Part of the Rosaceae family, mountain ash prefers to grow in cooler temperatures and is popular in the northern hemisphere. They are mostly decorative trees, blooming beautifully from May to June. Mountain ash is also durable, so it makes for good carving wood, but how does it do as firewood?
Mountain ash is very good firewood to use more in your fireplace to warm your house during the autumn months. It produces a slow, steady fire that will safely generate a decent amount of heat.
What Are The Varieties Of Mountain Ash
Mountain ash is an ash wood variety, more commonly referred to as rowans, and is a genus of trees and shrubs. However, while they do have a few species within the genus, they do not vary much in terms of characteristics.
Most mountain ash varieties are separated by their specific region. The most popular in America being:
- American mountain ash – East North America
- Showy mountain ash – East America
- Sitka mountain ash – West America
What Are The Physical Characteristics Of Mountain Ash
| Name | Mountain Ash |
| Heat per cord (Million BTUs) | 21.2 |
| Weight dry (lbs per cord) | |
| Weight green (lbs per cord) | |
| Seasoning time | 6-12 months |
| Resin / Sap content | Low |
| Splitting Difficulty | Easy |
| Smoke | Minimal |
| Smell | Neutral |
| Coal Production | Moderate |
| Creosote Build-up | Minimal |
Does its Wood Split Easily?
Despite being a fairly dense wood, mountain ash is very easy to split. It will be harder to split than a softwood like pine but will be easy enough to use a maul.
It is not usually a large tree but does tend to have a lot of twiggy branches that you will need to work through, it is not necessarily difficult, just time-consuming.
How Much Sap Does It Have?
It is natural for all trees to produce some sap levels, but mountain ash creates a low level of sap. In fact, if you find mountain ash that seems to be leaking sap, that is a sign that the tree is infected and should not be burnt.
How Does The Wood Smell?
Mountain ash wood does not have a distinctive smell. However, its blooms do not always smell the most pleasant.
To avoid any unpleasant smells, only burn the wood of mountain ash, not its leaves or buds.
Heat Output And Efficiency Of Mountain Ash
With an approximate BTU generation of 21.2, mountain ash produces a very good amount of heat. It is similar to tamarack but tends to last for longer.
This heat output is not that impressive for hardwood, though it is still hot enough to ward off chilly autumn evenings.
Fire Characteristics Of Mountain Ash
As a dense wood, mountain ash has a long burning time, sustaining its high heat for hours on end. This is also partly due to the good quality coals that it produces, which adds more fuel to its fire.
The same coals will still be hot enough to relight another fire once your mountain ash firewood has run its course.
With such a low sap and moisture content, you shouldn’t expect a lot of smoke when burning mountain ash. It will contribute little to the creosote build-up in a fireplace, making it a safe wood to burn.
Is It Okay To Burn Mountain Ash In A Fireplace?
Less smoke and minimal creosote production make mountain ash a safe wood to burn in your fireplace. Its low sap content also means that it will not spark or pop, meaning there is no need for a safety screen while burning it in an open fireplace.
Instead, you can enjoy the ambiance of a calming fire that will keep you warm through the night.
How Long To Season Mountain Ash
Despite its low sap content and being generally dry wood, you will still need to season mountain ash. Seasoned wood produces less smoke than greenwood and burns better overall.
Mountain ash can be ready to burn in as little as 8 months. However, because it is a dense wood, you will find that most mountain ash firewood will need up to 12 months to dry all the way through.
The best way to check if your firewood has reached a moisture content of around 20% is to use a moisture meter.
Pros And Cons of Mountain Ash Wood
Pros
- Slow and steady burn
- Very heat efficient
- Good quality coals
- Low sap levels
Cons
- Neutral smell
- Can be challenging to split
How Does Mountain Ash Compare To Other Firewood?
Mountain ash is often compared to hackberry firewood, burning at roughly the same heat and carrying the same characteristics. However, mountain ash is easier to prepare.
Mountain ash is not the worst when pitted against other hardwood firewoods, but neither is it close to being the best.
Pretty much every hickory and oak species will produce a higher heat output than mountain ash. But, mountain ash will not take as long to season as other hardwoods and can burn for reasonably long.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is Mountain Ash Related To The Ash Tree?
Due to its common name, people often think that mountain ash is part of the ash family. However, they are from two different families of trees.
Can I Use Mountain Ash For Cooking?
Yes, its minimal smoke output and lack of sparks make it the ideal firewood to burn on a stove or to use for cooking on a campfire.
Is Mountain Ash An Ambient Firewood?
The lack of scent and sparking will not create the scene of a cozy winter fire like other firewoods. However, this does make it a safer wood to burn inside.
Conclusion
For a hardwood, mountain ash performs fairly. It is much safer than most softwoods because of very low levels of sap, yet it still burns hot and steady.
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