If you heat with wood, be aware that it is strongly recommended not to use it this winter and we will tell you why.
The cold is back and boilers, fireplaces and wood stoves are in the starting blocks to help us face winter! For those who heat themselves with wood, what could be better than enjoying the gentle warmth of a good fireplace? However, this pleasure can quickly turn sour if the wood produces thick smoke, gives off a bad smell and abnormally clogs the pipes when it burns.
What is the cause? For a large number of users, all types of wood can be used as firewood as long as they are well dried. But this preconceived idea is entirely false because chimney sweeping professionals claim that certain woods can damage a stove or chimney flue in just a few weeks. Indeed, beautiful flames can hide toxic smoke emissions which cause a lot of damage: blackening of the glass of the insert, obstruction of the extraction duct and, in the worst case, a chimney fire.
Despite appearances, some woods can be dangerous if used as fuel. This is particularly the case for woods treated to resist bad weather such as pallet wood, wood stained with a yellow or green product, wood covered with paint or varnish, or damp softwood such as fir or spruce.
It is strongly recommended not to use these types of wood for heating because they contain either resin or chemicals which, once flambéed, will release vapors and smoke which deposit particles and clog the ducts. In addition to clogging and dirtying wood stoves and fireplaces, the substances released are also very irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract, but also carcinogenic.
To avoid any danger and costly maintenance, it is therefore very important to adopt good habits by choosing wood specially designed for heating. To do this, opt for species such as oak, hornbeam, beech or even ash and store your wood protected from rain in a well-ventilated place before use so that it can dry for a few months. The drying time recommended by professionals is 18 months, so the key word is anticipation!
Also consider calling on a chimney sweep to maintain your equipment before winter. Through these actions, you will obtain a clean fire and efficient combustion that will warm you better and last longer, all while guaranteeing your safety and that of your loved ones.
