Eight Things to Burn in Your Wood Burning Stove to Save Money on Heating

A wood burning stove is a great thing to have in your house if you want to save money on heating it in the winter. However, it is often necessary to purchase pre-cut cords of wood unless you live in the forest yourself. While buying wood can be less expensive than using other types of heating, it can still be costly. This article covers the top eight things you can burn in your wood burning stove to really save money on heating your house.

Wood Burning Stove Fuel – Fallen Branches

Anyone with a yard will have fallen branches from time to time. Instead of breaking these up and throwing them out, stack them for using in your wood burning stove. Large ends can make perfect logs while twigs and small branches are great for kindling.

Wood Burning Stove Fuel – Dead Trees

Of course, if you have any dead trees on your property, you should cut them down first to use all the wood. Any tree or bush can be used in a wood burning stove, though some, such as pine, may have high sap contents.

Wood Burning Stove Fuel – Junk Mail

Any homeowner gets junk mail. You can use these envelopes and inserts to start the fire in your wood burning stove. As cheap log replacements, you can bundle junk mail together into bricks. These will burn slower and longer than loose mail.

Wood Burning Stove Fuel – Catalogs and Magazines

Catalogs can be burned like junk mail. Colorful and glossy catalogs and magazines are not ideal, but will burn and give off heat.

Wood Burning Stove Fuel – Newspapers

Newspapers are cleaner burning that catalogs and magazines. You can roll them into log shapes to have longer burning stove fuel.

Wood Burning Stove Fuel – Untreated Furniture

Old broken furniture that is made from untreated wood can be broken down and use for firewood in your wood burning stove. If you are depserate for heat, you can even sand or scrape off finishes completely and burn what is left.

Wood Burning Stove Fuel – Building Scraps

Building scraps of untreated lumber make great fuel for your wood burning stove. If there is a building site nearby, ask the foreman if you can take the scrap wood. They will often be happy for you to cart it away, since disposing of it costs money.

Wood Burning Stove Fuel – Free Pallets

Many warehouses give away free wooden pallets that are broken of uneeded. These can be broken down and used in your wood burning stove. Wooden pallets can have paint and nails, so care should be taken when chopping them up and burning them.