residential firewood
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How to Choose the Right Firewood for Your Home

There’s nothing quite like the warmth, crackle, and aroma of a real wood fire. But not all firewood is created equal — the right choice can mean the difference between a cozy, efficient burn and a smoky, frustrating one. Whether you’re heating your home, fueling your stove, or setting the mood for a backyard gathering, here’s how to pick firewood that’s perfect for you.

1. Know Your Wood Types

The first step is understanding the difference between hardwoods and softwoods.

  • Hardwoods (like maple, oak, and alder) burn longer and hotter — great for home heating and long winter nights.

  • Softwoods (like fir, pine, and cedar) ignite easily and produce quick heat — ideal for kindling or short, lively fires.

For most Washington homes, a mix of both offers the perfect balance between easy lighting and lasting warmth.

2. Choose Seasoned Firewood

Always buy seasoned firewood — wood that has been dried for at least 6–12 months. Seasoned logs burn cleaner, produce less smoke, and release more heat.

💡 Pro Tip: Look for wood with grayish ends, visible cracks, and a hollow sound when tapped — all signs it’s ready to burn.

3. Check Moisture Levels

Firewood that’s too wet wastes energy evaporating moisture instead of heating your home. Ideally, the moisture content should be below 20%.
At Washington Firewood Services, we ensure every log is thoroughly seasoned and moisture-tested before delivery — so you get maximum heat with minimal smoke.

4. Match Wood to Your Fireplace or Stove

  • Open fireplaces: Use dense hardwood for a steady, slow burn.

  • Wood stoves: Choose medium splits for even heat and easy control.

  • Outdoor pits: Mix softwood for quick flames with hardwood for longer-lasting coals.

The right firewood enhances performance, reduces buildup, and keeps your setup efficient all season long.

5. Think Local and Sustainable

Buying local firewood supports the community and helps prevent the spread of pests like the emerald ash borer.
All of our wood at Washington Firewood Services is responsibly harvested right here in the Pacific Northwest — ensuring sustainability and cleaner burns you can feel good about.

Choosing the right firewood isn’t just about what burns — it’s about how it burns.
Clean, seasoned, and properly sourced wood gives you more heat, less smoke, and peace of mind knowing you’re heating your home efficiently and responsibly.

 

At Washington Firewood Services, we hand-split, season, and deliver only the best firewood for homes and businesses across King and Snohomish Counties — so you can enjoy every fire, every time.

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Why Seasoned Firewood Makes a Difference in Home Heating

When temperatures drop in Washington, nothing beats the comfort of a warm, crackling fire. But here’s something most homeowners don’t realize: the type of firewood you burn plays a bigger role in heat output, safety, and cost-efficiency than anything else.

Let’s break down why choosing properly seasoned firewood is one of the smartest home heating decisions you can make.

1. Seasoned Wood Burns Hotter — and Saves You More Money

Fresh-cut wood contains 40–60% moisture, which means your fire is forced to waste energy boiling off water before producing heat. Seasoned firewood solves that problem:

  • Burns hotter and more efficiently

  • Requires fewer logs per fire

  • Saves you money over the winter

The drier the wood, the stronger and more reliable the burn. It’s that simple.

2. Cleaner Burning Means a Safer Home

Wet or green wood produces excessive smoke, soot, and creosote — all of which cling to your chimney and increase the risk of a chimney fire.

Seasoned firewood drastically reduces:

  • Smoke clouds in your living room

  • Harmful indoor air pollutants

  • Chimney buildup and maintenance costs

If you want cleaner burns and safer fires, seasoned wood is a must.

3. Easier Lighting, Less Maintenance, and No Frustration

Lighting a fire shouldn’t feel like a survival challenge. Properly seasoned firewood:

  • Lights quickly

  • Produces steady flames

  • Requires less poking, rearranging, and tending

You spend more time enjoying the warmth and less time fighting with smoky logs that refuse to burn.

4. The Best Types of Wood for Home Heating

Here in the Pacific Northwest, these species perform best:

  • Douglas Fir – clean, aromatic, consistent

  • Maple – long, steady burn

  • Oak – the premium heavy hitter

  • Alder – great for smaller stoves and shorter burns

We split, season, and deliver high-quality firewood that you can rely on all winter long.

Final Thoughts: Heat Your Home the Right Way

Seasoned firewood isn’t just a preference — it’s essential for safe, clean, powerful home heating. If you’re stocking up for winter, we offer:

  • Bulk pricing for larger orders
  • Fast, professional delivery
  • Clean, split, and ready to burn
  • Fully seasoned firewood

Stay warm this season with firewood you can trust.

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Storing Firewood the Right Way

Buying high-quality firewood is important — but how you store it determines whether it stays dry, burns hot, and lasts through the season. Most homeowners unknowingly shorten the life of their firewood with improper stacking and storage.

