Dry firewood in the oven, what are the advantages?

Dry firewood in the oven, what are the advantages?

Why should firewood industry companies offer oven-dried materials to their customers? The advantages of this product are indeed numerous, and in this article, we will try to explore the reasons why every firewood-related business should consider using special ovens for treatment.

What is oven-dried firewood?

Anyone with an economical stove or fireplace knows well the sensations evoked by the beauty of fire. Relaxing in the evening on the living room sofa or gathering around the table for dinner with the family, accompanied by the gentle crackling of burning wood, is undoubtedly an element that is hard to resist on cold winter nights. The light emitted by the flame warms as much as the heat it produces, turning every home environment into a true refuge for the mind and body when external temperatures become particularly harsh.

Especially in the current energy crisis, with gas prices soaring, more families are turning their attention to alternative energy sources. The firewood market is expected to grow in anticipation of the coming winter, and companies that want to keep up with the times cannot afford to be unprepared. But what will be the most sought-after materials for this new boom in eco-friendly and economically advantageous heating systems? There is no doubt that, to allow an economical stove or fireplace to heat our homes, we would need firewood. However, the discerning consumer will pay attention to choosing oven-dried firewood, and here’s the reason.

Why prefer oven-dried firewood?

Firewood is a type of renewable energy, as it can be used to heat homes and generate electricity. However, gas or oil heating systems are often preferred over this energy source because they heat the house more quickly. Indeed, the main disadvantage of firewood is that it burns very slowly, releasing less heat than heating systems. This is due to the moisture content in traditional wood.

An oven treatment that removes that moisture content allows for wood that burns much faster, but also more cleanly. Compared to traditional firewood, oven-dried wood releases less soot on the chimney or wood stove, eliminating the risk of pollution from large amounts of carbon particles.

Another significant advantage of oven-treated wood is related to ease of ignition. If “wet” wood can have moisture content equal to or greater than 50%, the drying treatment can reduce the water content to 25% or less.

How is firewood dried?

Now that we have seen the advantages of using dried wood, it is easy to understand why customers will be particularly satisfied if a company offers oven-dried wood. The drying process can involve a natural method or specific ovens. Natural drying of wood requires very long times and constant attention to weather conditions, while with ovens, everything happens simply and quickly. The final result will also be quite different because air drying of wood can never guarantee optimal moisture levels, which can be easily achieved by setting the desired program in a drying oven.

These tools can be of two different types: horizontal or vertical drum ovens. The process is similar, and both allow for firewood with a very low moisture percentage, although larger ones can process more material due to the presence of more cords, while smaller units can process only one cord per day. The advantages of choosing a vertical oven are therefore greater, as it allows meeting the increasing demand from customers who increasingly purchase this quality product.

How does the firewood dryer work?

The drying process involves:

  • Firewood is placed on racks inside an airtight cylindrical drum with openings for the entry and exit of heat at various points along the cylinder wall.
  • A powerful fan blows hot and dry air on each side of the wood, allowing trapped moisture in the cells to evaporate.
  • Through ventilation, a greater amount of oxygen passes through each opening along the path. This allows drying any type of wood, including harder woods like maple, oak, cherry, or ash, as well as softer woods like pine or poplar, making any locally available wood perfect for fireplaces and stoves.

The number of openings along the length of the drum will be crucial for the speed of the entire process: the more open points where air can enter and exit, the faster the drying times for firewood will be.

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