{"id":275,"date":"2022-10-14T02:45:21","date_gmt":"2022-10-14T02:45:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lonelyaxe.com\/?p=275"},"modified":"2023-01-16T08:56:37","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T08:56:37","slug":"ash-firewood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lonelyaxe.com\/ash-firewood\/","title":{"rendered":"Ash Firewood- Is Ash Wood Good for Anything?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ash firewood<\/a> for burning remains a popular heat source, especially during the winter. But do people use it for its excellent firewood properties, or is it because they lack options? Let\u2019s see how it fares below.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is Ash Firewood?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fig 1: An Ash tree wood slab<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ash firewood ranks among the best firewood with an average heat of 24.2 million BTUs<\/a> per wood cord. It also has limited smoke and produces relatively high-quality coals. In addition, it splits when dry, ranking ash for burning among the best go-to woods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve elucidated the key highlights of ashwood burning. But what are its specifics regarding burn quality? Check out below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burn Qualities of Ash Firewood<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Heat Production<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Fig 2: The European Ash Tree<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compared to other woods, we can consider ash firewood heat production to be within the middle or high range. While it doesn’t deliver stable heat output as Hickory or Black Locust, it still ranks among the top firewoods in this parameter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out the table below for an illustration of how various trees’ BTU outputs compares to that of ash wood. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Smoke Production<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ashwood is among the best firewood trees thanks to its low smoke production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other trees that are top-ranking in this parameter include Hickory and Oak. On the other hand, trees such as Hard Maple and Pine are heavy smoke producers, while Mulberry <\/a>gives out moderate smoke. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, all trees (including top-tier firewood trees like ash, oak, and Hickory) will emit heavy smoke when burned while still wet. Thus, ensure that you have dried your wood properly before use as firewood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seasoning Time<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Fig 3: Ash Tree Trunk<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ash belongs to the dense hardwoods category and thus will take quite a long time to dry fully. The seasoning time for Ash for burning is approximately six to 12 months. However, this will vary depending on the prevailing weather and condition of the wood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, Ash will season faster in Texas than in Oregon as the former has warmer climates. Also, if you have split your wood, it will take a shorter seasoning time than when left to dry as logs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burning Smell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ash does not produce a strong, pungent smell nor gives a sweet odor. So its smell lies between strong and mild, which is quite tolerable. Therefore, if you are looking for an aromatic, near-tangy smell, go for Eastern Red Cedar<\/a>, Apple, Hickory, <\/a>or Cherry firewood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trees above are also popular in open-fire cooking and BBQ as they add to the flavor of the food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creosote Buildup<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ash is low on sap and thus has limited creosote buildup. Creosote is the black tar that builds up in the fireplace\u2019s chimney. It’s synonymous with burning undried wood, although some tree species are renowned for high creosote buildup even while dry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, sappy firewoods such as pine produce a lot of creosote. Thus, given a choice between Pine <\/a>and Ash, go for the latter, as it\u2019ll save a lot in chimney maintenance costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Splitting<\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"Splitting<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Fig 4: Splitting firewood<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ash is not hard, yet not too easy to split. Ash is relatively more difficult to split than Oak, but this has to do with the relatively large size of Ash. Also, Ash is synonymous with knots, especially many branches that may make a splitting job much harder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, that is not a problem, as with a few more flexes of the axe, you\u2019ll easily split it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comparing Ash to Other Firewood<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Ash<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fig 5: Ash firewood has a high heat output<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ash is in the top category of the best firewood trees, and others such as Oak, Hickory, Black Locust, Beech, and Mulberry. The top features of these trees include <\/p>\n\n\n\n