Heating with Wood
"It's been said that a long straight row of firewood standing in the yard in springtime is like money in the bank... It is indeed. As it dries in the summer sunshine, you're collecting interest."
What is the best tree species for firewood? While there is always room for debate, we like to suggest that the best species in your area is the one that is most plentiful, easy to split and doesn't cover your hands and clothes with sticky sap.
All wood, regardless of species, has about the same energy content per pound. The different species vary only in density. Traditionally, the favored trees in central North America were oak and maple because they are very dense and produce long-lasting coals. But these are valuable trees and in many areas are not plentiful enough to burn. No problem, just use softer woods like birch or poplar (aspen) or any other tree that is readily available. Keep in mind that people living in the coldest areas of North America have no hardwoods to burn and they get along just fine. Ultimately, it is more important to have wood that is cut and split to the right size and properly dried than it is to get the hardest wood available.
Energy Content Table
Per air dried full cord, in 000s of BTUs.
The hardest species are at the top of the list.
| Rock Elm | 32,000 |
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| Shagbark Hickory | 30,600 |
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| White Oak | 30,600 |
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| Bitternut Hickory | 29,200 |
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| Sugar Maple | 29,000 |
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| Beech | 27,800 |
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| Red Oak | 27,300 |
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| Yellow Birch | 26,200 |
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| Red Elm | 25,400 |
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| White Ash | 25,000 |
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| White Elm | 24,500 |
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| Red Maple | 24,000 |
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| Tamarack | 24,000 |
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| Black Cherry | 23,500 |
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| White Birch | 23,400 |
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| Black Ash | 22,600 |
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| Green Ash | 22,100 |
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| Silver Maple | 21,700 |
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| Manitoba Maple | 19,300 |
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| Large Tooth Aspen | 18,200 |
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| Hemlock | 17,900 |
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| Trembling Aspen | 17,700 |
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| Butternut | 17,400 |
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| Balsam Poplar | 17,260 |
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| White Pine | 17,100 |
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| Basswood | 17,000 |
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| White Cedar | 16,300 |
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| White Spruce | 16,200 |
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| Balsam Fir | 15,500 |
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