What Is the Most Common Wood Used in Alaska Fireplaces?

Wood burning stoves are an integral part of Alaskan life. Thus, you’ll need to know the best woods to burn for your stove. Here are some top (and bottom) wood types for stove burning and some help with picking wood for your indoor stove.

The Best Woods To Burn

These are the most common woods Alaskan homeowners seek for their stoves:

Birch

Birch is one of the most favorable woods to burn because it’s easily accessible. You can find it in many areas in Alaska, making it a highly abundant option. The quality of birch that makes it a common choice is its powerful heat production. Its downside is that it burns fast. Thus, it’s excellent for cooking meals or doing recreational campsite activities, but it’s not as effective for warming your home overnight.

Pine

Pine will give you a medium-sized flame that won’t be too high or low. It burns well and is one of the more vastly selected woods for that reason as well.

Cedar

Cedar is common in the southeast parts of the land. It’s an excellent choice because of its long-burning quality and consistent heat. The only issue with cedar is that you’ll have to stay on top of your cleaning activities. It tends to leave sap deposits in the flue. Therefore, you’ll need to perform regular cleanings to avoid fire hazards.

The Worst Woods To Burn

Now you know some of the best woods to burn. Let’s discuss some of the worst woods for your stove.

Willow

Willow is probably the poorest wood to burn because of its high moisture content. This type is more likely to rot before drying than give you a consistent fire. It’s best to stay far away from willow, even if it’s seasoned. Poplar has the same “nope” qualities and should be avoided as well.

Alder

Alder has a reputation for being one of the worst woods to burn in the home. It doesn’t provide enough heat for anything and doesn’t burn for long to boot. Therefore, this wood should be the last kind you seek for your home.

Spruce

Spruce is also not a good choice of wood for home heating or food cooking. It usually doesn’t burn too long, and its British thermal units are low as well. That makes it a two-time loser in the fire-burning world.

Tips for Choosing the Correct Wood for Your Stove

You need to consider three factors before choosing wood for your stove. The first factor is how you want to use it. If you want to heat your home, you’ll need to select a type with long burning qualities. For strict food-burning fires, you can select a wood type that offers high heat and short burning stints.

You’ll also need to ponder the availability of different wood types in your area. Choose from the most accessible types, and pick the type that will work most favorably for your intended purpose.

Use the information above to zone in on the best wood for your projects. You’ll find something perfect for your home’s needs in no time.

Categorised in: Fireplace