To ensure you get maximum heat output from your firewood, it is important that you burn them in the most efficient manner.
So what is the most efficient way to burn your logs?
Open Fires
The most traditional way for you to burn logs is through an open fire. An open fire is a great way of bringing a very homely feel into your room.
However, the major downside of the open fire is that it is a very inefficient method of heating. This is because the uncontrolled air flow will take hot air from the fire, up through the chimney. An open fire will also draw centrally heated air from the rest of the house. This hot air is replaced with colder, outdoor air which is draw into the house through drafts and vents.
When an open fire is not in use, the chimney can allow large amounts of cold air into the room. Products are available to close off a chimney when it is not in use.
Further to this, open fires run at very low efficiencies, which results in large amounts of smoke and ash with very little useful heat output.
Log Stove
A traditional log stove will provide radiant heat to a single room. When compared to open fires, they will achieve significantly higher efficiencies, meaning a lower fuel requirement.
For maximum efficiency, you should choose the smallest fire box available for your heat requirement, with controlled hot secondary air, and ash retained at the base of the fire. The efficiency of the stove will be reduced with the doors open.
After you have added fuel to your log stove, set it to a fast burn. This ensures all of the gasses are fully burnt. The stove should only be set to a slow burn when all of the wood has been reduced to charcoal and ash.
However you choose to burn your logs, it is equally as important that high quality timber is used. Dry, seasoned hardwood logs will burn for ages and give out plenty of heat.
