Why More Households Are Choosing Kiln-Dried Firewood
Rising energy costs over recent years have encouraged households across the UK and Ireland to think more carefully about how they heat their homes.
In September 2022, RTÉ News reported increased demand for firewood and other solid fuels as households prepared for winter during the energy crisis.
For homes with a suitable wood-burning stove or fireplace, firewood can provide a useful source of heat. However, the quality and moisture content of the wood you burn can make a major difference to its performance.
At Surefire Wood, we've been producing and supplying kiln-dried firewood since 1989, giving us more than 35 years of experience in preparing logs for homes, retailers and distributors.
Why Has Demand for Firewood Increased?
The energy crisis highlighted just how important energy security and heating costs are to households.
As gas, electricity and heating oil prices increased, people with wood-burning stoves and fireplaces began looking more closely at firewood as part of their home-heating options.
The increase in demand was significant enough to attract national attention, with RTÉ reporting in 2022 that firewood suppliers were experiencing increased demand as customers prepared for the colder months.
But simply buying wood isn't enough.
The moisture content and quality of your firewood matter.
Why Choose Kiln-Dried Firewood?
Freshly cut wood can contain a considerable amount of moisture. When wet wood is burned, some of the fire's energy has to evaporate that moisture before the wood can produce useful heat.
Kiln drying removes much of this excess moisture under controlled conditions.
Surefire Wood's kiln-dried firewood is dried to below 20% moisture content, helping the logs ignite quickly and provide strong, consistent heat.
Properly dried firewood also offers a more dependable burn than wet or poorly seasoned timber.
If you'd like to learn more about the process and why moisture content matters, read our guide to kiln-dried firewood.
Hardwood or Firewood: Which Should You Choose?
One of the most common decisions when buying firewood is whether to choose hardwood or standard kiln-dried firewood.
The right choice depends on how you use your stove or fireplace and the type of burn you're looking for.
Premium Firewood
Our standard kiln-dried firewood is predominantly made from locally sourced Larch and Spruce.
With moisture content below 20%, these logs ignite quickly and produce strong heat, making them a great option when you want to get a fire established and a room warming quickly.
You can explore our full kiln-dried firewood range to see the different options available.
Premium Hardwood
For customers looking for a denser, longer-lasting fire, our Premium Hardwood is predominantly a mixture of Ash, Beech and Oak.
Because hardwoods are generally denser, they can provide a slower, longer-lasting burn when properly seasoned or kiln dried.
Our hardwood is kiln dried and available in different quantities, allowing you to choose an option that suits your stove, storage space and level of use.
Why Moisture Content Matters When Buying Firewood
Price shouldn't be the only factor you consider when buying logs.
Cheap firewood can quickly become false economy if you're paying for timber containing excessive moisture.
Wet wood can be harder to light and burns less effectively because some of the energy generated by the fire is being used to evaporate water rather than provide useful heat.
That's why Surefire Wood carefully kiln dries its logs.
Our firewood is dried to below 20% moisture content, helping provide:
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Quick and reliable ignition
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Strong heat output
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Efficient burning
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Reduced ash
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Cleaner combustion
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Consistent performance
Our standard logs are cut to approximately 8 inches, excluding our chunky log options, making them suitable for many standard wood-burning stoves and fireplaces.
Locally Sourced Firewood
Where your firewood comes from matters too.
Surefire Wood is a family-run business based on the Armstrong farm in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
We source our timber locally from sustainably managed forests before processing and drying it in our purpose-built kilns.
Our approach also allows us to make use of wood by-products generated during production rather than simply treating them as waste.
You can learn more about our business, our history and how we produce our firewood on the About Surefire Wood page.
More Than 35 Years of Firewood Experience
Surefire Wood was established in 1989.
Since then, we've supplied firewood and kindling to households, retailers, supermarkets and fuel distributors.
Producing consistently dry firewood requires more than simply cutting timber and leaving it to season.
The timber needs to be properly processed, dried and prepared to provide customers with a dependable product that is ready when they need it.
Today, our range includes Premium Firewood and Premium Hardwood in different quantities to suit a range of heating and storage requirements.
Preparing Your Firewood Supply for Winter
One of the lessons from the energy crisis was how quickly demand for heating fuels can increase as colder weather approaches.
If you regularly use a wood-burning stove or fireplace, thinking about your firewood supply before winter arrives can help you avoid buying at the last minute.
Once your logs have been delivered, they should be kept somewhere dry and protected from rain and ground moisture.
A covered, well-ventilated log store is ideal.
Starting with properly kiln-dried logs and storing them correctly will help ensure your firewood remains ready to burn when temperatures begin to fall.
Buy Kiln-Dried Firewood from Surefire Wood
Whether you're looking for firewood that produces quick, strong heat or premium hardwood for a longer-lasting fire, Surefire Wood offers kiln-dried logs to suit different requirements.
Our firewood is locally sourced, professionally kiln dried and backed by more than 35 years of experience in the firewood industry.
Shop our kiln-dried firewood and hardwood range and choose the option that best suits your home.
Source
RTÉ News, 4 September 2022 — Energy crisis sees demand for firewood rise