People use softwoods like pine, balsam, spruce, and cedar for burning wood in the fireplace. Hardwoods are difficult to ignite in most cases and so, people try to avoid them. But, once the hardwood is ignited, nothing can be long-lasting.
So, can you burn hackberry wood in a fireplace? Well, hackberry is a special type of hardwood family. This wood is relatively stronger and stiffer than many other hardwood species. Yes, burning hackberry is possible in a fireplace.
Most importantly, you should prefer hackberry wood over many kinds of wood. It’s because the hackberry wood produces low toxins and smoke. Also, it has no bad fragrance.
Related Articles
Is Pressure Treated Wood Safe for Outdoor Furniture
Is Poplar Wood Good for Furniture
Advantages and Disadvantages of Rubber Wood Furniture
Sapwood and Heartwood
Why should You Burn Hackberry Wood in a Fireplace?
It’s time to discuss some beneficial parts of burning hackberry wood in a fireplace.
Good burning capability
Hackberry tree cones with gray bark. It develops corky ridges and warty texture in the future. This convenient texture is ideal for burning. Fireplaces require woods with a long-time burning capability. However, an average hackberry tree grows to between 40’ and 60’. The trunk diameter of the hackberry tree ranges commonly from 1 to 3 feet.
No bad fragrance
If a bad fragrance is generated while using wood in the fireplace, nothing can be worse than it. Hackberry has popularity as it splits easily. Also, it takes relatively less time than other woods to dry. Therefore, rather than generating any bad fragrance, it comes with a low pleasant fragrance when burning.
Produce minimum smoke
Some woods will consume your house with smoke after putting it inside the fireplace. Hackberry wood is a relatively heavy type of wood. It burns easily but takes a long time to reach its endpoint. The minimal smoke and sparks are produced by hackberry woods. If anyone has respiratory issues, then the hackberry wood is the best pick for the fireplace.
Low MBTU
Hackberry provides low MMBTU due to its weight. It’s good for use in the fireplace. Other typical firewood varieties will deliver higher heat. But, they are not as efficient as the hackberry wood. The proof is its coals. They keep wood in the stoves continuously burning throughout the cold nights.
Cons of burning hackberry wood in a fireplace
No burning process is safe for the environment as well as in many perceptions. There must be a few hazards of the surroundings by wood burning. Let’s see some cons of burning hackberry wood in a fireplace.
Threaten Lung Health
The smoke of the burning hackberry wood can cause severe coughing, wheezing, and asthma attacks. Extremely injurious diseases like heart attacks, lung cancer, and premature death also can happen. It’s only possible when hackberry woods are burnt in a large quantity. Burning them in a fireplace requires ages to create these diseases. Many of these pollutants can be responsible for worsening the air quality- that’s all.
Increases CO2 in the area
There has always been a mechanism between O2 (Oxygen) and CO2(Carbon-Di-Oxide). When something is burnt, it uses the required oxygen from that place. As a result, the amount of oxygen in the area gradually decreases.
Simultaneously, the rate of CO2 becomes high in that place. At the end of the day, you won’t want a house full of CO2. However, hackberry wood produces CO2 less than other woods.
Produce toxic smoke
Whether it’s the best wood or the worst wood, the production of toxic smoke is common. Most wood smokes contain many toxic and carcinogenic substances. They could include benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzopyrenes, dibenzanthracene, and mercury.
Burning hackberry wood also creates dioxin. This substance is one of the most toxic substances on earth. Children suffer from health problems every year due to this toxin from the wood smoke. The good news is- that hackberry wood has a little amount of dioxin. Unless you burn a large amount of hackberry wood, it’s not risky at all.
How long does hackberry take to season?
The hackberry wood becomes ready to burn within 3 to 6 months. October and November is the best time to mix when it gets colder. If it’s the 1-year aged hackberry, it’s also preferable. The hackberry wood with good sun and wind exposure is great for heat extraction. In some areas, it’s known as an EPA firewood. That’s because after the stove gets hot, it will burn clean with very little smoke.
Is hackberry good for smoking meat?
The names hickory, cedar, and oak will come first in your mind when it’s about smoking meat. What’s about using hackberry woods for smoking meat? Is it good? Yes, hackberry wood infuses the meat with a sweet flavor. Specifically, it’s considered to be the smell of cherry fruit. Smoking meat won’t take longer than other woods as hackberry is also a good heat producer