Chopped Wood Near Me? Discover Our Selection of Quality Firewood

It’s almost October, which means cooler weather is on the way. For many here in the United States, that means s’mores treats with roasted marshmallows and cozy evenings in the den with family and friends. Of course, a crackling fire is a big part of these fall traditions.

But did you know that the type of wood you choose to burn makes a big difference in the effectiveness of your fire? In today’s blog post, we’ll talk about what types of firewood work best for BBQ and for your log-burning stove. We’ll also discuss some fire safety tips and how you can order chopped wood near me for delivery or pickup.

Types of Firewood to Choose From

In general, seasoned firewood with a moisture content below 20% is the best to buy for your indoor fires especially, as it will burn hotter and won’t produce as much creosote, which is better for your stovepipe or chimney.

Of course, if you’re hosting an evening event with a bonfire, the moisture content isn’t as important, but it is good to keep the following details in mind. We’ll talk more about seasoned vs unseasoned wood in another blog post.

• Like oak, almond firewood provides long-lasting, high heat with little ash output. It’s a great option for smoking poultry and gives a nutty flavor to your meats.
  
• Apple firewood offers a sweet, fruity smoke that adds a delicious flavor to BBQ meats. It’s a hardwood that provides great coals to keep a steady heat over a long period of time. Apple wood has low resin and sap content.
• We highly recommend ash firewood as a great addition to your indoor heat sources. It gives off good heat (22.8 million BTUs per green cord for Green Ash, according to the Kansas Forest Service) and has little smoke when seasoned.
• Birch firewood can be used in both indoor and outdoor settings. It is classified as a hardwood, has a nice smell, starts burning easily (the thin, flakey bark helps with this) and provides a lovely crackling sound that adds to the ambience. Birch logs have a nice appearance that adds an appealing look to the firebox or as a neat pile beside the hearth.
• Cedar firewood is a softwood known for its amazing aroma. It burns easily, which makes it great for kindling purposes. Keep in mind, though, that cedar sparks and pops easily, so we do not recommend it for open fireplaces or anyplace near a wooden deck (such as in a chiminea or outdoor fire pit).
• Like apple, cherry firewood is ideal for smoking a delicious BBQ dinner. Cherry isn’t the hottest-burning firewood, but it burns with a pretty flame and amazing scent, making for a fun evening in front of the fire.
• Elm firewood is very dense, so when properly seasoned, it burns for a long time. Here at Woodchuck Firewood, we sell individual wood types as well as 1/2 and 1/3 cord of mixed firewood, which contains oak, ash, walnut, locust, maple, hackberry, elm, pear and mulberry. This mix of dense hardwoods provides the best of all worlds to give you the warm, lasting burn you’re looking for on a cold fall or winter’s night.
• Hackberry firewood is a great option for the fireplace, when you don’t want the sting of smoke to bother your eyes or nose. It also splits easily, which means you can break down larger pieces as needed to customize your burn.
• Hedge firewood is top-notch for heat output (around 32.6 million BTUs per green cord for Osage Orange, according to the Kansas Forest Service). Properly seasoned, its density, low moisture content and great coaling contribute to this long-lasting heat, even after the logs burn down. Keep in mind, though, that we do not recommend hedge wood for a fireplace or open insert, as it produces quick heat and dangerous sparks if not properly contained.
• Hickory firewood is an all-around contender when it comes to heat output, low sap / resin content and smoking wood for lip-smacking BBQ. Hickory-smoked meats have a strong smoky taste and smell that form the essence of good barbeque. This type of firewood also burns for a long time and (according to the Kansas Forest Service) can generate 27.4 million BTUs per green cord…making it near the top of the list.
• If you’d prefer a fire with a long burn and without much smoke, choose locust firewood. Black Locust is a superior option for high heat output (falling just behind Osage Orange, according to the Kansas Forest Service), but Honey Locust is also a solid option for firewood.
• Did you know that soft maple firewood is still a hardwood? Yes, confusing but true. “Soft maple” wood includes Silver Maple and Red Maple, while “hard maple” wood often refers to Black or Sugar Maple trees. We sell softer maple wood for your outdoor or indoor fire needs.
• Like hickory, mesquite firewood has a strong flavor that makes amazing BBQ…if used correctly. In fact, it’s best used for red meats, as it can overpower poultry. As for using mesquite in your stove, it produces good coals for long heat and burns hot.
• Mulberry firewood is a great option to consider for your woodstove needs. It produces great heat, is a dense hardwood, and has a nice, sweet smell. Mulberry wood can tend to pop and spark, so be careful using it in open areas. It also can be good for smoking meats.
• Post Oak firewood is perfect for your grilling or smoking needs, especially if you’re going for the quintessential Texas BBQ taste. When seasoned well, oak is also a great option for the fireplace or stove, with its low sap and resin content.
• Pear firewood burns with a good heat output for your indoor fires. It is similar to apple wood and is a good option for BBQ-ing meats.
• Pecan firewood burns very clean and for a long time. If you grill, smoke or cook over a pecan wood fire, your food will benefit from the mild, nutty flavor. Pecan doesn’t produce lots of smoke, which makes it ideal for burning indoors.
• Kiln-dried Piñon firewood is a treat for the senses. It burns with a lovely smell reminiscent of Christmas and is even a natural repellant for mosquitos. This makes it perfect for a campfire or an evening with friends in front of the chiminea. Be careful when using it, as pinion wood can tend to spark.
• Last but not least, walnut firewood burns cleanly and sits in the middle of the pack as far as heat output.

