U.S. Recycled Wood Products Wood Brick Fuel - Q&A
Wood Brick Fuel is a dry densified wood fuel for use in well maintained wood stoves, fireplace stove inserts, and fireplaces with proper draft control. New users should use Wood Bricks conservatively to understand the performance in their appliance. Never pack a stove tight with Wood Bricks, never stack bricks against glass windows or up against top load lids, as they slightly expand while burning. Never place plastic enclosed package into stove.
1. What is Wood Brick Fuel?
2. How long will one brick burn?
3. What is on a pallet and how much cordwood is that
equivalent to?
4. Can this be burned in a stove with air tubes or
catalytic converters?
5. What is the glue or binder in the bricks?
6. Is Wood Brick Fuel going to over fire my stove?
7. Can I store wood bricks in a garage, shed or basement
where it is damp?
8. How many pallets will it take to heat my home for
the winter season?
9. Can I mix Wood Brick Fuel with cordwood?
10. If Wood Bricks produce less creosote and ash,
do I still have to have my chimney cleaned every year?
11. Why does it appear Wood Bricks have different
color to them?
1. What is Wood Brick Fuel?
Wood Brick Fuel is a densified alternative cordwood. Wood Brick Fuel is
produced by compressing dry, clean wood waste under extreme pressure in
order for the natural lignin of the wood to bind itself back together. Each
Wood Brick is approximately 6” wide, 2.5” high, and 3.75” long, weighing
approximately 2 lbs.
2. How long will one brick burn?
Wood Brick Fuel is 100% dry wood with no additional accelerants or additives.
Therefore more than 1 brick is necessary to fuel a fire. Typically 3 to
5 bricks placed on end in a teepee formation will light easily with crumpled
newspaper or a fire starter placed in the center. This is the most reliable
starting method, but consumers may experience they other preference to lighting.
Wood Bricks can be added individually to any existing fire. New users should
start using Wood Brick Fuel conservatively in order to learn the characteristics
of it in their appliance.
3. What is on a pallet and how much cordwood
is that equivalent to?
A full pallet of Wood Brick Fuel is 1000 bricks individually packed in counts
of 20 each. The full pallet is conservatively the value of at least a FULL
cord of best seasoned hardwood firewood. Many customers feel a ton lasts
longer than a typical cord because they are able to meter their fuel use
easier with 2 lb bricks. BTU value is conservatively approximate 7500 btu
per pound.
4. Can this be burned in a stove with air
tubes or catalytic converters?
Yes, Wood Brick Fuel contains no additional binders or accelerants. It is
100% wood material.
5. What is the glue or binder in the bricks?
Wood Brick Fuel uses the natural lignin material of the wood as a binder,
the same as wood pellets. Placing dry wood fiber under extreme compression
forces, the lignin content of the wood bind itself back together. No additional
binders, glues, or accelerants are added.
6. Is Wood Brick Fuel going to over fire
my stove?
Your wood burning appliance needs to be properly maintained with routine
maintenance of seals, flu, and chimney.
Never place entire plastic package of Wood Brick Fuel into a wood stove.
Please recycled or dispose of plastic wrap properly.
Wood Brick Fuel is a densified, dry wood material and care needs to be taken
when used is a wood stove. The stove does not have to be filled as tight
with bricks as cordwood to enjoy the prolonged heat of Wood Brick Fuel.
For first time users, it is best to start conservatively in order to learn
how Wood Brick Fuel burns in your appliance. For first time use, no more
than ½ a stove fill should be used. Typically a 2/3 stove fill will provide
8 to 15 hours of prolonged warmth. No more than a ¾ stove fill should be
needed to enjoy the advantage of wood bricks. Wood Bricks do expand slightly
while burning and should not be placed against glass doors or piled against
drop in lids.
7. Can I store wood bricks in a garage, shed or basement
where it is damp?
Wood Brick Fuel is not affected by humidity in the air. However, Wood Brick
Fuel will deteriorate with contact to liquids. Because of the cleanly wrapped,
bug, mold, fungus free packages, Wood Brick Fuel can be stored indoors in
garages, basements or other convenient locations to your wood stove.
8. How many pallets will it take to heat my home for the winter
season?
The amount use depends on the size of space being heated, the efficiency
of your stove, and your personal comfort level. Typically, we suggest a
pallet equals a full cord, so if you use 3 cords of firewood, you will need
3 pallets. However, many customers find they are burning less fuel because
of the increased efficiency of Wood Brick Fuel due to the lower moisture
content. Also, the 2lb size of each brick allows easier metering of fuel
with given outdoor conditions, for example as little as 3 or 4 bricks may
take the chill out of the area for a chilly fall morning, but 10-12 bricks
may be enough to feed a stove throughout a cold winter’s night. Others find
it is easier to maintain their wood stove constantly, and enjoy a higher
comfort temperature.
9. Can I mix Wood Brick Fuel with cordwood?
Yes, Wood Brick Fuel can be supplemented to cordwood for additional heat,
or gaining the most out of semi-seasoned cordwood. Wood Brick Fuel can be
used at night for extended burns through the night, and then collected cordwood
can be used during the day. For the most convenient operation of wood stoves,
Wood Brick Fuel can be burned 100% of the time. Many customers enjoy only
having to attend to their stoves as little as twice a day while using Wood
Brick Fuel.
10. If Wood Bricks produce
less creosote and ash, do I still have to have my chimney cleaned every
year?
Yes, even though Wood Brick Fuel produces significantly less creosote and
ash than cordwood, we recommend an annual cleaning and inspection to maintain
a wood burning appliance properly.
11. Why does it appear Wood Bricks have different
color to them?
Color variation in Wood Brick Fuel can occur for several reasons including
different species of wood, or if the material was dried in a high temperature
rotary kiln for processing. Rests assure, no matter what the color, no additives
of glue or accelerant were added. The briquetting machine uniforms the density
of the brick produced no matter what the species is.
