Very true, the only time we use to burn a pine type wood would be in a real hot fire, but then you are still taking a chance with creosote build upAny kind of evergreen puts off more creosote, which increases the chance of a flash fire. Burn hardwoods if possible.
Can I burn Cedar?
Can you safety burn cedar wood? We just cut down several cedar trees and were wondering if it is safe to burn.
Frank
Frank,
Sure you can burn it, but it depends on what you burn it in and how you go about it. Cedar makes just about the best natural kindling you can get. It splits easily, lights easily and burns hot. It also spits and crackles so it is not good in an open fireplace. Also, if you are burning it in an open fireplace, you might find it doesn't last long. If you burn it in a stove, you might find it makes a smoky fire if you turn down the air. The thing is, when heated, cedar releases its combustible gases (smoke) very quickly, so it needs a lot of air during its peak release period. Cedar works well for quick fires in spring and fall to take the chill off.
Cedar Trees give off a poisonous gas and should never be burned inside the home or shop.
http://extension.missouri.edu/explorepdf/agguides/forestry/G05450.pdfWOOD PRODUCTS VALUE :
Hackberry wood is of medium hardness and strength, white to yellowish in
color and rather elastic [25,30]; its specific gravity is 0.49 [25].
This wood makes excellent fuel, almost equaling hickory, and is used
also in the manufacture of cheap furniture. The technical qualities of
hackberry wood resemble those of elm (Ulmus spp.) and white ash
(Fraxinus americana), and it is sometimes used as a substitute for these
species. Hackberry is not a commercially important tree (except as
firewood) with its low timber value, but when peeled and properly
seasoned hackberry poles serve many useful purposes. However, the wood
is not durable when in contact with the soil [29,30].
What about hackberry?
HAHAHA...people!Had a lady thought it was ok last year to just wonder in our yard to get a bag full.
Our county extension agent turned us on to several kinds of 'bearing' trees, FOR FREE!We have a ton of pecan trees and most are the skinny real sweet breed. Had a lady thought it was ok last year to just wonder in our yard to get a bag full. She said the type was really desired but not that common.
Thank you Dunappy, saved me some typing.As for the Creosote build up, it doesn't matter what woods you burn, ALL woods have a chance of depositing creosote in the chimney. The biggest thing with Creosote build up is the amount of air let up the chimney and the heat and activity of the fire. Granted softer woods will deposit creosote faster if you are not careful, but all woods can still deposit the creosote so don't go around believing that you are safe just because you burn a hardwood.
I burn Pine and cedar woods all the time and we have a specific way to deal with the build up.
Besides doing our own chimney sweeping, we also have a burn indicator that attaches to the outside of our wood stove and shows us the correct operating temp for the woods stove to help prevent creosote build up.
here are some links that explain creosote build up.
What causes creosote build up?
Chimney Safety - Fire Safety At Home - Safety & Prevention - Fire Department - Services & Public Safety - City of Vancouver, Washington, USA
Just remember that EVERY time you burn you are taking a risk of creosote build up.