Say Goodbye To Winter Chills: The Long-Burning Firewood That Actually Keeps Your Home Warm

A merrily burning wood fireplace is the quintessential element in a Hallmark Christmas movie. Now, you may want to recreate this to turn your home into a winter wonderland or bask in the glow and warmth of the ignited logs. Either way, your grand plans will turn into a smoky and creosote-filled affair if you stick with the worst types of wood for your fireplace in the winter, a.k.a. softwoods as well as green, rotten, or treated wood. Instead, rely on hardwoods, like oak, to beat the chilly weather and keep your home warm. Although more expensive than its counterparts, it burns longer and gives off high heat. This is why it's considered one of the best options for a wood-burning fireplace.

That being said, not just any oak will do. You need good quality logs that have been seasoned over months. In other words, they should be dried adequately. Ideally, you shouldn't burn oak with a moisture content higher than 15 to 20%. Following this simple strategy will ensure your fires burn cleaner, meaning you won't have to look for the pantry ingredient that'll leave your fireplace soot-free in time for spring: cream of tartar. It also won't promote mold growth. Since some vendors might just sell you green wood in place of cured wood, it's a good idea to inspect the wood before you bring it home. It should feel lighter than recently chopped logs and feature cracks toward the ends. In case this all seems like too much work, look for a vendor that retails kiln-dried logs for a hassle-free experience.

As mentioned above, oak is a top firewood choice because it's denser than other kinds. This forces it to blaze slowly, which, in turn, extends its burning time. In short, you get more out of each log. But its winning quality is the amount of heat it gives off. You can expect each cord (128 cubic feet of firewood) to release anywhere between 26.2 and 29 million BTUs (British Thermal Units) of heat. The exact amount will depend on the type of oak you pick. For example, white varieties emanate about 27.5 BTUs, whereas pin emits 25.9 BTUs, and red as well as bur emit about 24 BTUs. Whichever variety you go with, your living room will feel all toasty during the cold and dreary winter months.

Plus, this firewood burns clean, so you won't have to worry about creosote building up slowly and causing a home fire when you least expect it. And while freshly cut or unseasoned oak logs tend to smell different (white smells vanilla-esque, whereas red smells acrid), they all smell pleasant once they're dry. So, they'll make your interiors smell wonderful when burned. The best part, though? The wood is readily available, so you won't have to search high and low to get your hands on a cord. However, to ensure your logs don't come from older, endangered species, only buy ones that come with a certificate from the Forest Stewardship Council. Despite these pros, oaks don't catch fire easily, so have some kindling or fire-lighters or -starters handy when you burn them in your fireplace.

Even though oak is a premium choice for wood-burning fireplaces, it can be a little taxing on your wallet. To illustrate, a cord of this hardwood can cost anywhere between $250 and $500. This might not be an issue if you don't need to burn wood for a majority of the winter months. However, this can be problematic if the weather is too cold and you need to use the fireplace every day, even if it's just for a couple of hours. Given the high cost, ascertain the measurement's correct to get what you pay for. Also, always get a cord only; don't fall for non-standardized measurement units like rack, face cord, truckload, or pile.

But if you're on a tight budget, buy fresh-cut oak logs for a discount and season them at home. Unfortunately, you can't use them the very season you buy them. This firewood requires at least six months to dry out. Some might even take up to two years, especially if they're harvested in the spring and summer months. In case you aren't willing to wait that long, get wood that's chopped during the winter season because the tree retains less water during the cold months. This allows them to dry faster. With that said, only go this route if you're willing to store the logs carefully. They shouldn't come into contact with water and mustn't be heaped against the walls of your property (otherwise, insects will hunker down in their depths). You'll need dedicated firewood storage racks to get the logs off the ground and cover them properly.