The Worst Types Of Wood That Aren't Worth Burning In Your Fireplace

You settle in for a cozy fire in the living room when you notice an awful smell coming from the fire. At first, you think it's just something on the wood and decide to let it go. Surely it will eventually burn off. But the scent gets worse, and soon the whole house is filled with it. Your warm fireside cuddle session has turned into a panicked race to put out the fire and open as many windows as possible to air things out. It turns out that there was nothing strange on the wood in the fireplace, but it was the wood itself. You had taken a pile of poplar wood from a friend who was renovating his kitchen. Unbeknownst to you, poplar wood lets off a horrible smell when burned, making it one of the worst types of wood for a fireplace.

Poplar and its odious odor are just one example of how important it is to choose the right type of wood for your fireplace. While it might be tempting to toss your pine, spruce, or fir trees in the fireplace post-holiday, those aren't always good choices either. Pine burns hot, which makes it decent for kindling, but if it isn't properly seasoned, it can also produce a lot of flammable creosote that will build up on the chimney walls. Not only could that cause damage, but it makes the chimney more susceptible to catching fire or may even block the airflow and cause gases like carbon monoxide to build up inside your home. Poor air quality is one of the top hidden downsides to traditional fireplaces, with your wood choice affecting how bad it can get. Spruce and fir are similar softwoods that can produce more smoke and soot, which isn't good for your fireplace or your family's health.

The wood-burning fireplace trend is back, but it's important to know what to avoid when selecting the type of wood to burn in it. Softwoods, like pine or cedar, don't work as well in the fireplace. They burn fast, meaning they won't last long and could lead to more creosote that will cause issues in the chimney (this is also why it's crucial to know how to properly clean your fireplace). Hardwoods like oak and maple are denser choices that will give off more heat and last longer, keeping that fire going with less tending from you. Treated or painted wood are other types of wood to avoid. The materials on the wood can produce toxic fumes when burned. As a general rule, don't burn treated wood in your fireplace.

Most importantly, green or freshly cut wood should be avoided. Fresh cut wood has too much moisture, which will limit the fire's heat as it burns off, creating excess smoke and creosote buildup. Always use seasoned wood, logs that have been given adequate time to thoroughly dry out (generally at least six months for softwood and around 18 months for hardwoods). Splitting the wood helps it to dry out faster than whole logs. If you knock two pieces of wood together and get a dull "thunk" noise, it's not dry enough yet. Two pieces of well-seasoned wood will make a clear ringing sound when banged together, and you may notice other signs like cracking in the end grain and a relatively light weight. That's when you know it's ready for the fireplace.