Cedar Firewood [Everything Thing You Should Know]


Cedar Firewood

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 KindlingOpens in a new tab.

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 MeterOpens in a new tab. (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!

Brian Koller

Growing up on a farm in eastern PA, I’ve grown fond of wildlife and the woods and learning about the critters and firewood and everything else in-between. I made this site to share my experiences and knowledge.

Other Articles