Not all firewood is created equal. Some species of trees are able to produce much more heat per cord of wood. A cord is the amount of wood in a well-stacked woodpile measuring 4 feet wide by 8 feet long by 4 feet high.
Following are heat values (in million BTUs) per cord for various species of trees. The higher the value, the better the wood.
Following are heat values (in million BTUs) per cord for various species of trees. The higher the value, the better the wood.
Species |
Heat Value (million BTU's) |
Notes |
Ash, Green |
22.8 |
|
Cottonwood |
15.9 |
|
Elm, American |
19.8 |
Difficult to split |
Elm, Siberian |
20.9 |
Difficult to split |
Hackberry |
21.0 |
|
Honeylocust |
25.6 |
Sparks, do not use in open fireplace |
Locust, Black |
28.3 |
Difficult to split |
Maple, Sugar |
24.0 |
Value |
Maple, Silver |
18.9 |
|
Mulberry |
25.3 |
|
Oak, Red |
24.0 |
|
Oak, Bur |
24.9 |
|
Oak, Post |
25.6 |
|
Osage Orange (Hedge) |
32.6 |
Sparks, do not use in open fireplace |
Sycamore |
19.5 |
Difficult to Split |
Walnut, Black |
21.8 |
The Kansas Forest Service has a publication titled “Managing Your Woodland for Firewood” that is quite helpful. See http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/bookstore/pubs/mf773.pdf .
Remember to obtain firewood locally. Emerald Ash Borer is now in Kansas because of transported wood. (Ward Upham)
Remember to obtain firewood locally. Emerald Ash Borer is now in Kansas because of transported wood. (Ward Upham)
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