Firewood
- Whether you're building a fire on a camping trip or sitting in front of the hearth at home, it's important to keep in mind a few basic safety tips regarding firewood. Selecting the right wood, lighting it properly, and appropriately disposing the ashes will keep both you and the environment safe.
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[edit] Green Wood
- When firewood is damp or green, it gives off a lot of smoke, which is harmful to breath and also bad for the environment. Damp wood also burns at a lower temperature, which can pose an especially grave problem for fires built inside a chimney. When wood smoke cools below 250 degrees F, some of the smoke condenses and forms creosote, a tar-like substance that is highly flammable. If chimneys are not properly cleaned, creosote can build up on the inside and catch fire. Using dry wood helps keep the smoke hotter and prevents creosote from building up as quickly.
[edit] Hardwood vs. Softwood
- In general, it's best to select firewood from hardwood trees like oak, maple and beech. When properly cut and dried, these woods will burn cleanly without sparking. Softwoods, such as pine and fir, can be used effectively for kindling, but they contain high levels of resin, which prevents the wood from burning at a high temperature and can lead to the creation of excess creosote.
[edit] Proper Lighting
- When starting a fire, it's best to light newspaper, pine needles or other small kindling first. Using lighter fluid releases additional pollutants into the air and harms the environment. Accidentally using too much lighter fluid can also cause a fire to explode and cause injury.
[edit] Firewood and Pests
- When camping or traveling, it's always best to buy firewood locally. Transporting firewood can accidentally spread invasive insect species and cause devastating environmental effects. For example, beginning in March 2010, Shenandoah National Park banned all firewood bought outside of the park due to a threat from the emerald ash borer, which has killed tens of millions of trees in other states. By buying local firewood, campers can ensure that they don't unintentionally introduce dangerous species.
[edit] Ashes
- After every fire, it's important to dispose of the ashes properly. With outdoor fires, it's wise to extinguish any hot coals to prevent accidental forest fires. In homes, ashes should never be thrown away in the trash; hot coals insulated in cold ashes can easily start a house fire if thrown in with other garbage. Instead, it's best to use a metal can to store ashes after a fire. Homeowners can recycle their ashes by adding them to compost or garden soil.
[edit] Where to Find Free Firewood for Heating
- Heating a home with wood is generally the cheapest form of heating. But if the firewood supply is rare or expensive in your area, supplementing with scavenged firewood can help to reduce your heating costs. There are many places to find free or almost free wood for burning and in many cases, you may be doing a great service to others.
- It should be noted that when dismantling or recycling any wood products, use care and watch for nails or large staples which could ruin your cutting tools and make this free wood, not-so-free.
[edit] Follow These Important Firewood Scavenging Rules
1) The most important rule in scavenging firewood, is to always ask permission from the property owner before you gather it.
2) Be informed as to by-laws or regulations in your area which could prohibit tree removal or pick-up.
3) Be a good scrounger and never, ever leave a mess behind.
4) Never try to remove a standing tree that could impact hydro lines during the removal process.
5) Always ask if the property owner has a preference has to how much stump you should leave.
6) Have someone knowledgeable about tree removal with you to reduce the risk of injury.
[edit] Dead or Dying Trees
Its is highly important that deadwood is not forraged from woodlands, river or canal banks.
Deadwood is the foundation support for the entire woodland ecosystem, providing food and nutrients for fungi, insects, birds, the trees themselves, and the mammals which rely on these for food and shelter.
Some tree species sacrifice limbs by dropping large branches to create deadwood food for itself and its habitat. The notion of gathering firewood from the woodlands is romantic, but this idea is a luxery we must let go of. These ecosystems are increasingly more fragile and precious and we must act accordingly for the times if we want our children to even experience walking through woodlands.
It is unfortunate, but due to the impact of humans, woodlands need to be managed for their sustainability (without our impact they could , of course, look after themselves!). Therefore a professional woodland manager can try to keep the balance that is needed in a woodland for it to survive, and will at times decide trees need to be felled for reasons such as: containing disease, safety, to increase light for the understorey to develop. A proportion of the felled tree is often left to decay back into and feed the surrounding wildlife, and the rest of the tree will ofen be sold for firewood.
Wood from a sustainably managed woodland is available to buy in a number of places such as local garages, farm shops, and from tree surgeons directly.
Trees felled from gardens are perfect firewood and owners may be happy for you to take it away as the cost of its removal can be high.
[edit] Road Log Droppings
- In areas where trees are harvested, you can often find small logs on the side of the road that have fallen off logging trucks. Some of this wood may be perfect for burning. Avoid road wood that is embedded with gravel, as attempting to cut this wood could harm your chainsaw.
[edit] Downed Trees After a Windstorm
- Windstorms can bring down many trees that could and should be removed from access areas. Some home owners need help removing and disposing of such wind debris.
[edit] Woodworker Scrap Wood
A local woodworking shop or a hobby woodworker you know may have scrap wood they have no need for. Some of this wood makes excellent kindling and you're providing a disposal service to them.
[edit] New Construction Area Tree Clearing
- Where commercial or residential land is cleared for new development or road expansion, there may be heavy brush or cleared trees that can be salvaged for firewood or kindling.
[edit] Landfill Wood Salvage
- Some landfills allow scrap wood removal to reduce the amount of refuse and encourage recycling. Old wood furniture, crates, pallets or old building materials can make good firewood. However, not all wood is safe for burning.
[edit] The Best Ways to Prepare Firewood
- If you have a lot of wood that needs chopping:
- put down the axe and get yourself a log splitter.
- Log splitters can help you with everything from cutting firewood or to building wood furniture.
