning denser hardwoods. Many experienced
1.Softwoods produce fast warming and shorter fires. Hardwoods burn less vigorously, have shorter flames and produce steady, glowing coals.
2.As a general rule, denser woods contain more potential heat per pound. Most softwoods offer moderate heat value per pound.
3.Different woods vary widely in flame heights, flame intensities, smoke characteristics and in sparking. Most hardwoods do not spark.
4.Most freshly cut “green” wood will not burn well and will smoke. Green wood can be from 10 to 40 percent less efficient than
5.Moisture and resin found inside unseasoned wood cells will build up pressure under heat and explode as sparks.
6.Most wood needs to be seasoned 9 to 12 months to reduce the moisture content and produce good steady fires. When moisture content is reduced from 60 to 20%, the gain in heat potential is nearly 7%.
7.Proper storage of wood, especially during seasoning, is essential. We recommend that you:
a.Never store wood on the ground. This will cause rotting and insect infiltra- tion. Raise wood on flat rock or scrap wood.
b.Stack wood loosely to allow air circula- tion.
c.Store wood where it will not be exces- sively exposed to weather, such as under a tarp or under a roof.
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d. Do not stack wood directly against the walls of your home.
8.Be a knowledgeable wood buyer. There is a differenceincordsizes.Astandardcordstack of logs is 4 ft. high by 8 ft. long by 4 ft. deep or the equivalent of this cubic footage, (Figure 1).
Standard
Cord of
8' Wood
4'
4'
Figure 1
A face cord is the same height and length as a standard cord but the depth is only the length of the logs (12, 18 or 24 inches). A face cord can contain as little as 25% of the wood found in a standard cord.
If you buy by the ton, remember that wood becomes lighter as it dries. When buying green or wet wood, ask for some extra poundage to allow for the extra water you will be getting.
9.When comparing woods of the same moisture content and same species, we find most woods have approximately the same heating potential per pound.
However, most wood is sold by volume, not by weight. To determine the best heating source, look at the density of various wood types. (Density is the weight for a given size.) The higher the density, the more potential heat output. A standard cord has a volume of 128 cubic feet. This Figure also includes the air space between and around the wood. The actual volume in a standard cord is between 60 and 100 cubic feet; depending on how tightly the wood is packed.
Assuming that you are comparing two standard cords of different species but the same volume and moisture content, the denser species will provide more BTU’s. The table of wood species/ densities reveals more helpful guidelines.
NOTE: DIAGRAMS & ILLUSTRATIONS ARE NOT TO SCALE.
HARDWOODS | DENSITY |
Alser, Red | .41 |
Ash | |
Aspen | |
Basswood, American | .37 |
Beech, American | .64 |
Birch | |
Butternut | .38 |
Cherry, Black | .50 |
Chestnut, American | .43 |
Cottonwood | |
Elm | .60.63 |
Hackberry | .53 |
Hickory, Pecan | .60.66 |
Hickory, True | |
Honey locust | .66 (est.) |
Locust, Black | .69 |
Magnolia | |
Maple | |
Oak, Red | |
Oak, White | |
Poplar | .42 |
Sassafras | .42 |
Sweet gum | .52 |
Sycamore, American | .49 |
Tanoak | .64 (est.) |
Tupelo | .50 |
Walnut, Black | .55 |
Willow, Black | .39 |
SOFTWOODS | DENSITY |
Bald cypress | .46 |
Cedar | |
Douglas Fir | |
Fir | |
Hemlock | |
Larch, Western | .52 |
Pine | |
Redwood | |
Spruce | |
Tamarack | .53 |
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STARTING A FIRE
Note: Caution must be observed when operating this fireplace under windy conditions. Do Not burn large fires, as flames may be drawn out of the firebox. If this occurs, close the glass doors immediately. If not equipped with doors, extinguish the fire or keep it to a minimum if safe. The screens must be closed at all times while in operation, except when feeding the fire.
1.To start a fire in a the fireplace properly, first check the operation of the flue damper.
2.To prevent smoking at