What Wood to Burn in My Fireplace?

Chill wind blowing outside, the end of a stressful day, or maybe family and friends gathering, no matter what the occasion, everyone enjoys the relaxing warmth and ambiance from a fire in the fireplace. The mesmerizing flames, the snap crackle and pop of the fire, the warmth radiating into the room, these are all things that we enjoy. But you may have questions. You want a fire, but what should you burn? Or even, what shouldn’t you burn? There are several questions relating to burning wood in a fireplace. What wood is best to burn? What shouldn’t i burn? And what should I NEVER burn?  Before we get into what is best to burn, let’s take a quick look at what NEVER to burn in a fireplace.

The Never Burn List

First on the NEVER burn list would be household trash. While it may seem like a convenient way to reduce the amount of trash to take out, or even better, reduce the amount of trash in the landfill, burning many common household trash items can release toxins into the air and is generally bad for air quality.

Eco Logs

Eco Logs

Pressure treated lumber also falls into the NEVER burn category.  Pressure treated wood is treated with a variety of chemicals. So that wood can be in contact with moisture and soil without rotting. These chemicals will release harmful toxins when the wood is burned, so always stay away from burning any lumber that is treated.

Poison ivy, poison oak and others also fall into the NEVER burn category. Examine the wood to see if there are any clinging vines on the outside. The smoke from burning wood with poison ivy or oak is often more irritating than contact with the actual leaves or vines. So be cautious with any vines left on wood.

What About Driftwood?

Driftwood may not necessarily be a NEVER burn but always use caution. Was the wood in fresh water or salt? What is the moisture content? Driftwood, while seeming dry, can often have much higher moisture content due to extended time in the water.  Any wood exposed to salt water will have residue from the salt. Burning salt soaked wood is also very bad for air quality.

Lastly, check your local area for toxic woods that should never be burned. While not very common, some areas do have species of wood that are toxic. One example would be Oleander wood. Typically found in milder climates that do not have frost. I won’t take time in this short article to examine every possible species but will simply advise to check your local area to see what types may be present.

Wet Wood

Wet Wood

The most common mistake in burning wood in a fireplace would be using wood that has too high moisture content. The typical ‘ideal’ range would be 15% – 20%. Generally speaking 22% or under should be fine. Burning wet wood, too high moisture content will result in improper combustion, too much smoke, and most importantly, it will lead to creosote buildup in your chimney.  Creosote glaze in the chimney is what can catch fire and result in a chimney fire which has the potential to damage the structure.  Pick up a moisture meter from a local fireplace shop or online, or at a local hardware store. Ensuring that your wood has the correct moisture level will greatly enhance your fireplace experience.

What Wood to Burn?

When looking for the best wood to burn, I suggest considering the follwing questions.  How long do I want the fire to burn? What if I’m ready to go to bed before the fire is out? Softer wood may often be a better option for quicker fires.  Poplar, some pine wood, and even some species of maple will burn faster and may be a better option for quicker fires.  Hardwood is denser, and will burn longer. So when starting a fire in the evening, be prepared for a longer period before you can close the damper.  There are many recourses online to find the best type of wood for the fires that you want, here is one chart that is fairly extensive.

Manufactured ‘logs’ or ‘bricks’ can be a popular option for people that may not have firewood available or may not have the storage space for firewood.  These products are typically made from compressed sawdust or even coffee grounds. Some of these products use paraffin wax as a binding agent to hold the sawdust together. Others are simply compressed wood, grasses, or other natural products.  While they may not have the full aesthetic value as real wood, these products are safe to burn in your fireplace as long as basic safety practices are followed.

There are many good options for burning in your fireplace. Whatever you select, educate yourself on the basic safety tips on burning wood in a fireplace, select your wood with care, and enjoy many warm evenings around the fire!

Below is a list of fireplace and grill stores that service ()

Auburn, AL

Top Hat Chimney Sweeps
1280 Financial Ct.
Auburn, AL 36830

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Elk Grove, CA

Custom Fireside Shops
9097 Elk Grove Blvd.
Elk Grove, CA 95624

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Sacramento, CA

Custom Fireside Shops
5455 Auburn Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95841