For more details on Kansas-specific firewood (including a table that details million BTUs per green cord of wood), view the flyer from the Kansas Forest Service.

What is the Best Wood for Log Burning Stoves?

Did you know that the region you live in affects what type of firewood is available and, thus, what your best options are for your wood burning stove? Yes, it’s true! Here in Kansas, we sell a wide variety of firewood types, but if you’re searching for the best wood for log burning stoves regarding heat output in our region, choose between hedge, locust, hickory, oak or maple.

Hardwood vs Softwood…What is the Difference?

Softwood burns faster and is great for kindling to help get a fire started.

Hardwood burns hotter and longer and is preferred for indoor spaces where you want the fire to help keep your home warm. It’s also crucial for stoves that need to stay burning overnight, because you won’t have to get up as many times in the night to stoke the fire.

What is Seasoned Firewood?

Seasoned wood takes time, tools, technique and hard work.  The drying process is not something the average person has space for…so buy your wood from a reputable source to save yourself the time and effort involved.

If you’re comparing seasoned wood vs unseasoned wood, you can hear the difference. Seasoned wood will make a hollow sound, and unseasoned wood makes a duller sound when tapping two pieces together. Naturally, a moisture meter is the most effective way to check your firewood.

Fire Safety Tips

Of course, whenever you’re around live coals or a burning fire, you need to keep fire safety in mind. Here are some tips:

• How many logs should you put in a wood stove? You’ll want to use 2 or 3 logs and leave plenty of room for air movement inside the fire box.  Don't overfill your firebox as this can cause too much heat (called overfiring).
• Don’t ever block the flue when the stove is in use…a blocked flue can lead to dangerous smoke, the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning and creosote buildup.
• Open your damper before starting a fire.
• Check to make sure dangerous sparks aren’t coming out of the top…here in Kansas it has been incredibly dry, and you don’t want to start an unwanted chimney fire. Part of preventing this is choosing the right firewood for your stove, and making sure your chimney is clean and creosote-free to keep your home safe and the fire contained.
• When cleaning ashes out of your firebox, make sure that all coals are completely burned out and cool. You don’t want to start an unwanted fire outside!  Leave some ashes in the bottom of your stove to help retain heat for future fires. Ashes can be good for your garden if used properly and in moderation.

Safety Tips for Bonfires or Other Outdoor Fires 

When building a fire outside (such as a bonfire), you may need to get a burn permit.  Check with your local authorities if you have any questions.  You’ll also want to make sure your fire is a safe distance from any other flammable items and that you have access to water to put the fire out quickly if necessary. 

Please check to make sure your area doesn’t have any burn bans in place. In addition, use well-seasoned wood like the selection we have here at Woodchuck Firewood.

Where to Buy Chopped Wood Near Me?

Buy your "chopped wood near me" from reputable firewood suppliers like Woodchuck Firewood. For more than 25 years, we’ve worked hard to serve our clients with affordable seasoned firewood delivery services across the USA. If you live in the Valley Center, Kansas area, we can also stack your delivery, so you don’t have to worry about unloading the heavy logs at your home or business.

Give us a call at 316-640-2168 or visit our online store at https://www.woodchuckfirewood.com to purchase your premium firewood or other accessories.