Which woods shouldn’t you burn on a woodburner?

It goes without saying that a wood-burning stove can be used to burn wood (the clue is in the name). But what isn’t immediately apparent is that there are some woods that you shouldn’t burn on a woodburner.

For a variety of reasons, there are woods that are best avoided when you are choosing the fuel for your stove. Here are some types of wood we would advise you not to burn on a woodburner.

Pine
This one might come as a surprise given that it is readily available, but pine is not a good choice of fuel for a woodburner. Pine has a high resin content and, when burnt, that resin is going to seep out and clog up various parts of your stove system.

Larch
Like pine, larch has high levels of resin and is liable to coat the inside of your stove and flue with sticky deposits.

Poplar
Poplar gives off a thick, black smoke and burns poorly, so it doesn’t have a great deal going in its favour.

Laburnum
Laburnum is poisonous, so you do not want its fumes getting in your home or your lungs. It produces a horrible smell when burnt, so please avoid.

Those are the main woods that should be avoided for the well-being of you or your stove. Of course, any other poisonous woods are best avoided.

Now, here are some woods that you shouldn’t burn if you have a choice simply because they are not very good.

Alder
Alder burns quickly while producing very little heat, which is not what you want for a woodburner.

Chestnut
All forms of chestnut are just okay burners, but they also tend to spit a lot. This can make them unpredictable when you open the stove door.

Cypress
Cypress burns very quickly.

Spruce
Spurce produces little heat but lots of smoke, and can spark and spit.

Willow
Willow burns poorly and gives an unimpressive flame.

A final rule of thumb: don’t burn softwoods if there are hardwoods available. Softwoods are less dense and so burn more quickly.

20 thoughts on “Which woods shouldn’t you burn on a woodburner?

  1. Our neighbours wood burner in his conservatory , as an 8 ft chimney and every time he lights it our home gets filled with smoke ,we are 1 door away and on an angle to us . Should they have an higher chimney or are they burning something they shouldn’t as it smelt like kippers ,

    • Hi Jean

      We can only suggest looking at Document J of the Building Regulations to check if your neighbour’s flue terminal is in accordance with them.

      Thanks,

      Gr8Fires

  2. Looking to purchase the Mazona Ripley 5kw. Enfield council has stated all wood burners should be Defra approved and or Ecodesign meeting 2022 regulations. Does this model meet those regulations?

  3. Can I burn old decking in a wood burner? Some of the decking is rotten, so I’ll have to take the lot up. I reckon it’s probably about 15yo and hasn’t been treated or oiled in the 12 years that I’ve owned the place.

    • Hi Mike

      We wouldn’t recommend it. There’s probably chemicals soaked well into the wood, so it’s not worth the potential damage to your wood burner.

      Thanks,

      Gr8Fires

  4. I think you are being too absolutist. I still have a fair bit of Poplar and will be burning it this winter together with Eucalyptus and some sort of conifer, (I didn’t plant them.)
    I am also going to be try a little laural and budlia from this springs massive prune,
    If successful most will be used next winter.
    While you obviously don’t want to burn some things, like Laburnum there is VERY little info on the net as to what is worthwhile not to mention safe to burn. We don’t all go to Harrod’s to buy overpriced trendy firewood, we have to burn what we’ve got.

    • Hi Bill

      Obviously you’re free to burn any woods you wish. This article is to help steer our customers away from woods that will shorten the lifespan of their woodburners. Eucalyptus, with its high oil content and very hot burn, is an example of a wood that has the potential to cause damage to the stove system. Obviously with laurel there’s the concern about cyanide, so that’s another that we’d avoid.

      Thanks,

      Gr8Fires

    • Hi Cath

      It’s not a wood we know a great deal about but the descriptions indicate that it probably has quite a high oil content and therefore wouldn’t be a great option for a log burner.

      Thanks,

      Gr8Fires

      • I had a couple of conifers cut down and we have had the wood drying for about 2 years. Cut a few open and checked the moisture content ( with one of those instruments with 2 spikes) , they are 10 to 15% moisture. Are these ok to use in a stove?

    • Hi Pablo

      It’s impossible to say because there are so many varieties. If you’re confident it’s paper you could potentially use it to replace newspaper when lighting the stove.

      Thanks,

      Gr8Fires

  5. Thank you for your information on the woods and the reason that they can not be used in a wood burner.
    I use Kiln Dried Oak the heat from these logs is great.

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