- Log splitters can be found at lumber stores and hardware stores, but they can cost a pretty penny.
- Used log splitters can help you save money, or alternatively, if you are especially handy, download plans for building log splitters from the internet and get building.
[edit] What to Look for in Hydraulic Splitters
With hydraulic splitters, it is all about horsepower. Splitters range from fairly weak to super powerful (with increasing prices to boot). For occasional use at home, such as splitting firewood for the winter, going for something on the lower end of the horsepower scale is not only acceptable, but it is desirable from a safety point of view. For professionally logging, go for the big bang motors.
Like all power tools, log splitters can be dangerous when used by someone who is not sure what they are doing or who doesn't take their power seriously. These safety tips will keep the accidents at bay when log splitting:
- Kids and log splitters don't mix.
- Dress for the work - cover your arms and legs and save the shorts and flip-flops for the beach.
- Never split lumber without eye gear.
- Read the directions before you use the splitter. Practice the motions for awhile before turning it on. Let is run in your hands for awhile before you put everything together. Know your machine.
- Don't get too close, unless you want to take a flying log to the head.
- If you need to adjust the machine, turn it off.
- Log splitters are for daytime use only.
- Log splitting does not make a good party trick, no matter what you think after a few beers. Alcohol and log splitters are like kids and log splitters - don't mix them.
- Don't try to cut other things with the splitter - wood only.
- No one is ever so well versed in log splitting that they can take the safety guards off the machine. .
[edit] Firewood Storage Tips
Chopping and storing firewood can be an efficient way to heat your home during those colder months. Storage of your firewood is very important to ensure that it is not filled with bugs and mold or that it does not rot before it gets used. Several guidelines should be followed to be sure your firewood is not wasted.
[edit] Seasoned Wood
- Seasoned wood is wood that had been chopped and dried for four to six months to reduce its moisture content. Seasoned wood has a moisture content between 20 and 25 percent. It is easier to start fires with seasoned wood, it produces more heat and it burns cleaner. The ideal time for chopping firewood is in the spring because you have several months before winter to season the wood.
[edit] Storage
- First, firewood should be stored in a tight stack of triangular pieces at least 20 feet away from your home and other wood-framed buildings due to bugs, such as termites. A tight stack will allow air to flow through but not allow enough room for small critters to build nests inside.
[edit] Protect Wood
- Do not store firewood inside. Storing wood inside can start mold growing. This can be unhealthy for you and your family. Firewood should be stored outside, off the ground. It should be covered to protect it from moisture and weather. If not protected from moisture, it will not be well-seasoned and may rot before you have a chance to use it.
[edit] Beware of Free Firewood
- Firewood is sometimes advertised as free. Beware of free firewood, as it may be from a tree that has died due to disease or from an insect infestation. This is also another good reason not to transport firewood from one place to another. Moving firewood can spread the disease or insect infestation.
[edit] Size
- Pieces of wood larger than 8 inches should be split as soon as possible. Green wood is easier to split. The pieces should be about 8 to 12 inches in length and cut into a triangular shape when splitting. This helps the firewood to stack and burn better.
[edit] Helpful Firewood TIps
Unless firewood is carefully seasoned, and burned in an efficient, properly sized appliance, smokey combustion may occur resulting in environmental pollution, high fuel usage, and increased potential for chimney fires. To ensure safety and efficiency, engage the services of WETT (Wood Energy Technical Training) -certified tradesmen and inspectors for the design, installation and maintenance of wood heating systems. The most common wood heating appliances are:
[edit] Wood stoves and fireplaces
- Certified to EPA standards reduce wood consumption by a third over conventional units. Their improved combustion chamber design allows for nearly smokeless burning, thus eliminating creosote in chimneys and nuisance to neighbours.
[edit] Furnaces and boilers
- Can easily heat an entire house but are a poor choice for small homes, or those with low heating requirements. These appliances tend to be less efficient and produce more harmful emissions than modern EPA-certified appliances. Wood-fired central heating systems can be dangerous if overheating occurs as a result of fan failure or a power outage. Although safety features are included in their design, careful sizing, isntallation, operation, and maintenance are the best defence against fire or smoke damage. There are three major manufacturers of central wood heating appliances in Nova Scotia.
[edit] Pellet stoves
- Use fuel made from waste wood and formed under high pressure into small cylindrical pellets. They are homogenous, dry, and easy to burn. Sold in plastic bags, storage is clean, and combustion efficiency is high. Pellet stoves use automatic augers to feed the pellets into the combustion zone, and typically contain about a day’s worth of fuel in a storage hopper. The high combustion efficiency results in low-temperature exhaust gases allowing for side-wall venting, or chimney venting. If you are in the market for a new or replacement wood appliance, consider the following tips:
- Smaller is better - For maximum efficiency, avoid over-sizing your system.
- Insist on an EPA-certified appliance; they deliver more heat from each load of wood, and reduce smoke and emissions in the process.
- Hire only installer and chimney sweeps that are WETT-certified to ensure safety and performance.
- If possible, install your chimney inside your home. Outside chimneys tend to run cool, have reduced draft, and produce more creosote than the same chimney installed inside your home.
- Purchase your firewood in early spring. Cut to length, split, and stack under cover for at least six months. Unseasoned firewood should never be burned, except under emergency situations.
- Always burn hot fires in your appliance - small hot fires during mild weather, and large hot fires during cold weather.
[edit] Link
http://www.ehow.com/about_6496598_firewood-safety.html#ixzz13MtJH1Wi
http://www.ehow.com/way_5165002_firewood-storage-tips.html#ixzz13QKscE00
