Firewood for Home Heating

Author: James E. Johnson, Extension Forester, Virginia Tech

Publication Number 420-003, posted July 1997

General characteristics of common Virginia firewood.

Species Relative Amount
of Heat Ease of
Burning Ease of
Splitting Production of
Heavy Smoke Production of
Sparks General
Rating

ash, red oak,
white oak,
beech, birch,
hickory, hard
maple high high high low low excellent

soft maple,
black cherry medium high high low low good

elm, sweetgum medium medium low medium low fair

basswood,
yellow poplar low high high medium low fair

yellow pine high high high high low good

white pine medium high high medium high fair

spruce low high high medium high poor

Species	Relative Amount of Heat	Ease of Burning	Ease of Splitting	Production of Heavy Smoke	Production of Sparks	General Rating
ash, red oak, white oak, beech, birch, hickory, hard maple	high	high	high	low	low	excellent
soft maple, black cherry	medium	high	high	low	low	good
elm, sweetgum	medium	medium	low	medium	low	fair
basswood, yellow poplar	low	high	high	medium	low	fair
yellow pine	high	high	high	high	low	good
white pine	medium	high	high	medium	high	fair
spruce	low	high	high	medium	high	poor

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