How Good Is Elm for Firewood?

Is Elm good firewood? Elm is relatively poor firewood. It has a low heat output of 20 million BTUs per cord of seasoned wood, which is much lower than dense hardwoods like Hickory and Oak. Elm is also very difficult to split, and it produces a moderate level of smoke.

Is elm a good firewood?

Burning Elm Firewood

These standing dead elm trees can produce decent firewood because the wood is nearly dry when you cut down the tree. Don't attempt to burn wet elm. The wet wood is miserable to burn and you should expect to let wet elm season for at least one year... ... Elm firewood is extremely hard to split.

How long does elm wood take to season?

Generally, properly prepared elm firewood seasons in about one year. Wood cut from live trees would be ready to use, as firewood, during the second winter after cutting. This allows air drying to naturally reduce the moisture content in the wood to a level that will burn well.