Here’s how to store your firewood correctly, protect your investment, and guarantee clean, powerful fires every time.

1. Start With the Right Location

Where you put your firewood matters more than most people think.

Choose a spot that is:

  • Elevated and well-drained

  • Close to your home but not touching it

  • Exposed to sun and airflow

  • Away from heavy vegetation

Good wood needs air — not moisture — to stay in ideal burn condition.

2. Keep Your Stack Off the Ground

Firewood absorbs moisture from soil like a sponge. Keeping your wood off the ground prevents mold, pests, and rot.

Use:

  • Pallets

  • Bricks or blocks

  • A firewood rack

  • Landscape timbers

Even a few inches of elevation makes a huge difference.

3. Stack Your Wood for Maximum Airflow

A great firewood stack isn’t random — it’s strategic.

Do this:

  • Stack bark-side down for maximum drying

  • Create small gaps for air to pass through

  • Keep stacks no taller than 4 feet for stability

  • Use cross-stacked ends for strength

A proper stack keeps your wood dry, clean, and ready to burn all year long.

4. Cover Only the Top — Not the Sides

This is where most people go wrong.

Covering the sides traps moisture. Instead:

  • Use a tarp that only covers the top

  • Secure it tightly

  • Leave all sides open for airflow

Your wood stays dry from rain but continues to breathe.

5. Rotate Your Wood Regularly

Burn the oldest wood first. Keep your freshest deliveries on one side of the rack and rotate seasonally to prevent aging or decay.

6. Buying Firewood in Bulk Gives You Better Storage Options

When you buy in cords or half-cords, you can stack once, season evenly, and always know exactly where your dry wood is. A consistent storage routine means:

– No scrambling for last-minute wood
– Lower cost per cord
– Perfectly dry wood all season

If you want an easier, smarter firewood experience, bulk delivery is the way to go.

Final Thoughts: Store It Right, Burn It Better

Firewood is an investment in comfort. Proper storage guarantees:

  • Cleaner burning

  • Hotter flames

  • Longer-lasting heat

  • Less smoke and frustration

We deliver high-quality, seasoned firewood — and we can stack it for you upon request. If you’re ready for dry, dependable firewood all year long, we’ve got you covered.

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How to Choose the Right Firewood for Your Outdoor Adventures

Whether you’re planning backyard gatherings, camping trips, or late-night hangouts around the fire, the type of firewood you use determines how memorable the experience becomes. Some wood burns hot and slow, some burns fast with bright flames, and some creates the perfect aroma for food and s’mores.

Here’s how to choose the best firewood for outdoor fires — and make every burn a great one.

1. Pick Seasoned Wood for Less Smoke and More Heat

Unseasoned logs are the #1 reason outdoor fires turn smoky. To avoid the eye-burning haze, always choose wood that is:

  • Fully seasoned

  • Split and dry

  • Stored properly before delivery

Seasoned wood ignites cleanly and produces beautiful flames with minimal smoke.

2. Match the Wood Type to the Experience You Want

Different woods offer different benefits. Choose the one that fits your night.

Douglas Fir – Best All-Around Option

Great flames, clean aroma, reliable burn rate.

Maple – Long-Lasting Heat

Perfect for long backyard nights.

Alder – Bright, Quick Flames

Good for cooking, short fires, or smaller pits.

Oak – Slow, Premium Burns

Ideal when you want your fire to last hours.

Mixing wood types can create a balanced, consistent burn.

3. Avoid Softwoods Unless Properly Split and Seasoned

Some softwoods spark more or burn too fast. As long as they’re seasoned and split, they’re perfectly safe for outdoor use — just expect:

  • Faster burn times

  • A little more flame activity

  • Great aroma

They’re excellent for kindling or quick-fire scenarios.

4. Bring the Right Amount of Wood

A common mistake during camping or backyard events is underestimating how much wood you’ll need.

General rule:
– 1–2 bundles = 1 hour of fire
– ½ cord = enough for multiple backyard gatherings
– Full cord = season-long outdoor fire enjoyment

If you host often, bulk firewood will save you money.

5. Make Setup Easier With Pre-Split, Clean Firewood

Skip the hassle of splitting or cutting logs. Delivered, pre-split wood:

  • Lights easier

  • Produces more consistent flames

  • Keeps your campsite or backyard cleaner

  • Saves time so you can enjoy the fire

Nothing beats the convenience.

Final Thoughts: The Best Outdoor Fires Start With the Best Wood

No matter the adventure, firewood quality determines how smooth the night goes. Clean, seasoned firewood gives you:

– Better flames
– Less smoke
– More heat
– A better experience for everyone

If you’re planning backyard fires, camping trips, or outdoor get-togethers, we deliver high-quality firewood straight to your home — ready to burn, affordable, and available in bulk.