Ed goodman chimney service

10/26/2026

10/23/2026

EASTERN WHITE PINE VS. WHITE OAK: WHICH MAKES BETTER FIREWOOD? 🪵🔥

There’s a reason some people swear by oak firewood while others are perfectly happy burning pine. After a few winters of keeping a wood stove going, you start to appreciate what each type of wood brings to the fire.

Take Eastern White Pine and White Oak, for example. Both can be useful firewood, but they serve different purposes.

🌲 Eastern White Pine:

Pine is lighter, generally easier to split, and catches fire relatively quickly when properly seasoned. That makes it useful for starting a fire on a cold morning or when you want heat without waiting too long for the stove to get going.

Pine typically burns faster than oak, so you may need to reload the stove more frequently. It can be a practical option for shorter fires and getting a fire established.

🪵 White Oak:

Oak is dense, heavy, and usually requires more time to season properly. The reward is a longer-lasting fire, steady heat, and durable coals when the wood is thoroughly dry.

That can make a big difference on freezing nights when you want your home to stay warm without constantly heading back to the woodpile.

🔥 What about heat output?

A commonly cited estimate puts a cord of seasoned Eastern White Pine at around 15.9 million BTUs, compared with approximately 29.1 million BTUs for White Oak. Actual values vary with moisture content, wood quality, and other conditions, but the difference illustrates why dense hardwoods generally provide more heat per stacked cord.

⏳ Seasoning matters more than many people realize.

Even high-quality oak can disappoint if it hasn't dried sufficiently. Depending on the climate, log size, and storage conditions, oak may need well over a year to season properly.

A moisture meter can help you determine whether your firewood is ready to burn. For most wood stoves, a moisture content around 20% or lower is a useful target.

And pine deserves a fair reputation, too. Properly seasoned pine can be burned in a suitable wood stove. Creosote buildup is associated with factors such as burning wet wood, poor combustion, and inadequate chimney maintenance—not simply the fact that you're burning pine.

Personally, having both in the woodshed makes sense: pine for starting fires and shorter burns, and oak for longer-lasting warmth.

When winter arrives, it's not necessarily about having the most expensive firewood. It's about having properly seasoned wood that suits your stove and heating needs.

What do you prefer to burn: pine, oak, or a combination of both? And why? 🪵🔥

10/23/2026

Tree Bark that looks Unreal 💯👀

10/23/2026

Six pieces of lumber, two concrete blocks, and somewhere to stack the firewood. That's pretty much all you need for this project. And considering how much some firewood racks cost, I think it's worth spending an afternoon putting one together.

The design is called a V-shaped firewood rack, and what I like about it is that you don't have to build a complicated wooden frame. You place two concrete blocks on firm, level ground, lay two long boards across them to support the firewood, and insert two shorter boards into the openings of each block. Those four boards lean outward, forming a V at both ends of the rack.

Sounds easy enough, right? Well, there's always something. Maybe the ground isn't quite level, one board sits higher than the other, or the blocks move when you start loading the wood. I'd rather spend another fifteen minutes getting everything stable than pick up half a cord of firewood off the ground later. Make sure the supports fit securely, reinforce the structure where necessary, and don't overload it.

The real advantage becomes obvious when it rains. Instead of having the bottom logs sitting in wet soil, they're resting on wooden rails with air moving underneath. And because the sides are open, the stack gets better ventilation. Just remember that the top still needs protection from rain and snow.

I also like that you can make the rack fit the space you have. A small one near the woodshed for the next few weeks of firewood? Perfect. A longer one for seasoning a larger supply? That works too, although longer racks need additional support.

One last thing: keep your main firewood supply away from the house rather than stacking it against an exterior wall. I know it's tempting to keep everything within arm's reach of the back door, especially in January, but a little extra walking is a reasonable trade-off.

And that's it. Nothing particularly sophisticated, just a practical way to keep the firewood organized, elevated, and drying while you get on with everything else around the house. Besides, there's something rather nice about looking out at a properly stacked pile of firewood and knowing you built the rack yourself.

10/22/2026

10/22/2026

A good book, a warm fire, and autumn outside the window. Sometimes, that’s all you need. 🍂🔥
What are you reading this autumn?

10/22/2026

Keep your home safe and cozy.

01/04/2026

01/04/2026

Start the new year with a home that feels warmer, cozier, and more inviting. Whether you’re planning a renovation, refreshing your living space, or just looking for moments of comfort, a Regency fireplace adds style, warmth, and ambience to every room. Make 2026 the year your home truly shines.