Wood burning fireplaces offer a delightful way to keep your family warm and cosy while adding a touch of natural beauty to your home, particularly during the chilly seasons. With numerous options available, how can you determine which fireplace is the right fit for you?

Let’s explore the key factors to consider in order to make an informed decision.

Heating Capacity: A Crucial Consideration

When choosing a wood fireplace, the heating capacity takes precedence. This aspect determines the amount of warmth the fireplace can generate. Heat is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units), which quantify the work needed to increase the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit—an essential metric to gauge a fireplace’s heating prowess.

Log Size: Tailoring to Your Preferences

Another aspect to contemplate is the log size that your chosen wood fireplace can accommodate. Standard logs typically measure around 16″, known for their ease of handling. However, some homeowners prefer fireplaces that can accommodate larger logs, providing a distinct aesthetic and longer burning time. Notably, Fireplaces Australia offers stoves capable of holding logs up to 22″ in length, catering to varying preferences.

Combustion System: Efficiency and Airflow

The combustion system of a fireplace plays a pivotal role in its efficiency and functionality.  employ an innovative approach by utilising external air for combustion. This ensures that the fire receives oxygen from outside your home, eliminating the need to deplete the valuable oxygen within your living space.

Moreover, the fireplaces on offer at Fireplaces Australia generate heat through convective airflow. This process involves drawing room air through the grill beneath the fireplace, allowing it to circulate upward and absorb the radiant heat emitted by the fireplace. Finally, the heated air exits through the upper grill, effectively distributing warmth throughout the room.

Enhanced Performance

At Fireplaces Australia, we exclusively install top-tier wood fireplaces renowned for their exceptional performance. Our featured fireplaces boast an airtight door system, effectively sealing the fireplace and preventing heat loss. This feature empowers you to have complete control over your fire, maximising the heat potential while minimising the amount of firewood required for optimal warmth. Regulate the burn rate effortlessly using the combustion air and chimney damper controls, ensuring a comfortable and efficient heating experience.

Orientation: Aesthetic Appeal and Heat Output

The orientation of the burning chamber is another factor to contemplate when selecting a wood fireplace. Fireplaces can be designed in either North-South or East-West orientations. In an East-West orientation, logs are placed horizontally from left to right, allowing you to observe the sides of the logs as they burn. On the other hand, a North-South orientation provides a view of the log ends. Notably, a North-South orientation typically offers greater heating capacity compared to an East-West orientation of the same size.

Explore Our Extensive Wood Fireplace Selection

To assist you in finding the ideal wood fireplace, we invite you to explore our comprehensive collection of high-quality wood fireplaces. Our team is dedicated to guiding you through the selection process, ensuring that you find the perfect fireplace to meet your unique needs and preferences. Begin your journey to a warm and inviting home by visiting us at Fireplaces Australia today.

Firewood selection is crucial for a comfortable and inviting wood fireplace experience. Not all firewoods are equal in terms of burning properties, heat production, and smoke emission. The task of choosing the perfect firewood from a myriad of options can be quite daunting. Don’t worry, though, as we have you covered with a quick guide on the best and worst types of firewood.

Dry is Best!

One fundamental aspect to remember about firewood is that regardless of the wood type, proper drying significantly enhances its burning efficiency. Different woods require varying durations to dry thoroughly, and understanding the art of firewood storage is essential.

Ensuring the dryness, or seasoning, of your firewood before using it in your fireplace is of utmost importance. Here’s why:

Enhanced Heat and Reduced Smoke

Dry firewood burns more efficiently, generating increased heat and making your fireplace warmer and cosier.

Less smoke and soot accumulation: Wet firewood tends to produce more smoke and leave behind soot, a flammable substance that accumulates in your chimney, potentially leading to chimney fires if not properly dealt with.

Easier Ignition and Longevity

Dry firewood ignites more easily, producing a brighter flame, which in turn makes lighting your fireplace a breeze.

