Wood Burning Stoves Reviews

Hardwood and softwood are two common types of wood that people will place in their wood burning stoves this cold weather season. Do you know what the difference is between the two types?  How do you know which type to use for your wood burning stove so that you can stay warm all winter long?

The Difference Between Hardwood and Softwood

A Look At Hardwood

Hardwood is typically recommended for wood burning stoves due to its compact, solid molecular structure and thick density.  It is much more complex than softwood so it grows much slower and sheds leaves over a period of time. Hardwood is high in density, which means it has more wood mass. It also means they have the ability to generate more energy and burn longer than wood that’s less dense.

Most folks tend to favor hardwood because of their ability to heat efficiently and for a longer time. The trees that fall under the hardwood category include apple, aspen, birch, hickory, oak and walnut trees.

A Look At Softwood

Softwood doesn’t have as much density as hardwood, which makes it softer (or not as solid or compact) than the hardwood varieties.  Softwood will grow quicker than hardwood and won’t lose their leaves as quickly. This kind of wood ignites easily and burns more rapidly but must be fed repeatedly and often to stay lit. The flame from softwood is much more intense, which is why they go out quicker than you see with hardwood flames.  The kinds of trees that fall under the softwood category include cedar, fir, pine and spruce trees.

One More Specific Difference

While there are many differences to the hardwood and softwood, there really is one thing that makes them stand out from each other. Hardwoods have pores (also known as vessels). These vessels have cells that can vary in their size, perforation shape and cell wall structure. Softwood does not have vessels. Thus, if you see a tree with vessels, you can be sure that it’s a hardwood tree.

Now, it’s important to remember that there are some hardwood species that have softwood’s low density aspect.  And, there are several softwood species that are solid and compact like the hardwood.

What type of wood would be better to use in your fireplace? Now that you know the difference between hardwood and softwood, you can figure out which one is useful for it. If you want your home to stay warm for a good deal of time, then hardwood is going to be your best bet. However, if you want your home to get heated swiftly and intensely, choose softwood to help you out.

While hardwood and softwood have differences, it’s important to realize that neither type is better than the other one. After all, they can be used according to the person’s needs. It’s always a good idea to have both types nearby your wood burning stove… just in case you need either one. You never know when that might happen.

Incoming search terms:

• burning spruce in wood stove
• burning aspen in wood stoves
• can u burn fir trees in a stove
• pine wood burning
• Pine for wood stoves
• pine for wood burning stoves
• pine burning stove
• pictures of pecan firewood?
• is cedar a good firewood stoves
• is aspen a hardwood