Erris Logs bringing you a renewable, sustainable and carbon-neutral source of heat!

The Erris Log Company was formed in 2020 and is situated in Carne, Belmullet. The firewood they provide is very high quality and well-seasoned Pine & Spruce. Their service is available to people in the Erris region and also the wider Mayo market. Louis has shared his years of experiece with me to bring you the following information on everything from the benefits of using firewood to how to store it properly. 

So why should you choose wood over other sources of fuel? Wood is a renewable, sustainable and carbon-neutral source of heat with many benefits such as;

• It is cleaner to handle and store. No turf dust or coal dust.
• It doesn't degrade during storage, what you put into storage is what you get out.
• More instant heat than turf
• Easier to regulate your heat.
• At the moment, it is cheaper than turf or coal.
• Flexile quantities for purchase
• It doesn't need a shed for storage. Timber likes lots of air circulation,
• Very little ash. For large stoves only clean once per week.
• It can be cut to size to suit fireplaces.

People often wonder what is the best time of year to purchase their firewood and the answer to that is during the spring and summer. This will give the wood ample time to season and it is important to remember that wood will not season in a closed shed as it likes lots of air circulation. You can create a simple structure out of cheap materials such as pallets which are perfect for providing the good airflow that the wood needs to season. It is also important for the structure to have a simple roof as it is vital to keep rainfall off the top of the timber and ideally it should be on hinges so that is can be easily filled from the top. Seeing how our worst rain comes from the south and west, the structure works best if situated facing north or east as it will get less rain fall from this direction.

It is also possible to season wood during the winter months as long as you have good airflow. But it will take longer with the moisture in the air. The windy weather we get in Mayo benefits the seasoning of the timber. When seasoning wood it is important to bring the moisture content down to 20% and under to get the best value from your firewood. The current regulations specify under 25% but this is the hightest moisture content at which you should consider burning your timber.

 Hardwood v's Softwood

Many people have a preference for hardwood. It is important to note that 1kg of seasoned hardwood will produce the same amount of heat as 1kg of seasoned softwood. As per the regulations, hardwood must be under 19% moisture content and softwood must be under 25% for optimum burning. It is easier to season softwood as it is less dense.

Louis recalled the tradition of the fire in the rural Irish home when turf was the only fuel used. The fire wasn't just used to heat the house but also for cooking therefore it was an essential part of the daily routine. The first job every morning was to clean out the ashes and get the fire going for the day. I'm sure along with Louis, many of you will remember when your parents left you alone in the house, they would always say, 'Dont let the fire go out!' But this tradition has faded away with electric and gas cooking, therefore it is not a neccessity to have the fire burning all day. 
To get the most value and use out of your timber, Louis recommends that you dont just burn fuel for comfort and aesthetic value. When using your timber for the purpose of heating your home he gave an example of how they use their fuel in his house that will help you get the most value out of your timber. He stated, ' The practice in our house is to get the fire going around 4 o'clock with the full draft on the stove to heat the house quickly and then let it out as there is no point burning fuel purely for its aesthetic value. When the timber is seasoned properly you can achieve this heat quality in about four fires, rather than burning fuel all day. The quality of the insulation in houses today is also of benefit to this.'

Louis and the team provide a friendly, reliable and quality service. For orders or more information please call 087 2658668

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