Eastern Hemlock Firewood — BTU Rating, Burn Quality & Tips

Tsuga canadensis

BTU per Cord

15,900,000

Density

2,482 lbs/cord

Category

softwood

Split Difficulty

easy

Spark Rating

high

Smoke Rating

medium

Coaling Quality

poor

Seasoning Time

12 months

Availability

regional

Low-heat softwood that produces heavy sparking. Best used only in enclosed stoves or as kindling. Burns quickly with poor coals. Can produce creosote buildup if used as primary heat source. Not a top choice for firewood.

Pros

  • +Easy to split

Cons

  • -Lower heat output
  • -poor coaling quality
  • -High sparking — use with a screen or in a stove

Best Uses for Eastern Hemlock

Open Fireplace

Not recommended — high sparking

Wood Stove

Usable but lower heat

Campfire

Great — easy to light and splits easily

Smoking/Cooking

Not recommended — resinous flavor

Seasoning Eastern Hemlock

Eastern Hemlock requires approximately 12 months of seasoning to reach the ideal moisture content of 20% or below. Split wood to 3-6 inch pieces and stack with good airflow. Keep the top covered but leave sides open to air. Store off the ground on pallets or rails.

Compare With Similar Species

White Spruce

15,900,000 BTU/cord · poor coaling

Ponderosa Pine

16,200,000 BTU/cord · poor coaling

Balsam Fir

14,300,000 BTU/cord · poor coaling

Eastern White Pine

14,300,000 BTU/cord · poor coaling

Calculate BTU →All Species →

Last updated: December 2024