Lighting a fire adds coziness and warmth to the place. But you don’t want to end up choking from the smoke.
Or having to get up many times to light up the fire again. The quality of the fire you set up mainly depends on the firewood type you use.
Different types of firewood have different features. These features share in the fire quality. Ash has lots of features that make it one of the best types of firewood. Let’s find out, Is Ash good firewood?
What Are the Features of Good Firewood?
The main element that determines the quality of firewood is heat output. That is usually measured by the British Thermal Units (BTUs). Other elements are, the amount of smoke, and Creosote it generates. Besides, Splitting, dryness, and the coaling properties the firewood possesses.
Other great firewood types are Oak and Hickory. They generate higher levels of heat, give off an amazing smell, and cause less smoke. While some of the poor types are Pine and Elm.
What Is the Difference Between Green Ash & Seasoned Ash?
Seasoning means letting the split green wood to dry for some time. It takes six months to one year. So, the wood gets the chance to get rid of the moisture it contains. It’s an essential thing to do before using firewood.
Burning wet wood can cause health problems. Along with excessive smoke and a terrible smell. When you’re seasoning your fire woodpile, make sure it’s placed in a dry area.
When you buy seasoned Firewood, make sure to purchase it from a trusted dealer. And, search for logs with more cracks and darker colors. This means they spent more time seasoning.
What Makes Ash Firewood The Absolute Best?
There are many criteria that make Ash great firewood.
- Ash produces high levels of heat.
- It doesn’t produce excessive smoke
- It isn’t difficult to split.
- It produces less smoke
- Gives off a less disturbing fragrance.
Let’s discover, in more detail, why these facts make Ash one of the best firewood types.
Heat Output
It’s on the top of the list when it comes to the heat output level. Due to its strong and quick effects. The average Ash firewood cord can produce up to 24 million BTUs. This is an incredible output, compared to other types.
Also, the weight of the cord is around 3470 lbs, which is relatively low, considering the amount of BTU production. This means that even though the pile isn’t heavy, it still efficiently heats the place.
Fragrance
Some firewoods are known for their aromatic smell, like Hickory and Oak. While others vary between having no smell and generating disturbing or dusty smells.
Ash doesn’t have a particularly aromatic wood burning smell. The fragrance it produces isn’t bad or weird-smelling either.
Smoke
Some firewood types that give similar heat output to Ash, result in excessive smoke. Another benefit, of using this firewood is that it won’t fill the area with smoke. Fortunately, The Ash burning gives off a small amount of smoke, that’s almost unnoticed.
Extra Tip: Humidity causes extra smoke, make sure both the firewood and the fire ash are well dried before using them.
Burning Process
The density of the wood is in charge of the burning process (Coaling). When the wood contains lots of wood fibers, it keeps burning for a long time. In other words, coaling properties indicate the duration and quality of the fire.
Therefore, one of the components of a great firewood type is its coaling properties. Ash firewood has nice coaling properties since it can last for long hours. However, it might not stand a whole winter night.
Splitting
This firewood species is known to easily split. Usually, you can use a splitting-ax. Yet, you might need to use a welder sometimes.
Cutting Ashwood with bigger rounds and more knots is more complex. Try to use persistent and successive strikes in splitting the wood, to finish the process quickly.
Creosote
It’s a type of black tar formed from the burning process. It builds up inside the chimney walls, as the wood smoke comes-off. You should clean it regularly, to avoid chimney block or fire hazard. Ash produces low levels of creosote, that eliminates its build up inside your chimney.
How to Identify Ash Firewood in 3 Ways?
There are several ways to differentiate between firewood types. We’re going to explore the best 3 ways to identify Ash firewood.
Barks
The bark is one of the best ways to identify firewood. That’s because the bark patterns are distinctive in different types of firewood.
So, you’ll be able to easily differentiate between firewood types using the barks. The downside of this way is that aging causes the barks to decay, making it hard to recognize the patterns.
The barks of Ash firewood have a strongly distinctive pattern. The pattern is usually engraved on the bark, in longitudinal cone shapes covering it all. The bark is usually grey, thick, and cory.
Colors
Colors are another way used to identify firewood types. Cherry and Mulberry have a unique olive tone that makes them remarkable among other firewood.
Unfortunately, this way isn’t often helpful, since most firewood has a similar light brown color. Making it hard to differentiate between them depending on the colors only.
Ash firewood is a mixture of white and light brown colors. It’s lighter in colors and shades than most other types. Look for light white patches on the wood surface when looking for Ash firewood.
Leaves
The most commonly used way of identifying firewood is using the leaves. Most people prefer this way because it’s distinctive and easy to learn.
The downside here is that you can’t use it at fire woodpiles, as they are usually displayed without the leaves.
The leaves combination in Ash firewood is “opposite composition”. This means that leaves grow in a pair of two leaves, in front of each other. Each set of leaves are connected by a chain, they aren’t single standalone leaves.
Wrap Up
The firewood type affects the fire quality you’re going to get. That’s why it’s always better to invest in a good type from the start.
Ash has many elements that qualify it as one of the best firewood types. The heat level it generates is superior. In addition to that, it’s distinguishable and has nice coaling properties.