Using Oak For Firewood: The Ultimate Guide

The oak is a common tree in the US. However, is oak good firewood? This comprehensive guide will give you the answers.

Is Oak good for firewood?

Yes, oak is one of the best and most popular sources of firewood. This tree produces sufficient heat, burns for a long time, and burns cleanly. In addition to that, oak is not a toxic substance and is safe for use. However, you should avoid burning green and painted wood.

Wood is a viable choice for heating your home in winter. However, not all wood is good for firewood. While there are different types of firewood available for firewood, knowledge of the best option is highly valuable. 

It is important that you choose a viable and sustainable option for your firewood needs. Oak is one of the well-known trees around, but is it good for firewood? Here is all you need to know about it.

Are All Oak Trees Good for Firewood?

Oak trees are hardwoods known for their ability to produce quality firewood. Among the best woods for indoor and outdoor burning, oak is one of the most popular. It is evident that there are different species of oak tree. Based on the good attributes of the tree, all its species are good for firewood.

If you burn oak, one thing you’ll notice is its ability to produce a lot of heat. This is one of the attributes that make oak trees good for firewood. I have used oak for firewood in winter several times, and the level of satisfaction is always high.

Additionally, since oak trees are hardwoods, they don’t burn quickly as softwoods do. 

For this reason, they can burn for a long, producing adequate heat for an extended period of time. If you’re having a casual meeting with friends in your backyard, you can rely on oak in your fire pit to keep you busy for a long time.

Another characteristic of oak trees is that they burn clean. If allowed to season and dry sufficiently, you don’t have to worry about smoke. 

The next time you think of firewood for your fireplace, you can consider oak for its proven superior qualities. 

When you are preparing for winter, be sure about the supply of wood. Most importantly, make a rough estimate of how much wood you will need for the winter season and have some stockpiles ready. This is because order deliveries during winter can be slow, and you do not want to be inconvenienced with wood running out when you need it most.

Is Oak Toxic to Burn?

Oak is not toxic to burn. In fact, it’s one of the best for firewood. The important thing is to make sure that it has gone through the seasoning process well enough. Just like it is for any other types of wood, you should avoid burning it when green. 

In short, you are not going to source oak firewood from a tree that was cut down yesterday, you will have to be patient and use it when dry.

If you burn it without drying fully, it will definitely produce smoke. It is this smoke that can be toxic to the people near a fireplace or wood stove.

For people who are sensitive to smoke, it can be harmful. Also, if inhaled, the smoke can be harmful to the body’s breathing system. Therefore, to avoid toxicity, ensure you only use sufficiently seasoned oak.

How Long Does It Take Oak Firewood to Season?

To get the best out of oak as a firewood option, you should ensure it’s seasoned well. You can’t regret using sufficiently seasoned oak wood. 

But, you have to be patient with this wood. Contrary to softwoods, hardwoods such as oak take more time to season. 

On average, it takes about 3-4 years to season oak firewood. Once the seasoning process is over, store the firewood in a dry place to avoid exposure to moisture.                                                                    

What Kind Of Wood Should You Not Burn In A Fireplace?

Take note that not all kinds of wood are ideal for burning in a fireplace. Green wood is one of the kinds of wood you should avoid burning in a fireplace.

As you’ve already known, burning green wood is a bad idea because of the moisture accumulated inside it. 

When the moisture burns, it produces a lot of smoke that is potentially harmful to the body. It could harm your eyes or your breathing system.

If you inhale a lot of the smoke, it may cause respiratory problems. 

So, it’s advisable to avoid burning this wood in a fireplace.

Another wood you should avoid burning in a fireplace is painted wood. The paint contains chemicals that escape into the air when you begin to burn the wood.

If you inhale the chemicals, they could be a danger to your health. The impact can be more hazardous when you do burn coated oak when you are indoors

Though it is rare, some of the old painted oak may contain lead which can be poisonous. As a matter of fact, exposure to lead can come with permanent consequences.  

Key Takeaways

• Oak is good for firewood. It is a hardwood with proven attributes of being a good option for firewood, such as slow burning, high levels of heat, and smokeless burning.
• All oak trees are good for firewood as long as they are seasoned well.
• Oak is not toxic to burn unless you burn it when green. If you burn it without drying well, it may produce potentially harmful smoke.
• It takes 3-4 years to season oak firewood
• The kind of wood you should not burn in a fireplace includes green and painted wood. They produce smoke and chemicals that could be dangerous to your household.