Frequently Asked Questions
What is Moisture Content ?
Moisture content is the measurement of how much water is present in the wood compared to the dry matter of the wood. Firewood’s energy content is directly related to its moisture content. Depending on the variety, a log from a recently felled tree can have as much moisture as 40 - 60%. The more moisture in your wood the slower it burns, the more smoke and pollutants it gives off and the quicker it soot’s up your stove’s glass and chimney. Burnt together with fossil fuels like coal, damp wood creates acids that quickly corrode your stove and any metal within your chimney. It is very important therefore that your logs are always 'dry' and ready to burn.
Virtually every wood burning stove manufacturer recommends only burning wood logs with a moisture content of less than 25%. Somewhere between 10% and 20% is ideal.
What is the Moisture Content of CelticLogs Firewood ?
Our Kiln Dried Hardwood Logs have a guranteed average moisture content of less than 20% (typically 15- 20%) and our Air Dried Softwood has a guaranteed average moisture content of less than 25% (typically 18-25%).
This level of moisture content provides a clean burn with maximum heat output.
What is the difference between Hardwood & Softwood ?
Hardwood firewood fundamentally comes from broad leaved trees such as Ash, Oak, Beech, Birch etc. They are slow growing and therefore provide a dense timber.
Softwood in comparison grows and matures much faster and the timber is therefore less dense. Examples of Softwood trees include Spruce, Pine, Larch etc.
The heat locked up in a fuel is known as its calorific value. A volume of woods available heat is affected primarily by its moisture content and density. The lower the moisture content of your wood and the higher its density the more calories it holds per cubic metre.
Softwood with a low moisture content (less than 25%) is great for burning but whilst it has the same calorific value as Hardwood by weight, being less dense you need sometimes up to as much as twice as many logs for the same weight or energy output.
Simply put; Softwood is less dense than Hardwood and tends to burn quicker. It also tends to produce a stronger flame than Hardwood, works great as kindling and gets the stove up temperature very quickly. Kiln Dried Hardwood in contrast produces more heat and lasts much longer.
Much of the Kiln Dried Hardwood Firewood being imported from Eastern Europe is a mix of Alder or Silver Birch and whilst Hardwoods that burn well, they are far less dense than species such as Oak, Beech and Ash and will therefore burn much faster.
All of our firewood is sourced from sustainably managed Irish forests and is certified by the Wood Fuel Quality Assurance Scheme. The Kiln Dried Hardwood Logs we produce are predominately a mix of Ash, Beech and Oak and have a guaranteed average moisture content of less than 20%. Our Air Dried Softwood is predominately Sitka Spruce and has a guaranteed average moisture content of less than 25%.
What size are the Logs ?
Average Log size is 20cm in length, which fits into most stoves and fires.
How long will a Bulk Bag of Firewood last?
It is difficult to estimate how long one of our Bulk Bags of Firewood will last as there are so many variables involved e.g. open fire or stove, size & efficiency of your stove, volume of the area to be heated, how well insulated is the room/house, how cold it is, is the fire lit everyday and for how long?
What we can say however is that our Jumbo Bulk Bags represent the best value for money and our Kiln Dried Hardwood will burn for longer than our Air Dried Softwood.
Are your Firewood Logs Carbon Neutral?
Our Kiln Dried Hardwood and Air Dried Softwood Logs are one of the most carbon neutral ways to heat your home because; 1. All of our logs are sourced from FSC sustainably managed Irish forests i.e. not imported. These logs are obtained as a natural by-product of the thinning process carried out to improve the flora and fauna of these forests. On a continuous cycle, felled trees are replaced and replanted, thereby preserving the woodland for future use. 2. The fuel used in our Kiln to dry our Kiln Dried Hardwood Logs is waste timber unlike other companies who use oil or gas to run their Kilns and 3. The low mositure content of our Firewood results in fewer emissions when burned making it more environmentally friendly.
Do you use Imported Timber?