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Durango, CO

Durango Outdoor Living
140 Rock Point Drive
Durango, CO 81301

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Durango, CO

Four Corner Stoves & Spas
3001 Main Avenue
Durango, CO 81301

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Grand Junction, CO

Stove Depot and Chimney Works
330 North Ave.
Grand Junction, CO 81501

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New London, CT

Family Hearth and Patio LLC
571 Broad Street
New London, CT 06320

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Ridgefield, CT

Yankee Doodle, Inc.
71 Ethan Allen Highway
Ridgefield, CT 06877

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Dover, DE

Byler's Stove Shoppe Inc.
1368b Rose Valley School Rd.
Dover, DE 19904

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Destin, FL

Doodlebuggers Service Network
36054 Emerald Coast Parkway
Destin, FL 32541

Bettendorf, IA

Fireplaces Plus, Inc.
1745 State Street
Bettendorf, IA 52722

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Post Falls, ID

Quality Stoves & Home Furnishings
569 N Syringa St
Post Falls, ID 83854

Rockford, IL

Advanced Chimney Systems, Inc.
3486 Lonergan Drive
Rockford, IL 61109

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Wauconda, IL

Grass Roots Energy, Inc.
28751 N Route 12
Wauconda, IL 60084

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Evansville, IN

Firemaster, Inc.
5300 E Morgan Avenue
Evansville, IN 47715

Jeffersonville, IN

Olde Towne Chimney & Fireplace Sales
915 Nachand Ln
Jeffersonville, IN 47130

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Overland Park, KS

Kansas City Fireplace Center
10470 Metcalf Avenue
Overland Park, KS 66212

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Erlanger, KY

TateBuilder's Supply, LLC
3511 Dixie Highway
Erlanger, KY 41018

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Littleton, MA

Woodstove, Fireplace and Patio Shop, Inc.
60 White Street
Littleton, MA 01460

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Seekonk, MA

The Fireplace Showcase
775 Fall River Ave
Seekonk, MA 02771

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Sudbury, MA

Woodstove, Fireplace and Patio Shop, Inc.
348 Boston Post Road
Sudbury, MA 01776

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Duluth, MN

Duluth Stove & Fireplace
2431 W Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55806

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Minneapolis, MN

Woodland Stoves & Fireplaces
2901 Franklin Ave. South
Minneapolis, MN 55406

Oakdale, MN

Energy Savers of Minnesota
6298 Highway 36 Blvd N
Oakdale, MN 55128

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Rochester, MN

Brekke Fireplace Shoppe
1904 S. Broadway
Rochester, MN 55904

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Walker, MN

Wilkening Fireplace Company
9608 State 371 NW
Walker, MN 56484

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Fargo, ND

Home Heating, Plumbing & A/C Inc.
701 28th Street South
Fargo, ND 58103

Omaha, NE

Fireplace By Design
13913 R Plaza
Omaha, NE 68137

Epping, NH

The Stove Shoppe
285, Calef Highway Rte. 125
Epping, NH 03042

Windham, NH

The Stove Shoppe
25 Indian Rock Road
Windham, NH 03087

Hamilton, NJ

Bowden's Fireside - Hearth & Home
1731 Nottingham Way
Hamilton, NJ 08619

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Voorhees, NJ

Rettinger Fireplace Systems, Inc.
476 Centennial Blvd
Voorhees, NJ 08043

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St. Henry, OH

Buschur's Refrigeration, Inc.
541 N Eastern Avenue
St. Henry, OH 45883

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Media, PA

Chimney Cricket
101 State Road
Media, PA 19063

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Rapid City, SD

Hebron Brick Company
1543 Deadwood Ave
Rapid City, SD 57709

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Sioux Falls, SD

Hebron Brick Company
2211 W. 50th Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57105-6525

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Vermillion, SD

Kalin's Indoor Comfort Inc.
710 Cottage Avenue
Vermillion, SD 57069

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Manassas, VA

Winston's Chimney Service
11301 Industrial Road
Manassas, VA 20109

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Barre, VT

Chimney Sweep Fireplace Shop
1284 US Rte, 302 Ste 10
Barre, VT 05641-2317

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Bennington, VT

Friends of The Sun
126 Hicks Avenue
Bennington, VT 05201

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Manchester, VT

Friends of The Sun
159 Depot Street
Manchester, VT 05255

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Shelburne, VT

Chimney Sweep Fireplace Shop
3113 Shelburne Road
Shelburne, VT 05482

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White River Jnct, VT

Home Comfort of New England
1255 VA Cut Off Road
White River Jnct, VT 05001

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Burlington, WI

Burlington Fireplace & Heating LLC
857 Milwaukee Ave.
Burlington, WI 53105

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Madison, WI

Top Hat
5117 Verona Rd
Madison, WI 53711

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Morgantown, WV

Rustic By Design
709 Beechurst Ave. Suite 15
Morgantown, WV 26505

Laramie, WY

High Country Stoves & Fireplaces
860 N. 3rd Street
Laramie, WY 82072


For more information, contact your local fireplace and grill store.

3 Responses

  1. How to Make Sure Your Fireplace Is Ready for Winter - Sippy Cup Mom
    […] If you own a wood fireplace, it’s crucial that you stock-up on dry hardwood before the heating season begins. The earlier you order your wood, the better. The longer you wait, the more you’ll end up paying and the less chance you’ll have of finding good, dry hardwood. […]
    • Dominique Page
      Couldn't agree more!
  2. Bobbie J Myers
    Hi, I am new to woodburning stoves. Is it true that pine wood will ruin a wood cook-stove? If so, why? Is it the pitch in the wood or something? Thanks for the information here, I learned a lot from your article and it was very helpful!
    • Dominique Page
      Good morning! Thanks for reaching out. Pine is good to burn, as long as it is natural pine, with no additives. Pine burns faster than hardwood. As far as we know, there is nothing wrong with burning pine. It simply burns faster... Dominique

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