The Environmental and Cost Benefits of Burning Seasoned Logs
One in ten householders in the South East burn logs and coal to help heat their homes.
Traditional fuels such as logs and coal are very popular, particularly in the South East of England, as they give out a lot of heat, are cheap and who doesn't like a roaring fire on a cold winters day anyway!
However, over recent years we have all become more aware of the issues of pollution and air quality, and the impacts that they have on the enviroment, and the young and elderly.
Although it might seem to be enviromentally friendly and cost efficient to gather wood to burn from gardens or local woods, or to use 'scrap wood' such as old pallets and wood from construction works, this is increasingly becoming recognised as not enviromentally friendly at all.
The use of waste wood from construction projects, such as old roofing battens, or unwanted pallets is particuarly harmful as these woods will probably have been treated with preservatives such as creosote, which can release highly toxic emsissions such as arsenic when burned. Painted wood, such as old doors or furniture, is also extremely hazardous as older paints contained lead which is extremely toxic if ingested by breathing the fumes for example.
Recently felled trees contain a lot of moisture - as much as one pint of water per kilo of wood. Burning this moisture away in a fire, rather than leaving the wood to naturally season, results in the fire being more challenging to light, signficantly reduces heat output due to incomplete combustion of the wood, and leads to increased levels of smoke, tar and soot being released, which accumulates in the lining of the chimney potentially increasing maintenance costs.
Ideally, seasoned wood logs from reputable sellers should in fact be used: The key word her is 'seasoned' as this indicates wood that has been allowed to naturally dry after being cut for at least two years to allow excess moisture (that naturally occurs in trees) to dissipate.Ideally, the air drying process will be allowed to take place over at least two summers, with the wood kept undercover, in small, manageable pieces, to allow air to circulate freely and to enable a consistent drying process to take place throughout each piece.
Properly seasoned wood will light easily, burn slowly with a steady heat output and will not produce a lot of smoke or invisible emissions, such as carbon monoxide, reducing your enviromental impact when using this method of heating.
You can identify if wood has been properly seasoned by using a moisture meter (properly seasoned logs with have a moisture content of less than 20%), or the traditional method of tapping the wood to listen for a hollow sound.
About Roofing Supplies stock and supply Seasoned Wood Logs, available in 800kg bulk bags.
Pricing & availablity:
To discuss pricing and the availability of seasoned wood logs, please call us on 01737 763008 or email us here.
Where can I find seasoned wood logs near me?
You can view and order seasoned wood logs in any of our branches listed below or we can deliver nationwide:
