Fireplaces and wood stoves, popular aesthetic accessories of
the recent past, are rapidly gaining prominence as primary or supplemental heat
sources for homes. The rising costs, and in some instances, actual shortages of
conventional home heating energies have led to greatly increased utilization of
wood as a heating fuel.
Firewood, one of nature's most common methods
of storing solar energy, is a renewable energy source. It is a relatively
clean, efficient, safe energy source having low sulfur content and is generally
found throughout the country. Its primary products of combustion are carbon
dioxide, water vapor and ash. The ash content is low--only one to two percent
by weight--and that which does remain can be used as a worthwhile soil
conditioner.
A wood fire is easy to start and produces a large quantity
of heat in a short time as well as adding a cheerful atmosphere to the home. An
ample air supply to the wood fire is important to ensure complete burning or
combustible gases. Wood fires are ideal where heat is required only
occasionally, for warming a living area on cool days or for supplying extra
heat in extremely cold weather. When considering wood as a primary heat source,
several factors must be carefully weighed to ensure satisfactory results and
acceptable deficiencies.
The heat content of any fire depends on wood
density, resin, ash and moisture. A rule of thumb often used for estimating
heat value of firewood is: "One cord of well-seasoned hardwood (weighing
approximately two tons) burned in an airtight, draft-controlled wood stove with
a 55-65% efficiency is equivalent to approximately 175 gallons of #2 fuel oil
or 225 therms of natural gas consumed in normal furnaces having 65-75%
efficiencies." Generally, hardwoods which provide long-burning fires contain
the greatest total heating value per unit of volume.
Softwoods which
gives a fastburning, cracking blaze are less dense and contain less total
heating value per unit of volume. All woods dried to the same moisture content
contain approximately the same heat value per pound--from 8,000 to 9,500 BTU
for fully dried wood and 5,500 to 8,500 BTU for air-seasoned wood.
Firewood Ratings and Info based on data from:
U.S.
Forest Products Laboratory
Chimney Safety
Institute of America
Wood Heat
Organization Inc.
The Smoke
Ring!
Wood Burning Restaurants
Bartolotta Restaurant Group
6005 W. Martin Drive
Wauwatosa, WI 53213
Ristorante Bartolotta
7616 W. State Street
Wauwatosa, WI 53213
(414) 771-7910
Mr. B's Bartolotta Steakhouse
17700 W. Capitol Drive
Brookfield, WI 53045
(262) 790-7005
Carleton Grange Pub
Holloway Road LLC
3807 S. Packard Avenue
St. Francis, WI 53235
(414) 747-9669
Carrabbas - Brookfield
18365 W. Bluemound Road
Brookfield, WI 53045
(262) 797-2548
County Clare, Ltd.
1234 N. Astor Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 272-5273
Oakland Trattoria
RC Schmidt
2856 N. Oakland Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53211
(414) 964-2850
RC Schmidt
1422 North 4th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
(262) 790-7005 |
Pizzeria Piccola
7606 W. State Street
Wauwatosa, WI 53213
(414) 443-0800
Boulder Junction Charcoal Grill
12550 W. Burleigh Road
Brookfield, WI 53005
(262) 790-0726
Boulder Junction
4395 S. 76th Street
Greenfield, WI 53220
(414) 238-2111
Brisco County Wood Grill
N96W16865 Cumberland Ct
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
(262) 251-8330
Carrabba's Italian Grill
4765 S. 76th Street
Greenfield, WI 53220
(414) 325-3597
Chancery Pub & Restaurant
11046 N. Port Washington Rd.
Mequon, WI 53092
(262) 241-3450
Mason Street Grill
Marcus Hotels & Resorts
435 E. Mason Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 298-3131 rest
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