No we do not use imported timber. We are proud to be able to say that all of our Firewood is sourced from FSC sustainably managed Irish Forests with full traceability and certified by the Wood Fuel Quality Assurance Scheme (www.wfq.org). The logs are cut, split and dried at our factory in Mountbellew, Co. Galway.
Imported Firewood in comparison is much harder to regulate and increases the risk of the spread of exotic pests and diseases that are potentially very damaging to our native woodlands.
In addition by not importing our firewood logs from abroad all the money generated in producing our product stays in our local economy and helps to keep the carbon footprint of our firewood at a minimum.
What does FSC stand for?
FSC stands for 'Forest Stewardship Council'. The FSC certifies forests all over the world to ensure they meet the highest environmental and social standards.
What is the WFQA?
The Wood Fuel Quality Assurance (WFQA) scheme for Ireland is an all-island scheme established to increase consumer confidence in wood fuel products sold in Ireland. A working group comprising of fuel producers committed to the production of high quality wood fuel products and representatives from the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, and IrBEA, produced the National Workshop Agreement 4 (NWA4), which outlines the certification process that monitors their production processes and tests the quality of their finished product, ensuring that they meet pre-defined standards and that all wood fuel certified is sourced sustainably and in compliance with EUTR (EU Timber Regulation) ensuring full traceability back to source. Simply put, the Wood Fuel Quality Assurance (WFQA) scheme provides a simple and reliable way for consumers to purchase quality wood fuel.
Can you tell me about your Firewood Production process?
Once we have the raw logs on site they are cut and split and then prepared for drying. All our logs are cut to approx. 20cm in length.
Our Seasoned Softwood (predominately Sitka Spruce) is put into a dry storage area until its moisture content reduces to a maximum of 25%.
The Kiln Dried Firewood (predominately a mix of Ash, Oak, Beech) that we sell is dried using our purpose-built Firewood Kiln until it reaches a moisture content of less than 20%. Our Kiln is heated using waste timber which generates very high temperatures. Hot air is circulated evenly through the firewood in the kiln chamber by a fan system. After the drying process is complete, the firewood is stored carefully ensuring it is not exposed to any dampness.
The packaging, transport and delivery process that follows the drying process also ensures that our firewood is not exposed to any environment that will affect its quality.
Our Bulk Bags are loose filled filled via a conveyor belt.Before packaging all of our Firewood goes through a screening process to remove debris. This helps ensure that our customers are getting even more value for their money along with making our Firewood clean to handle.
How do I order a Bulk Bag of Firewood?
You can purchase our Firewood Logs via the shop page of this website or you can give us a call on 090 - 9679408. You can also email us at info@obrientimberproducts.com.
What is the likely lead time for delivery?
Delivery is by courier normally within 1-2 days (Mon-Fri) for orders placed before 12 noon. The courier driver will endeavor to give you 1 hour notice prior to delivery.
In Winter, when it can get extremely busy, delivery can sometimes take up to a week. When this is the case, it will be highlighted on our website homepage and online shop.
Can I leave special instructions?
If you are not going to be at home, need us to delay courier collection from our yard for a few days or have any other information you think we should know, please make us aware. You can do so by responding to your order confirmation email which you will receive automatically after placing your online order or if making an order by phone please inform our sales team member at that time.
How is the Bulk Bag of Firewood delivered?
Your Bulk Bag of Firewood is delivered on a pallet by a Truck with a Tail-lift, using a hand driven pallet truck. It is important that all your contact information and address (Eircode) are correct. You must also ensure there is adequate access to your house. No overhanging branches, no steep inclines or gradients.
The manually operated pallet truck will only operate on a level hard surface such as concrete or tarmac. Pallet trucks will not operate on gravel or against a gradient.
In the event the driver cannot access your property they may have to leave the firewood outside or near your premises. (i.e. Kerb-side delivery). The driver of truck is not obliged to put your pallet into a shed, garage or store house. Call us on 090-9679408 if you are unsure of access.
How should I store my Firewood?
It is important that the logs are stored correctly to ensure their quality is maintained. To keep the logs dry they should ideally be stored in a ventilated shed/ garage or at least under a good cover and up off the damp ground.