What NOT to Burn in Your Wood Burning Stove
Keep your woodburner working perfectly and you safe
Your wood burning stove is designed specifically to burn properly seasoned or kiln-dried wood and, when using a multi-fuel stove, smokeless fuel. Using inappropriate materials can damage your stove, create health hazards, and potentially void your warranty. Here's a straightforward guide to materials you should never use as fuel in your log burner.
Treated or Processed Wood
Wood Pallets
Most pallets are treated with chemicals to prevent rot and pest infestation. These treatments release toxic fumes when burned that can harm your health and damage your stove's internal components.
Painted or Varnished Wood
The chemicals in paints and varnishes create toxic emissions when burned. These not only pollute the air in your home but can also form deposits in your flue system, increasing fire risk.
Pressure-Treated Timber
This wood contains preservatives that make it resistant to rot and insects. These same preservatives create extremely hazardous fumes when burned, posing serious health risks.
Plywood, MDF, and Particle Board
These engineered wood products contain adhesives and resins that release harmful chemicals when burned. They can also create excessive creosote buildup in your chimney.
Unseasoned or Wet Wood
Freshly Cut Wood
Newly harvested wood can contain up to 80% moisture and needs 18-24 months of proper seasoning before it's suitable for burning. Burning wet wood creates excessive smoke, reduces heat output, and increases creosote buildup.
Wet or "Green" Wood
Any wood with moisture content above 20% burns inefficiently, producing more smoke and less heat. It's now illegal to sell wet wood in small quantities in England for good reason—it's harmful to your stove and the environment.
Rotten Wood
Decomposing wood often has high moisture content and may harbor fungi and insects. It burns poorly, can spread contaminants to your wood store, and often produces unpleasant odors.
Garden Waste
Christmas Trees
Despite being tempting to use after the holidays, Christmas trees contain high levels of resin and sap. This can cause dangerous flare-ups and excessive creosote buildup that can damage your stove.
Leaves and Garden Trimmings
These items burn too quickly, create excessive smoke, and can cause dangerous flare-ups. They also tend to have high moisture content, making them unsuitable for efficient burning.
Household Items
Plastics
All plastics release toxic chemicals when burned, creating serious health hazards and environmental pollution. They can also melt and damage your stove's internal components.
Cardboard
While cardboard burns easily, it contains glues and often printing inks that produce harmful emissions. It also burns too quickly to be effective fuel and creates excessive ash.
Printed Materials
Magazines, colored newspapers, and glossy paper contain inks and coatings that release harmful chemicals when burned. Small amounts of plain newsprint can help start a fire, but should never be the primary fuel.
Household Waste
Your wood burner is not an incinerator. Burning household rubbish creates toxic fumes, excessive smoke, and can damage your stove while posing serious fire and health risks.
Other Fuels
Coal
Standard house coal is now banned for domestic use in England. Even in multi-fuel stoves, coal burns at higher temperatures than wood and produces more pollutants.
Charcoal
Despite being used for outdoor cooking, charcoal burns at extremely high temperatures (up to 1100°C) that can damage your stove's internal components. It also produces high levels of carbon dioxide.
Fire Accelerants
Never use petrol, diesel, or other flammable liquids to start or boost your fire. These can cause explosive ignition, putting you and your home at serious risk.
The Safe Alternative
For the best performance from your wood burning stove, only burn:
Kiln-dried logs with moisture content below 20%
Properly seasoned hardwood that has been dried for 18-24 months
Wood fuel carrying the "Ready to Burn" certification
By using the correct fuel, you'll enjoy more heat, produce less pollution, extend your stove's life, and comply with current regulations.
Safety First
Remember that burning inappropriate materials in your stove isn't just about efficiency—it's about safety. Many of the materials listed above can create fire hazards, release carbon monoxide, and cause other serious health issues. Always prioritize safety by using only proper wood fuel in your log burner.
Where can I buy Fuel for My Woodburner/Multi-fuel Stove?
We hold stock of kiln dried logs and smokeless fuel at both our Wadebridge and Redruth Shops here in Cornwall.
