One of the questions I get most asked is - Should I buy hardwood or Softwood Logs?
The answer depends on a few things - the type of fire you have, how you use it and your personal preference.
The good news is that both hardwood and softwood make excellent firewood when they are kiln dried. At Miller Biofuels, all of our firewood is kiln dried, meaning it's ready to burn, has a low moisture content, lights easily and produces excellent heat.
What Type of Fire Do You Have?
Before choosing between hardwood and softwood, it's worth thinking about the appliance your burning it in.
Open Fires
If you have an open fire, we generally recommend hardwood logs.
Hardwood is denser, burns more slowly and produces long lasting embers. On an open fire, where a lot of the heat escapes up the chimney, hardwood tends to give a steadier, more sustained burn.
Wood Burners & Multi Fuel Stoves
If you have a wood burner or multi fuel stove, either hardwood or softwood will work brilliantly.
Modern stoves are designed to burn seasoned or kiln dried wood efficiently. As long as your logs are kiln dried, both hardwood and softwood provide excellent heat.
Many stove owners actually prefer softwood because it lights quickly and gets the stove up to temperature fast.
Hardwood
Hardwood comes from slower growing trees such as oak, ash and beech, because it's denser, it burns for longer and creates a bed of hot embers.
Hardwood is ideal if you:
- Want a longer burn time
- Prefer fewer trips to refill the stove
- Need consistent heat over several hours
Softwood
Softwood comes from faster growing trees such as spruce, pine and larch. It ignites quickly and burns with a lively flame.
Softwood is ideal if you:
- Want your fire to get going quickly
- Need fast heat
- Are looking for excellent value
- Enjoy using fire pits or chimineas
Despite the myths, kiln dried softwood burns cleanly and efficiently and provides excellent heat output.
So which should you choose?
Theres no right or wrong answer.
Many of our customers buy both;
Softwood is great for getting the fire started and bringing the stove up to temperature quickly.
Hardwood gives a longer lasting heat and lasts throughout the evening.
Remember - It's the Moisture Content That Matters Most
Whether you choose hardwood or softwood, the most important thing is that your logs are dry.
Wet logs create more smoke, produce less heat and can cause tar and soot to build up inside your chimney or flue.
That's why every load of firewood we supply at Miller Biofuels is kiln dried. Our logs are Ready to Burn, easy to light, burn efficiently and help keep your stove performing at its best.
Need Some Advice?
If you're not sure which logs are best for your fire, just get in touch. We will happily recommend the right option based on your stove, open fire or how you like to burn your logs.
📞 01505 842389
🌐 www.millerbiofuels.co.uk