If you heat your home with wood, be warned - now is the best time to stock up for winter. Wood is still available, prices are good and you have plenty of time to let it dry out. And if you chop it yourself? Not only will you save money, but you'll also be doing something for your body.

Wood returns to the limelight

At a time when people are struggling with high energy prices, more and more households are returning to the tried and tested method of heating - wood. The economics and ecology are clear: firewood is not only cheaper than electricity or gas, it is also greener when heated properly.

Depending on the type of wood and processing method, prices range from CZK 1,200 to CZK 1,850 per square metre. But there are places where you can take the wood for 550 crowns - you just have to chop it yourself.

Cleaver, axe or sweat? Everything counts

Hardwood prices, such as beech, oak or ash, have gone up slightly - no wonder, it has a higher volume weight and burns longer. But those who have the time and inclination to prepare it can save considerably.

Those who split their own wood also have better control over its drying. And that's the key: properly dried wood burns more efficiently, doesn't foul the chimney and has a higher calorific value than wet wood. Hornbeam, for example, will give you the most heat - up to 2,200 kWh per square metre. Beech and oak have a calorific value of 2,100 kWh per square metre, birch 1,900 kWh and spruce 1,600 kWh. However, almost all species have a similar calorific value per kilogram - so density and drying are the key factors.

Which wood is worthwhile?

Each species has something to offer. Hardwood burns slower and longer - perfect for long winter evenings. Soft wood catches well, dries out quickly and is cheaper. It's best to have a combination - experts recommend a mix, as the individual properties of the wood complement each other well.

Overview of basic types and their properties:

• Beech, oak, hornbeam - long burning, higher price.
• Birch, ash - they chip well, burn cleanly, ideal for fireplaces.
• Spruce, pine, poplar - softer, cheaper, suitable for the bay.

Buy now, dry over the summer

The biggest mistake is to leave the purchase to the last minute. Those who buy wood in September not only pay more, but often get it even wetter - and that means lower efficiency, more soot and unnecessary suffering. Properly prepared wood has a moisture content below 20 % and can dry for up to two years.

How do you know if the wood is ready for heating?

Freshly harvested wood contains 50-60 % of water. After two years in the air, the moisture content drops below 20 %, which is the limit for efficient combustion. The most reliable way to measure wood moisture is with a moisture meter. Without it, a simple test will help - dry wood sounds hollow, has cracked ends and no resin oozing out.

Wood needs to breathe in order to dry well. Dryness, air flow and no direct contact with the ground are essential.

Split the wood into logs 7-10 centimetres thick. Logs of this size dry well, fit in the stove and burn well. Logs dry very poorly.

Place the chipped wood in the border alternately. This allows air to flow between the logs and the wood to dry better. Tightly stacked layers are harder to ventilate.
Roofing the border is essential. A garden shed with open sides is ideal. If you store your wood in the cellar, don't forget regular ventilation - ideally an open window even in winter. Otherwise the wood gets damp and mouldy.