You remember your Mom and Dad burning wood when you were young and the smell of burning wood still brings back fond memories. Then we get a reality blast when the compliance police drive down the street making sure that your wood is stored properly and there is no smoke coming out of your Chimney. I can hear the faint cries of HELP!!! coming in and American Energy Systems is coming to the rescue with tips and answers to your burning questions. There is more valuable wood burning information on our web site www.magnumheat.com so please feel free to take a peek.

Safe Wood Burning

Can I safely burn up that old Elm tree that the forestry guys have just informed me has Dutch Elm Disease? The answer is yes, with some caution. Some cities, towns and even rural communities require that if you are going to burn a diseased Elm tree that you strip the bark off of the wood and discard that and then you can safely store and burn the wood. It is best to check with your local authorities to be sure what is required in your area.

If you have old wood stacked up but it has not rotted and does not have mold on it, you can certainly burn that wood. If you pick up the wood and it nearly falls apart in your hands it is time to get rid of it and do not bring it in your home. Wood with mold or insect infestations on it should be discarded at a proper landfill and NOT burned.

I can hear it coming. We just added a new addition onto our home or built a new home and I have all this scrap lumber that I can pile into my wood stove and burn up. I don’t want to pour water on your flame of excitement but PLEASE be careful. Most construction materials are not allowed to be burned in a wood stove or fireplace. Construction wood, plastics and cardboard are typically treated with chemicals and that can ruin Catalytic systems, stain glass permanently and even warp the inside of your appliance. Do not burn construction plastics, vinyl’s and other materials that you do not know what they are in the wood burning appliance at all. Small amounts of scrap lumber can be burned but NEVER pile it high and watch it burn hot. That is a recipe for disaster. Our best advice is let the construction people haul all of the debris away and only burn good well seasoned wood in your appliance.

Before you go out and purchase your red flannel shirt, wool cap, chain saw and favorite pickup truck you might want to take a look at the real price of cutting your own wood versus going to your local wood supplier and have them deliver your winter’s supply. Many times the investment in equipment and time is substantially higher than you think. It is estimated that FREE wood that you gleam out of your own woods actually costs about $35.00 per cord. Throw in a few broken back windows in your truck, chain saws and bumps and bruises and buying your wood “ready to go” might look real appealing. But if you are the industrial type, just remember to get the facts on proper downing of trees, cutting, splitting and storing your wood, and you’ll be  ready to go.