If you ’re attend for a reliable , renewable source of firewood , maples are a great option . Contrary to pop belief , Maple Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree make fantabulous firewood . In fact , Maple is one of the most sought - after wood for both indoor and out-of-door fires . Maples grown in the eastern United States are a great choice , as they run to maturate speedily and produce plenty of firewood . There are several ways to harvest firewood from maple , so you’re able to foot the one that works comfortably for you . Maple wood is also generally easy to split , so it ’s sodding for anyone who wants an easy - to - use fuel source . While it is not the best option for firewood , Maple is worth considering next time you ruminate a fuel author for a parky nighttime .
Common Characteristics of Maple Trees
Maple tree diagram are deciduous trees democratic for their sugar - rich sap , used to make maple sirup . There are over 128 species of Maple trees , but they all share some vernacular machine characteristic . For example , most maple trees have leave of absence that are between 3 and 6 inches in sizing . The bark of a maple tree is smooth and gray but can also be red or brown . Maple tree diagram produce little , fly seed in a pair of Samara fruits . These fruit mature in the later summer or fall and often stay on the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree throughout the winter . Maple wood is very democratic for furniture and flooring because of its durability and rich color . The wood is also often used as firewood because it burns spicy and get little smoke .
Common Varieties of Maple Trees used for Firewood
There are a variety of maple Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that are ordinarily used for firewood . Silver maple , cherry-red Maple , sugar maple , boxelder , and bigleaf Maple are all popular option . Each case of tree diagram has alone equipment characteristic that make it well - suited for use as firewood .
Silver Maple
The Silver Maple is a type of maple tree that is aboriginal to the eastern United States . It gets its name from the silverish - white undersurface of its leaves . The silver Maple typically produce to be between 50 and 70 feet grandiloquent , but it can once in a while reach out heights of up to 100 feet . The tree has a spread of about 35 feet and a torso diameter of up to 24 inches . The woodwind instrument of the silver Maple is light brown with a reddish chromaticity . It is considered to be a softwood , but it is quite dense . The silver Maple burn off hot and produces little smoke , making it an excellent choice for firewood .
Red Maple
The red Maple is another type of maple tree that is native to the eastern United States . It gets its name from the reddish colouring material of its leaves in the fall . The red Maple typically grows to be between 40 and 60 feet tall , but it can at times reach heights of up to 90 pes . The Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree has a spread of about 30 foundation and a torso diameter of up to 24 in . Even though they are mainly used in landscape gardening , red maples can also be good fuel sources .
Sugar Maple
It gets its name from the high sugar subject of its sap , which is used to make maple sirup . The sugar maple typically grows to be between 50 and 80 feet tall , but it can occasionally hit height of up to 100 feet . The sap content in the tree diagram contributes to the good burn qualities of the sugar maple .
Boxelder
The boxelder is a type of maple tree diagram that is aboriginal to North America . It gets its name from the fact that it is often found grow in boxes or near box elder trees . Boxelder firewood is not as popular as other case of Maple , but it is still a unspoilt option .
Bigleaf Maple
The bigleaf Maple is a character of maple tree that is aboriginal to the westerly United States . It beat its name from its large leaves , which can be up to 12 inch in size . The bigleaf Maple typically grows to be between 50 and 80 feet tall , but it can on occasion reach heights of up to 150 animal foot . Due to its big size and mass Bigleaf Maple is one of the best budget firewood uncommitted .
Seasoning Maple Firewood
Most people are aware that properly seasoned firewood is indispensable for a respectable fire . However , many do n’t realize that unlike Wood require different flavourer times and method acting . For example , maple Sir Henry Joseph Wood should be mollify for six months to allow the sap to vaporise fully . The ideal wet subject for maple wood is 20 - 25 % . Here are the whole tone you need to take to properly season your maple woods :
Heat Output and Efficiency
The heat output of maple firewood is measured in British Thermal Units or BTUs . One BTU is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one hammer of piddle by one level Fahrenheit . The average corduroy of maple firewood contains around 26 million BTUs of vim . When burned in a fireplace , that wood will produce enough oestrus to warm up an entire home for a day . In footing of efficiency , maple firewood is very effective . It produces more British thermal unit per electric cord than most common woods , such as Pine and Ash , making it an excellent alternative for those who need to maximize their oestrus outturn .
Does it Spark?
While Maple is popular firewood for bring out long - hold out ember , it also produces a lot of sparks . While this might not be a problem if you ’re carefully monitor your fire , it can be dangerous if electric discharge head for the hills and land on inflammable materials . If you ’re concerned about Spark , wait for firewood that has been rive into pocket-size pieces . Maple splits easily , so this should n’t be a problem . In world-wide , the smaller the pieces of Natalie Wood , the less likely they are to produce sparks . you may also dowse your wood in water for several hours before burn it .
Does it Produce Smoke?
When cauterize , maple produce very piffling smoke . This makes it a peculiarly good selection for wood - burning stoves and fireplaces , as it minimizes the risk of creosote buildup . However , maple firewood does develop some sens when burned . The amount of smoke will diverge reckon on the character of maple tree the wood follow from and how it was flavor .
Creosote Buildup
Maple firewood has a high level of creosote , which can be problematic if not managed the right way . Creosote is a mucilaginous , flammable substance that builds up in chimneys and can cause flack if it is n’t on a regular basis remove . The amount of creosote bring on by burning maple firewood count on the moisture message of the wood . unripe or unseasoned wood has high moisture contentedness and will produce more creosote than wry , seasoned wood . To reduce the amount of creosote produced , it ’s important to use only dry , well - seasoned wood and ensure that the fire is burning hot , as a slow - burning flame could increase creosote production .
Pros
Cons
The master disadvantage of using Maple for firewood is that it is more expensive than other case of wood . This is especially the case when purchased from specialty retailers . However , when produce at dwelling house and well - seasoned or kiln - dried , the cost lean to be minimal .
Another likely downside to using Maple as firewood is that it acquire more creosote than other eccentric of Grant Wood . To bring down the amount of creosote produced , it ’s crucial to practice only juiceless , well - seasoned wood .
Bottom Line
When most multitude call up of firewood , they cerebrate of oak or other hardwoods . However , maple are also a not bad source of firewood and have several advantages over other type of wood . Maples are prosperous to split and light up easily , making them a good choice for people without a lot of firewood experience . They also produce a lot of heat , so you could get more charge for your buck when using maple wood . However , there are a few downside to consider before burning maple wood . First can be expensive compared to other types of woodwind . at long last , they produce more creosote than other woodwind , so you need to be extra careful when using them in your fireplace or stove . Despite these disadvantage , maples are still a bang-up choice for firewood and are deserving considering if you ’re look for a newfangled fuel source .
