What Firewood Should I Burn in Northwest Indiana?
Which wood burns hot and clean, how long to season it, how to tell if it's dry, and what not to burn — for fireplaces and wood stoves in the Region.
NWI Chimney · October 4, 2026
The short answer
Burn seasoned hardwood — oak, hickory, maple, ash or cherry — that has been split and dried for at least six months (oak often needs a year or more) to below about 20% moisture. Dry hardwood burns hotter and cleaner, gives more heat, and builds far less creosote than wet or soft wood.
Good choices
- Oak and hickory: dense, long-burning, lots of heat — but slow to dry
- Maple, cherry, ash: good heat and dry faster; cherry smells good
- Softwoods (pine, spruce): fine for kindling and quick fires once dry, but burn fast
How to tell if it's dry
- A moisture meter on a freshly split face reads under about 20%
- Ends are cracked and darker, bark comes off easily
- Two pieces knocked together sound hollow, not dull
- It catches quickly and doesn't hiss or bubble
Split it, stack it off the ground with the top covered and the sides open to the wind, and give it a full summer at least.
Never burn
- Painted, stained or treated lumber, plywood or pallets of unknown origin
- Cardboard, wrapping paper or trash
- Wet or green wood
- Driftwood (salt)
Buying firewood
A "seasoned" label doesn't always mean dry — check it with a meter. Buy wood cut close to home: moving firewood long distances spreads tree pests. And whatever you burn, have the chimney inspected yearly; our sweep is $249 flat with a 21-point safety inspection.
More answers
How long does firewood need to season?
At least six months for most hardwoods; oak usually needs a year or more. Measure with a moisture meter rather than going by time.
Do fire starters and creosote logs help?
Fire starters are fine. Creosote logs don't replace a sweep.
Is it OK to burn pine?
Dry pine is fine in moderation. The creosote problem comes from wet wood and smoldering fires, not from pine itself.
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