What to burn
Whether burning on an open fire or wood burning, stove lined or unlined chimney, choosing the right fuel plays a huge part in how your fire will perform and the up keep of your chimney liner or flue.
Wood
Wet unseasoned wood or "green" wood will not burn efficiently and as a result full combustion is not achieved. This can lead to deposits building up within the flue effecting the draw. In a worse case scenario this can lead to a blockage (most commonly at the top of the flue where the air is cooler) or even a chimney fire. Burning well seasoned wood and having your chimney swept regularly will avoid this (twice a year currently recommended for wood). If you are seasoning your own wood a moisture meter can be purchased, to test the water moisture content is at or under the recommended level of 20%.
Recommend: Ash is regarded one of the best woods to burn, it gives of little smoke, has a high heat output and is readily available throughout the U.K. Oak is also regarded highly but due to its water content can take a long time to season, generally two years. many log companies offer kiln dried hard wood if your ever unsure this is your best bet.
Avoid: soft woods, laburnum, poplar, willow and any treated wood no matter how tempting it is to turn that old blown down fence or dilapidated shed into firewood.
Coal and smokeless fuels
Many people with open fires choose to burn coal and smokeless fuel as you tend to get more heat out of them and they burn for longer. This is an important factor if your burning on an open fire due to the poor efficiency of the fire itself. However, if your chimney has been lined it is not recommended to burn coal and smokeless fuels exclusively or even as a primary fuel source, as it can reduce the life span of the liner and in some cases void the warranty.
Whether burning on an open fire or wood burning, stove lined or unlined chimney, choosing the right fuel plays a huge part in how your fire will perform and the up keep of your chimney liner or flue.
Wood
Wet unseasoned wood or "green" wood will not burn efficiently and as a result full combustion is not achieved. This can lead to deposits building up within the flue effecting the draw. In a worse case scenario this can lead to a blockage (most commonly at the top of the flue where the air is cooler) or even a chimney fire. Burning well seasoned wood and having your chimney swept regularly will avoid this (twice a year currently recommended for wood). If you are seasoning your own wood a moisture meter can be purchased, to test the water moisture content is at or under the recommended level of 20%.
Recommend: Ash is regarded one of the best woods to burn, it gives of little smoke, has a high heat output and is readily available throughout the U.K. Oak is also regarded highly but due to its water content can take a long time to season, generally two years. many log companies offer kiln dried hard wood if your ever unsure this is your best bet.
Avoid: soft woods, laburnum, poplar, willow and any treated wood no matter how tempting it is to turn that old blown down fence or dilapidated shed into firewood.
Coal and smokeless fuels
Many people with open fires choose to burn coal and smokeless fuel as you tend to get more heat out of them and they burn for longer. This is an important factor if your burning on an open fire due to the poor efficiency of the fire itself. However, if your chimney has been lined it is not recommended to burn coal and smokeless fuels exclusively or even as a primary fuel source, as it can reduce the life span of the liner and in some cases void the warranty.