Locally sourced firewood from Cumbria's Eden Valley
We aim to meet the needs of the discerning customer who recognises the importance and benefits of burning properly ‘seasoned’ wood. Firewood needs to be under 20% moisture content to get the true value of the energy it holds.
We sample every batch of firewood to ensure that it is under 20% by selecting 3 or 4 larger logs from the middle of each bag, splitting them and testing the core with a firewood moisture meter (pin meter). We are happy to offer to test the firewood in front of our customers.
The importance of burning well-seasoned firewood is detailed in the "Wood Fuels Handbook", publish by the Biomass Trade Centres. The following table is taken from the Wood Fuels Handbook and details the calorific value, ash content and ash-melting point of various biomass fuels:
| Calorific Value MJ/Kg |
Ash (wt% d.b.) |
Ash melting point (°C) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical values for virgin wood materials Coniferous wood |
19.2 (18.8-19.8) |
0.3 (0.2-0.5) |
|
| Typical values for virgin wood materials Deciduous wood |
19.0 (18.5-19.2) |
0.3 (0.2-0.5) |
|
| Typical values for virgin bark materials | 20 (19-21) |
4-5 (2-10) |
|
| Typical values for virgin wood materials Logging residues |
19-20 | 1.5-2 | |
| Typical values for virgin wood materials Short rotation coppice (SRC) (Willow & Poplar) |
18.6-19.2 | 2 | |
| Spruce (with bark) | 18.8 | 0.6 | 1426 |
| Beech (with bark) | 18.4 | 0.5 | 1340 |
| Poplar (SRC) | 18.5 | 1.8 | 1335 |
| Willow (SRC) | 18.4 | 2.0 | 1283 |
| Bark (coniferous trees) | 19.2 | 3.8 | 1440 |
| Vine wood (chips) | 19.8 | 3.4 | 1450 |
| Miscanthus | 17.6 | 3.9 | 973 |
| Wheat straw | 17.2 | 5.7 | 998 |
| Triticale (grains) | 16.9 | 2.1 | 730 |
| Calorific value, ash content and ash-melting point of various biomass fuels. Source: Wood Fuels Handbook, Biomass Trade Centres, April 2009 | |||
The graph below shows how the calorific value of wood increases as the moisture content decreases. Source: Wood Fuels Handbook
