Preferred indoor fireplace wood.

[WCTHEMI]

Growing up we always used Birch in the fireplace. The smell of birch smoke brings back memories whenever I smell it.

[The Elkster]

I'll guarantee that the fir is not your problem. Douglas fir is one of the favored burning woods in BC along with Larch. I have burned lots of fir with no problem whatsoever. It has a longer slower burn than say pine so good for the night shift.

Like with any wood just don't starve the fire for air and you should be safe. Smaller hotter fire will prevent chimney buildups better than any chemical soaked log. If one is in the habit of letting a loaded fireplace smolder all day and night then expect a creosote buildup and maybe a chimney fire. Buying those is store logs is paying for a gimmick. They don't clean jack squat. Don't trust me ask a chimney guy or do some research on the web.

Good luck with the wifey

[eagleflyfisher]

Did anyone ever hear that if you chuck a cpl big hndfulls of potatoe peels in a fire you got going ( stoking hot) it clears the creosote. Chimmy sweep guy told me that one.
Love to burn birch,don't like the price, had a good load of larch 2 yrs ago ..really good stuff. Burn a lot of our oak etc flooring cutoff but man that fireplace gets hot, usually add some other crappy wood and it burns well and gives heat.
Have a bunch of lodge pole pine from last fall tried through the winter ,use alott of material to get marginal heat.
Have a friend offer up some of that big spruce. How do you think it will burn? It's big wood , I think pretty old , dead standing & close to home gotta be 3" diameter .

[does it ALL outdoors]

Originally Posted by Wes_G

If you're buying fire wood at a store you may as well open your wallet and throw the bills directly into the fireplace instead.

Exactly, save a trip to the store.

[Joe Btfsplk]

No expert here, but I heat my basement with my airtight wood stove. To me, the key is always burn dry wood if you want to reduce creosote buildup. I have used black poplar, might as well burn newspaper and you have to keep feeding it in. Dry spruce burns well. Birch gives excellent heat. Old growth fir from my basement Reno scraps is excellent. I have a quarter cord of red willow, but won't burn it until a year passes. Same for my white poplar. Never tried tamarack, but will look for some!
Sometimes the construction cutoffs are a bit green, but they do seem to burn well.
I have to clean the chimney this year, should be interesting....