Moreover, dry firewood burns for longer periods, providing a consistent and sustained heat source. As an added benefit, it’s environmentally friendly too. Burning dry firewood releases fewer pollutants into the air, promoting a healthier environment.

Consequently, it is crucial to store your firewood in a dry and well-ventilated location for at least 6-12 months before utilising it in your fireplace. Trust us, the effort will be well worth it, as there’s something truly enchanting about a traditional fireplace compared to an electric alternative!

Let’s now explore the best types of firewood available:

Optimal Firewood Choices

Certain firewoods are considered superior for use in wood heaters and fireplaces due to their dense grain structure, resin content, and ability to burn hot, long, and cleanly.

Hardwoods such as oak, maple, cherry, ash, and birch top the list as the most suitable firewood types for fireplaces. These hardwoods ignite quickly, produce minimal smoke, and emit a high amount of heat, creating a warm ambiance and ensuring efficient home heating.

Specifically focusing on hardwoods:

Oak, Maple, and Cherry

Oak, maple, and cherry, being hardwoods, are regarded as the finest firewood options. They burn hot, long, and clean. With their dense grain structure and resin-rich composition, they are favourites among homeowners and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

Ash

Ash, a hardwood, is renowned for its rapid combustion and high heat output. Its sap content aids in swift ignition and efficient burning, making it an ideal choice for fireplaces, wood stoves, and outdoor fires.

Birch

Birch, another popular hardwood, offers prolonged burn time and high heat generation. Its light coloration contributes to minimal smoke production, while its pleasant aroma enhances the overall experience of indoor fires.

Now, let’s take a look at some firewood that are less favourable for fireplace use:

Inferior Firewood Choices

Certain firewood types possess characteristics that make them unsuitable for fireplace usage. These include low density, high moisture content, and elevated resin levels. Igniting such wood can be challenging and may result in excessive smoke, creosote, and sparks, posing risks to both the fireplace and chimney.

Softwoods

Pine and cedar, categorised as softwoods, are not recommended for use as firewood. Due to their low density and resin content, these woods are difficult to ignite and tend to produce substantial amounts of creosote, an extremely flammable substance that can accumulate in chimneys and raise the likelihood of chimney fires.

Willow

Willow, also a softwood, is not recommended as firewood due to its low density and high moisture content. Igniting willow can be a struggle, and it often generates excessive smoke.

Eucalyptus

While eucalyptus is commonly used as firewood in many countries, it is not advisable for most parts of the United States. This wood contains a high oil content, making it easy to ignite. However, it burns intensely hot and produces copious amounts of smoke.

Poplar

Poplar, a softwood, is also discouraged for use as firewood. Its low density and moisture content make ignition challenging, leading to significant smoke production.

The Importance of Fireplace Cleaning Between Different Firewood Types

Thoroughly cleaning your fireplace between the use of different firewood types is vital to ensure a safe and efficient fire. Each firewood type possesses a unique chemical composition and burning behaviour. Burning multiple wood types in one fire can result in creosote and soot buildup within your chimney.

This build-up increases the risk of chimney fires and makes starting and maintaining fires more arduous. Regularly cleaning your fireplace between different firewood types removes residual soot and creosote, reducing the risk of chimney fires.

Cleaning can be accomplished by employing a chimney brush or vacuum to eliminate soot and creosote build-up from the chimney and firebox. Maintaining cleanliness in your chimney and fireplace is key to a secure and effective fire.

Ignite Your Fire!

The choice of firewood significantly impacts the warmth, efficiency, and duration of your fire. To ensure a safe and efficient experience, it is imperative to select the appropriate firewood type and store it correctly to prevent moisture build-up and decay.

If you don’t have a fireplace yet, you’ve come to the right place. Contact us on 0423 399 561 now to discuss your space and its heating needs, and let us bring the warmth and charm of a fireplace into your Sydney home!