Chimney Damper Source - Large Selection Of Chimney Dampers & Downdraft Solutions Firewood.

It is quite possible that a smoky fireplace or wood stove problem can be solved by using the right wood, so:

A smoky fireplace or stove is often caused by using the wrong wood. Choosing the right species and making sure it’s properly seasoned makes all the difference.

Hardwoods (oak, ash, hickory, mulberry) are denser, burn hotter, and provide longer-lasting coals.

Softwoods (pine, spruce, fir) ignite quickly but burn faster and produce more sparks.

Green wood can be 50% water, burns cooler, and creates excess smoke and creosote.

Dry (seasoned) wood costs more but burns hotter, cleaner, and is easier to handle.

Best practice: cut and split wood 6–12 months in advance and stack it off the ground in a sunny, breezy spot.

Keep piles at least 25 feet from your home to prevent pests and reduce fire risk.

Seasoned wood is lighter, has darkened ends with cracks, and makes a clear “clunk” when struck together.

Well-seasoned wood has 20–25% moisture, delivers more heat, burns cleaner, and reduces chimney buildup.

Heat content by species is summarized in Table I: Firewood Facts (University of Nebraska-Lincoln & USDA). See Below.

Woods that form coals are good to use in wood stoves because they allow a fire to be carried overnight effectively.

TABLE I. Firewood Facts

The amount of heat per cord of dry wood is presented in Table I. Heat content is shown as a percent of dry green ash, a common Nebraska firewood. Values above 100 signify a higher heat content than green ash and values below 100 a lower heat content.

Species	Weight (lbs./Cord)		Heat/ Cord (1,000 BTU'S)	% Green Ash	Ease of Splitting	Smoke	Sparks	Coals	Fragrance	Overall Quality
Species	Green	Dry	Heat/ Cord (1,000 BTU'S)	% Green Ash	Ease of Splitting	Smoke	Sparks	Coals	Fragrance	Overall Quality
Apple	4850	3888	27.0	135	Medium	Low	Few	Good	Excellent	Excellent
Ash, Green	4184	2880	20.0	100	Easy	Low	Few	Good	Slight	Excellent
Ash, White	3952	3472	24.2	121	Medium	Low	Few	Good	Slight	Excellent
Basswood (Linden)	4404	1984	13.8	69	Easy	Medium	Few	Poor	Good	Fair
Birch, Paper	4312	2992	20.8	104	Medium	Medium	Few	Good	Slight	Fair
Boxelder	3589	2632	18.3	92	Difficult	Medium	Few	Poor	Slight	Fair
Buckeye, Ohio	4210	1984	13.8	69	Medium	Low	Few	Poor	Slight	Fair
Catalpa	4560	2360	16.4	82	Difficult	Medium	Few	Good	Bad	Fair
Cherry, Black	3696	2928	20.4	102	Easy	Low	Few	Excellent	Excellent	Good
Coffeetree, Kentucky	3872	3112	21.6	108	Medium	Low	Few	Good	Good	Good
Cottonwood	4640	2272	15.8	79	Easy	Medium	Few	Good	Slight	Fair
Douglas-Fir	3319	2970	20.7	103	Easy	High	Few	Fair	Slight	Good
Elm, American	4456	2872	20.0	100	Difficult	Medium	Few	Excellent	Good	Fair
Elm, Red	4800	3112	21.6	108	Easy	Medium	Few	Excellent	Good	Good
Elm, Siberian	3800	3020	20.9	105	Difficult	Medium	Few	Good	Fair	Fair
Fir, Concolor	3585	2104	14.6	73	Easy	Medium	Few	Poor	Slight	Fair
Hackberry	3984	3048	21.2	106	Easy	Low	Few	Good	Slight	Good
Hickory, Bitternut	5032	3832	26.7	134	Medium	Low	Few	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Hickory, Shagbark	5104	3952	27.5	138	Difficult	Low	Few	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Honeylocust	4640	3832	26.7	133	Easy	Low	Few	Excellent	Slight	Excellent
Ironwood	4590	4016	27.9	140	Difficult	Medium	Few	Excellent	Slight	Excellent
Juniper, Rocky Mountain	3535	3150	21.8	109	Medium	Medium	Many	Poor	Excellent	Fair
Locust, Black	4616	4016	27.9	140	Difficult	Low	Few	Excellent	Slight	Excellent
Maple, Other	4685	3680	25.5	128	Easy	Low	Few	Excellent	Good	Excellent
Maple, Silver	3904	2752	19.0	95	Medium	Low	Few	Excellent	Good	Fair
Mulberry	4712	3712	25.8	129	Easy	Medium	Many	Excellent	Good	Excellent
Oak, Bur	4960	3768	26.2	131	Easy	Low	Few	Excellent	Good	Excellent
Oak, Red	4888	3528	24.6	123	Medium	Low	Few	Excellent	Good	Excellent
Oak, White	5573	4200	29.1	146	Medium	Low	Few	Excellent	Good	Excellent
Osage-Orange	5120	4728	32.9	165	Easy	Low	Many	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Pine, Eastern White	2780	2250	15.6	78	Medium	Medium	Few	Poor	Good	Fair
Pine, Jack	3200	2488	17.2	86	Difficult	Low	Many	Poor	Good	Fair
Pine, Ponderosa	3600	2336	16.2	81	Easy	Medium	Many	Fair	Good	Fair
Redcedar, Eastern	2950	2632	18.2	91	Medium	Medium	Many	Poor	Excellent	Fair
Spruce	2800	2240	15.5	78	Easy	Medium	Many	Poor	Slight	Fair
Sycamore	5096	2808	19.5	98	Difficult	Medium	Few	Good	Slight	Good
Walnut, Black	4584	3192	22.2	111	Easy	Low	Few	Good	Good	Excellent
Willow	4320	2540	17.6	88	Easy	Low	Few	Poor	Slight	Poor

Seasoning: Dry wood produces ~7,700 BTUs per pound, while green wood gives only ~5,000. Always season wood 6–12 months before burning to reach 15–20% moisture.

Cutting: Best time to cut is late winter/early spring. Split logs over 8" for faster drying—splitting is easiest when wood is green or frozen.

Stacking & Storage: Stack loosely off the ground in a sunny, breezy area, at least 25 ft. from your home. Cover the top only, and keep the area clear of weeds and debris to prevent pests. Avoid storing large amounts indoors, where insects and mold can thrive.

Why It Matters: Burning green wood wastes heat, produces heavy smoke, and creates dangerous creosote in chimneys.

How to Spot Seasoned Wood: Lighter in weight / Dark, cracked ends / Makes a clear “clunk” when struck together (vs. green wood’s dull “thud”).

Tip: Buy or cut wood in spring, store it properly, and you’ll have clean, efficient fuel ready for winter.