
First of all, it's good to be aware of what you should and shouldn’t burn in a wood burner. As the name implies, a wood-burning stove is intended for burning wood. With this in mind, avoid burning other items like coal in the stove as coal burns much hotter than wood and could present a danger. You should also avoid burning certain types of wood as they become hazardous and release toxic fumes. An example of these is plywood, particleboard, and painted or pressure-treated wood. You will also want to avoid burning plastic items, colored paper, and gift wrap in the stove for the same reasons.
So, what kinds of wood are best for your wood-burning stove? Dry wood is always preferable to freshly cut wood because it contains a lot less water and so will burn hotter. You may also want to choose one type of wood to start the fire and another to keep the fire going. Softwoods like pine are good for starting a fire because they tend to ignite quickly, after you can change to hardwoods such as ash and hickory which tend to burn cleaner and hotter. You may also find it helpful to cut them into smaller logs.
Never forget safety when using a wood-burning stove. It is important to have the right number of smoke detectors for the size of your home and test them every month to ensure they are working correctly. Dispose of ashes safely by placing them in a metal receptacle filled with water. Finally, make sure you have the wood-burning stove and stovepipe inspected regularly as dangerous creosote can accumulate in the stovepipe.