Does It Matter What Type of Wood Is Used in a Fireplace?

Hardwoods

• Woods fall into two categories based on their densities. Hardwoods are denser and burn more efficiently than softwoods, and they produce less smoke. The only downside to hardwoods is that they take longer to ignite than softwoods. Build a fire with hardwoods for longer lasting flames, but you will need softwoods to use for kindling to get the fire started. According to J. Wayne Fears in "How to Build Your Dream Cabin in the Woods," oak, beech, ash, hickory, pecan and hard maple are the best hardwoods for firewood because they burn efficiently with less heavy smoke than other hardwoods or softwoods.

Softwoods

• Softwoods burn quickly and are less dense than hardwoods. Because they can produce heavy smoke, building a fire in your fireplace with only softwood will result in an excess of creosote on the inside of your chimney. Unless cleaned out, this creosote can catch fire. Softwoods include evergreen trees such as pines, firs and cypress trees. Start a fire with small amounts of softwoods to use as kindling to take advantage of this type of wood's fast burning properties without creating large amounts of creosote deposits in your chimney.

Seasoned Wood

• All wood should be seasoned before using it in a fireplace. Wood immediately cut from a tree will have too much natural moisture in it to burn properly. Steam will be produced instead of large, warming flames. Seasoning your own wood is not difficult, but it requires months of preparation. The cut and split logs should be supported on a rack off the ground and covered with a tarp. Allow the wood to remain outside to dry for six to 18 months, depending on your climate. To save time, purchase cords or pre-seasoned firewood or manufactured fire logs from a store.

Woods to Never Use

• Avoid using leftover construction wood or painted wood. The chemicals in these woods can be released into the air when the wood is used for firewood. Toxic plants such as the woody vines of poison ivy should never be used in a fireplace or any type of fire. The smoke from these vines can be just as irritating as the oils from the leaves, according to "A Field Guide to Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac" by Susan Carol Hauser.