A wood burning stove is an essential appliance throughout the UK, especially when you require a cost-effective way to warm up a home. But a lot of wood burning stove users are in a dilemma: what is the best fuel to use?
Fuel Options- You have a lot of options when it comes to fueling up the wood burner. The most popular perhaps are logs. However, logs as fuel are not created equal, and their performance varies according to the type. For instance, you can use unseasoned logs which are relatively cheaper but require a vast space for storage. Another option is the kiln dried logs which are dryer and contain less moisture. You can use the kiln dried logs right away and save on storage, but these are more expensive than unseasoned logs. The choice between dried logs and unseasoned logs really depends on your budget and or course the amount of storage space you have. Bringing wet, damped logs into your home runs the risk of bringing insects and mold, which isn’t ideal. Therefore ample outdoor sheltered storage is needed to dry out any unseasoned logs before they can be used.
One of the best fuels for the log burner are briquettes. Briquettes have risen to popularity in the past few years in the UK, and right now, are looking like they’re the best fuel for your home’s wood burning stove.
Briquettes are actually made from wood waste which are manufactured and packed into various shapes. Briquettes as fuel for a wood burner is the more practical option as one briquette can burn for around four hours. And since briquettes have significantly lesser moisture content than kiln dried logs, it also tends to produce fewer ashes and soot, and can, therefore, minimise indoor air pollution.
As for safety, briquettes are also performing better than the traditional wood logs. They don’t create sparks or cracks, and just burn in the stove safely. Lastly, briquettes help minimise your environmental impact. As a new form of commodity, wood wastes are being put into new use, and instead of adding to the landfill, they warm up your home.
Wood briquettes offer a fantastic fueling option for those homes that lack the storage space for unseasoned logs and lower the cost in comparison to dried out logs. Many homeowners can see the benefit from choosing to fuel their stove with wood briquettes compared to other leading fuels. With the cold weather lingering on this year, keeping your home warm and cosy with a well fueled log burning fire seems a very attractive option.
Log burning stoves can of course use coal to fuel the fire, however, wood tends to be the more budget friendly option, all whilst reducing the amount of environmental fume exposure to you homes.
While many households still prefer to use unseasoned and kiln dried logs, briquettes as fuel to your wood burning stove present a new perspective. If you factor in efficiency, practicality, eco-friendliness and cost-effectiveness to your overall considerations for the best fuel, you might a newfound respect for this wood waste fuel – briquettes.