PRACTICAL FUEL GUIDANCE
Fuel guidance: choosing wood that burns well
Fuel quality affects lighting, heat output, glass cleanliness, chimney deposits and emissions. Start with the appliance manual: it defines the fuels and maximum loads your stove was designed to use. For multi-fuel appliances, also follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the correct grate position, ash-bed arrangement and air settings for each permitted fuel type.
Choosing and storing firewood
Choosing firewood: what to look for
- Choose dry, untreated logs. Do not rely on the words “seasoned” or “kiln dried” alone — moisture at the centre of the log is what matters. Split a representative log and aim for around 18% moisture or below.
- Buy the right size for your stove. Log length and diameter should suit the firebox and the appliance manufacturer’s guidance. Oversized logs can be harder to establish cleanly.
- Hardwood and softwood can both be useful. Dense hardwoods often give a longer burn per log, while dry softwood can be excellent for kindling and establishing heat quickly. Moisture and correct operation matter more than simply choosing one species.
- Check how the load is sold. Ask whether the quoted volume is loose or stacked, how the wood was dried and when it was processed.
- In England, small-volume firewood sales should carry the Ready to Burn mark. That scheme permits up to 20% moisture; BurnBetter still recommends aiming drier where practical.
Storing firewood: keep it dry and ventilated
Store logs off the ground, with the top protected from direct rain but the sides open enough for air to move through the stack. Avoid wrapping the whole pile tightly in plastic because trapped moisture needs somewhere to escape. Leave space between the wood and solid walls where possible, rotate older stock forward, and bring only a modest supply indoors at a time. Keep stored fuel clear of the stove and follow the appliance manufacturer’s stated combustible-clearance distances. If logs have been exposed to prolonged rain or damp conditions, test them again before burning rather than assuming they are still ready.
What not to burn
Do not burn painted, stained, glued or preservative-treated timber, MDF, chipboard, old furniture, household rubbish, plastics or damp wood. Pallets are not automatically safe: provenance and treatment matter. Never assume a manufactured fuel is suitable for a wood-only stove; use only fuel specifically permitted by the manual.
If you have a multi-fuel stove
“Multi-fuel” does not mean “burn anything”. Use only the fuels specifically listed in your stove manufacturer’s instructions. Many multi-fuel appliances can burn dry wood and certain approved manufactured smokeless fuels, but the air settings and fuel-bed arrangement may be different for each. Mineral fuels generally need controlled air from below through a grate, while wood normally relies more heavily on air above the fuel for clean combustion — your appliance manual is the final word. Do not assume wood and solid mineral fuel should be mixed together unless the manufacturer expressly permits it. In smoke-control areas, also check that the appliance and the fuel combination you intend to use is permitted. If you change fuel type, let the fire settle and follow the manufacturer’s changeover procedure rather than improvising.
Smoke-control areas and local rules
Many UK towns and cities have smoke-control rules. In England, burning wood in one generally requires a Defra-exempt appliance operated with its permitted fuel, while authorised smokeless fuels may be used in suitable non-exempt appliances. Requirements differ across the UK, so check your local authority and current national guidance before burning.
The useful three-point check
Right appliance. Right fuel. Right moisture. If any one is uncertain, pause and check the manual, the supplier information or a competent professional. Wet fuel cannot be fixed by opening the air more or running the stove harder.
Continue learning
Help us keep BurnBetter free. BurnBetter provides this information free of charge because our aim is to help every stove owner use their stove more safely, correctly and efficiently. If you find the site useful and would like to support the work behind it, you can do so by purchasing stove accessories through our
recommended products. Some of these are affiliate links, which means BurnBetter may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep creating practical, independent stove guidance.
