ALWAYS BURN DRY FIREWOOD. Firewood is considered dry if it contains less than 25% moisture. This is the measure used by the "Consumer" Magazine and other industry watch dogs such as the television program "Target". Because this seems to be the accepted industry standard for dryness, we at Andrew's Firewood use this as our yard stick. We regularly test the moisture content of our wood and only sell it as "dry" if we are confident that the majority of it contains less than 25% moisture.

PROBLEMS WITH BURNING DAMP WOOD:

• MAKES YOUR FIRE HARD TO START - There is nothing more frustrating on a cold winter's day than trying to get a fire going with damp wood.
• PRODUCES LESS HEAT - If you are burning firewood with a high moisture content much of the heat generated from it is used to dry out the excess moisture rather than to heat your home.
• RELEASES EXCESS SMOKE - Not only is this bad for the environment but the excess smoke in your fire box chokes an already struggling fire. Undoubtedly, some of this smoke will end up in your home everytime you open the door to your firebox.
• CLOGS YOUR CHIMNEY - Having your chimney cleaned is a normal part of maintaining your firebox. We recommend that your chimney is cleaned once a year, although some people choose to have it done biennally (once every two years). Burning damp wood will make it necessary to have your chimney cleaned much more often.
• DAMAGES YOUR FIREBOX -  Excess moisture in the firewood you are burning gets absorbed into the fire bricks which line your fire box. This moisture causes your bricks to deteriorate and crack, thus reducing both their life and efficiency. These bricks are designed to maximise the heat of your firebox. While firebricks are easily replaced, it can be an expensive exercise.

• Kindling - Kindling must be very DRY. Softer woods are better to use for kindling as they catch alight more easily. Most bagged kindling is dry pine. If you are cutting your own kindling be sure to choose pieces of wood that have no knots as knotty wood is almost impossible to split with an axe.

• Tips for a cosy clean burning fire:

  Open damper.

  Place crumpled newspaper in base.

  Place several pieces of kindling across and around the paper.

  Place more crumpled paper on top of kindling.

  Place more kindling on top, smaller or lighter pieces.

  Ignite fire using lighter or matches and only partly shut the fire door to let fire establish.

  After seeing that kindling is burning, add two or three slightly larger pieces of wood.

  Once these pieces of wood are fully burning put a piece of regular sized wood on fire and shut the door. Make sure that the damper is left open at least until the fire is fully established and the heat output has been maximised. This may take about 30 minutes to an hour.