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The Best (and Worst) Wood for Your Fireplace

Not all firewood is created equal. The type of wood you burn has a big impact on how your fireplace performs—from how much heat it produces to how much creosote builds up in your chimney. Choosing the right wood not only makes your fires more enjoyable but also helps keep your home safer and your fireplace running efficiently. Here’s a breakdown of the best and worst types of wood for your fireplace.

The Best Woods to Burn

  • Oak: Oak is one of the most popular hardwoods for fireplaces, and for good reason. It burns slowly and produces steady, long-lasting heat, making it ideal for chilly winter nights.
  • Maple: Another excellent hardwood, maple lights relatively easily and gives off a consistent flame with minimal smoke. It’s also widely available in most regions.
  • Hickory: Known for its high heat output, hickory is one of the hottest-burning hardwoods. It burns cleanly and produces a pleasant aroma, though it can be harder to split.
  • Ash: Ash is highly recommended because it has a low moisture content even when freshly cut, which means it burns well without extensive seasoning.
  • Birch: Though it burns a little faster than oak or maple, birch provides good heat and is easy to light, making it a great option for starting fires.

The Worst Woods to Burn

  • Pine: While it’s easy to find, pine produces a lot of creosote and burns quickly, making it a poor choice for regular use in your fireplace.
  • Spruce and Fir: These softwoods ignite quickly but burn out fast, producing more smoke and soot than hardwoods. They’re better reserved for kindling.
  • Green or Freshly Cut Wood: Wood that hasn’t been seasoned (dried for at least 6–12 months) contains too much moisture. This results in smoky fires, poor heat output, and rapid creosote buildup.
  • Treated or Painted Wood: Never burn wood that’s been painted, stained, or pressure-treated. These materials release toxic fumes when burned and can damage your fireplace system.
  • Driftwood: Wood collected from rivers or the beach often contains salt, which can corrode fireplace components and release harmful chemicals into the air.

Keep Your Fireplace Safe and Efficient

Choosing the right firewood is just one part of maintaining a safe, enjoyable fireplace. Regular service is just as important to ensure your system runs efficiently all winter long. Learn more about Fireside Home Solutions’ fireplace service and schedule a professional inspection before the season begins.

Why Choose Fireside Home Solutions?

Whether you're fixing your garage door, installing a new fireplace, or upgrading your current system, Fireside Home Solutions offers trusted, local expertise for homeowners in the Seattle and Portland areas. We provide full-service maintenance, repairs, and installations tailored to your needs. From programming your opener to complete system overhauls, we’ve got you covered.

Contact us to learn more about our fireplace and garage door solutions or to schedule a service appointment today.