Biomass bricks instead of cord wood?

[jbean]

We purchased about three cords of wood (we don't have the land to harvest our own). We asked around, called and we were told it was seasoned wood for at least a year. It really seems to not be burning hot or sustaining heat. We put in four kiln dried logs today (we have one cord of this) and the difference is amazing. My husband thinks we should let the rest of the wood we have dry out for another year and buy a ton of bricks and see if that helps.
Our stove is new since December and is a Napoleon 1400pl. When we get it right it's great but the deeper we get into the stack the difference is noticeable. I say we mix in one of the super dry logs and just use what we have. What is the opinion here?

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Typically wood sellers will tell you it has seasoned for x number of months or whatever but what they won't tell you is that in almost every case, the wood was split just prior to delivery. Many times it was even cut into firewood lengths that same day. Another ploy is to make a huge stack where they use an elevator and just make a tall heap and many will leave that sit even over the summer. Trouble is, wood won't dry hardly at all until it is split. Then it also won't dry unless it is stacked, preferably outdoors in the wind. Wood in a heap? Only the outside layer will dry. That stuff in the interior just don't get air circulation which is the big key to drying wood. Truth be known, wood sellers just can't handle the wood so it dries as it should as it would take too much room and too much labor.

So, if buying wood, buy this year for next or better yet, get a couple years ahead. And in your case, get through this winter as best you can. Many will even take to scrounging pallets which usually can be had free. Most of that wood is super dry and mixing it in with the poorer wood can help.

BEWARE: Check and clean that chimney often when the wood is not the best.

Good luck.

 

[BrotherBart]

Give half and half a try and see how a couple of fires work out. If not satisfactory go with your husbands idea.

 

[jbean]

Okay thanks. We just had the chimney guys out here the other day and they are good. We see no smoke coming out of the chimney when we have good secondaries and can see the reburn happening. I will let him know. Supposed to be 50 tomorrow anyway.