Because fireplaces and wood stoves are expected to sigh and this year also because the smog is not there anyway save, it would be good to learn the basics, if only to achieve the best possible performance and less noise.
 
The problem with firewood mainly concerns those who do not have it energy fireplace or stove that can burn pellets and is users of conventional fireplaces.
 
The main advice given by the experts has to do with it choice of wood but also with the way of storage, factors that are directly related to calorific value and energy efficiency, given that in a conventional fireplace the firewood cannot offer more than 50% of their performance.
 
Those who know about firewood point out that the first choice will it should be beech and oak and not conifers. And because now the market is not made by the ton, but by the cubic, c to be able to calculate what you are buying, the people of the square point out that roughly one ton of wood corresponds to 1.6 cubic meters measures.
 
This year's prices range around 90 euros for beech, oak and the pine, around 110 for the eucalyptus and the holly and somewhere around 120 for the olive, per cubic meter. As for humidity and the correct way of storage, useful are the instructions for… by the General Secretariat of Trade and Commerce.
 
Water on wood
 
Wood is not usually found in a dry state, but contains humidity that can range from 15% to 60% depending with the conditions and time of its natural drying, a fact that reduces its calorific value. As a porous and hygroscopic material, the result is that its humidity can fluctuate depending on the prevailing atmospheric conditions (temperature, air humidity etc).
 
The reduction in calorific value due to humidity is due to that part of the energy released during it of combustion is spent on the evaporation of water and is therefore not available for any desired thermal exploitation. Has been generally accepted that moisture for its energy utilization of wood, in domestic applications, should not be greater than 20%.
 
Drying
 
Firewood begins to lose moisture from winter, but the March sees the greatest loss of water (about 10%). The hot summers the wood that is chopped - split in December and stored in a covered area can reach, already from June, at humidity levels of 20% and therefore be suitable for to be marketed as "finished dry wood".
 
However, in the case of wet summers the observed differences are minimal and the 20% humidity level will be reached about a month later. In general, the different types of firewood they take more or less the same amount of time to reach it desired humidity level of 20%. From September, the harvested wood regains moisture from wind and rain.
 
Logs stored covered dry relatively more quickly during the first months of winter. This advantage of covered wood is compensated for uncovered wood at during the summer months.
 
Save
 
The natural drying of firewood can be done either in the open spaces either covered and ventilated, but in each case they must be protected from soil moisture and the rain.
 
Basic principles for storing firewood:
 
* The floor must be kept dry. If possible, air movement should be facilitated by elevating the firewood stack off the ground with wooden supports.
* It is preferably stored in places that are open to air and sun.
*You must there is a distance of at least 10 cm between the stacks and between the stack and the wall of the storage structure.
* The firewood for daily use should be stored near the combustion area so that it has been preheated before use.