Choosing and Storing the Right Firewood for Your Wood Burning Stove

A good wood burning stove is only as effective as the fuel going into it. Burn the wrong wood or wood that is too wet, and you will struggle with poor heat output, a smoky firebox, and a rapid build-up of tar and creosote inside your flue. Get the fuel right, and your stove will perform exactly as it should, keeping your home warm while running as efficiently as possible.

Our team installs stoves across the UK every week, and one of the most common questions we hear after handover is: 'What wood should I be burning?' Below, we cover everything you need to know about choosing and storing firewood.

Why Moisture Content Is the Single Biggest Factor

Freshly cut wood, often called green wood, can hold well over 50% moisture by weight. When you try to burn it, a huge amount of the fire's energy is spent driving that water off as steam rather than producing useful heat. The result is a cooler, smokier fire that coats your flue liner with a sticky residue and increases the risk of chimney fires over time.

The UK government's Ready to Burn scheme sets a maximum moisture content of 20% for approved logs. Wood at or below this level ignites more easily, burns hotter, and produces far less smoke. If you have a DEFRA-exempt appliance for use in a smoke control zone, burning properly dried wood is not optional. It is a legal requirement tied to the appliance approval itself.

Always look for logs carrying the Ready to Burn logo when buying in bags or from a merchant. If you source your own timber and split it yourself, you will need to season it properly before it is fit to burn.

How to Check Moisture Content

A basic wood moisture meter costs very little and is one of the most useful things you can keep next to your log basket. Split a piece of wood and press the pins into the freshly exposed face for an accurate reading. Surface readings on dried logs can appear lower than the wood actually is. Aim for a reading of 20% or below before you put any log on the fire.

Hardwood Versus Softwood: What to Choose

Most people burning wood in a domestic stove will want to use hardwoods as their primary fuel. Hardwoods are denser than softwoods, which means they contain more energy per log and produce a longer, steadier burn.

Good Hardwoods for the Stove

• Oak - burns slowly with a steady, long-lasting heat. Needs at least two years of seasoning when cut from green timber.
• Ash - one of the best all-round firewood species. Burns well even at slightly higher moisture levels and seasons relatively quickly.
• Beech - produces excellent heat and burns cleanly.
• Hornbeam - very dense and long burning, though less widely available.
• Silver birch - seasons quickly and burns brightly. Best mixed with slower-burning species as it does not last as long on the fire.

What About Softwoods?

Softwoods such as pine, spruce, and larch are not ideal as a main fuel for a wood burning stove. They burn fast, produce less heat per log, and tend to leave more resin deposits in your flue. That said, well-dried softwood can be useful for kindling or for getting a fire going quickly before adding hardwood logs.

If you have a multi-fuel stove, you have the option to burn smokeless solid fuel as well as wood, which can be handy during very cold spells when you want a longer overnight burn.

How to Season and Store Your Firewood Properly

Buying kiln-dried or Ready to Burn certified logs is the easiest way to guarantee low moisture content. If you prefer to source your own timber, you need to season it correctly before it is ready to use.

How Long Does Seasoning Take?

This depends entirely on the species and how the timber is cut. As a rough guide:

• Ash and birch: approximately 12 months when split and stacked correctly
• Oak and elm: at least 24 months, often longer

These are guidelines rather than guarantees. Always check with a moisture meter before burning, regardless of how long the wood has been stacked.

Stacking and Storage Tips

Good storage is what makes the difference between wood that seasons properly and wood that stays damp and rots. Follow these principles:

1. Split your logs before stacking. Whole rounds take much longer to dry and may never season properly in the UK climate.
2. Stack off the ground. Use pallets, timber bearers, or a purpose-built log store to keep the base of your stack away from damp soil.
3. Allow airflow on all sides. Do not stack logs against a wall or fence if you can avoid it. Moving air draws moisture out of the wood.
4. Cover the top, not the sides. A roof over your log store keeps rain off without trapping humid air around the stack.
5. Face the stack south or west where possible so it gets the most sun and wind.

A purpose-built log store with a slatted front and a waterproof roof is the ideal solution for most gardens. If you are storing logs indoors or in a garage, make sure there is still adequate ventilation to allow drying to continue.

Keeping Your Stove and Flue in Good Condition

Even when you burn well-dried, good-quality wood, some deposits will build up in your flue over time. This is completely normal, but it does mean that regular servicing and sweeping are essential for safe operation. Our team recommends an annual stove service and chimney sweep as a minimum, and more frequently if you use your stove heavily through the winter months.

A swept and serviced flue draws better, which in turn makes your fire easier to light and helps your wood burn more efficiently. It also gives our engineers the chance to spot any issues with your flue liner or chimney before they become a safety concern.

If you are unsure whether your current installation is up to standard, or if you are thinking about having a new stove fitted, take a look at our full range of stove supply and installation services. Our installers are HETAS registered and will make sure everything is correctly fitted and certified from day one.

A Quick Reference: Firewood Dos and Don'ts

• Do buy logs with the Ready to Burn certification or check moisture content yourself before burning.
• Do split logs before stacking and store them somewhere with good airflow.
• Do use hardwoods as your primary fuel for a longer, hotter burn.
• Do not burn treated, painted, or manufactured timber. These release harmful substances and will damage your stove and flue.
• Do not burn household waste, cardboard in large quantities, or driftwood. Salt in driftwood is particularly corrosive to flue components.
• Do not assume wood is ready to burn just because it has been stored for a season. Always check with a moisture meter.

Getting your fuel right is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do to improve your stove's performance and protect your investment. If you have any questions about fuel types or how to get the most from your stove, our frequently asked questions page covers many of the topics our customers ask us about most.