Wood Burners.

                         

                                                                                Wood Burners.

In the last few years wood burners have again become popular, probably due to the ever rising costs of Gas and Electric. Wood burners and multi fuel stoves for heating and cooking have been around for many years, improvements to design and construction have made them a very good alternative and efficient source for providing heat and to cook with. Most of you will be familiar with the names of Rayburn, Aga and Franco Belge, if you live in the countryside or used to live in the countryside, chances are you probably have one or used one. Nearly every farmer, estate worker, gamekeeper had one of these in their home, I had one on all the estates where I lived and worked. The main fuel for me was wood as I had an unlimited supply, I only ever used coal when I needed to. Now they are back in fashion with many more choices available to suit any property, wether you want to cook with it or just use it to heat your home.

An Aga Multi fuel Stove.

A Rayburn.

The more modern wood burner will fit in to any property old or new provided you have a chimney, although it is possible to put one in with out. These new burners provide a lot of heat for their physical size but do get one that is capable of doing what you want it to do and also decide if it is just for

background heat or to heat radiators and if you want to cook with it.

A Franco Belge

A Aga wood burner.

Now the most important tip that I can give you if you decide to fit one in your home, you will need to build up a store of good timber and it must be kept dry. If your timber is not kept dry it will smoke, provide little heat and soot up your chimney very quickly. When buying your logs always try to find a  good supplier and always if possible stick to hardwoods, here is an old traditional poem that will tell you everything you need to know about choosing the right logs for your fire.

                                                                          Logs to burn, logs to burn

Logs to save the coal a turn,

Here's a word to make you wise,

When you hear the woodman's cries.

Never heed his usual tale ,

That he has good logs for sale,

So read these lines and really learn,

The proper kinds of logs to burn.

Oak logs will warm you well,

If they're old and dry.

Larch logs of pine will smell,

But the sparks will fly.

Beech logs for Christmas time,

Yew logs heat well.

'Scotch' logs it is a crime 

For anyone to sell.

Birch logs will burn too fast,

Chestnut scarce at all.

Hawthorn logs are good to last

If you cut them in the fall.

Holly logs will burn like wax,

You should burn them green.

Elm logs like smouldering flax

No flames to be seen.

Pear logs and apple logs,

These will sent your room.

Cherry logs across the dogs

Smell like flowers in bloom.

But Ash logs, all smooth and grey,

Burn them in the green or old:

Buy up all that come your way,

They're worth their weight in gold.

And finally if you have the room to make a small lean to type of cover to store your logs under out of the rain but allows the wind to blow through the pile to help dry them out and season them, it would be a good idea to make one. It takes on average one year per inch of the thickness of timber to dry or season the wood, so collect and store your timber in advance the year before for best results.