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Over time, I got asked a lot about cedar trees and if they’re good for burning in your home. So, in this article, I’ll let you know everything I know about cedars and there uses and whether it’s safe or not to burn cedar in your fireplace.
Is Cedar Good Firewood
No, it makes terrible firewood. It’s unsafe to burn in your home. It’s because of the oils that will build up soot in your chimney. And it puts you at risk of a chimney fire.
But, with that said, it makes great kindling for starting your fire! Make sure you have a screen or close the glass doors because cedar will pop and spark and that will put you at risk of fire also.
But, it’ll burn hot and fast, perfect kindling.
If you do decide to burn cedar, mix it in with other hardwoods, like ash. That’ll help keep your chimney cleaner and safer
Splitting Cedar Firewood
If you do decide to burn cedar or if you are going to split it for kindling, the best time to split it is when it’s green.
It splits easily when it’s dry too, so, you can split it when you get to it, no real reason to rush. Just one good swing from a maul and you’ll be setting up your next piece.
If you’re looking to purchase cedar kindling, look no further than Amazon. You can buy it here, Cedar Kindling
Seasoning Cedar Firewood
Well, another plus about cedar is that it doesn’t take long at all to dry. Five to six months and it’ll be dry and ready for the firebox.
Just make sure air can hit it from all sides, including underneath, other words, stack it off the ground to prevent the wood from soaking up moisture.
You might want to look into a moisture meter to test the moisture content before you burn it. You can find them on Amazon for a decent price. Here is a link to the one I have. Moisture Meter (Link To Amazon). Just make sure its 20% or lower and it’s safe to burn.
Conclusion
The truth of the matter is simple, Cedar makes stellar kindling but not the greatest firewood. So, if you have cedar wood laying around, my advise would be to split it small and start your fires with it. But don’t use it as a primary heating source!
