Heat Logs Explained: How to Light and Store Wood Briquettes

Heat logs — also called wood briquettes — are made from compressed sawdust and wood shavings, squeezed into a dense block with very low moisture. That makes them burn hot, clean and long, often outlasting an equivalent pile of ordinary logs. They light much like firewood, and they store best somewhere completely dry.

If you've seen heat logs next to the firewood and wondered whether they're worth it, here's what they are, how they stack up against logs, and how to get the best from them.

What are heat logs?

Heat logs are a solid fuel made by compressing leftover sawdust and wood shavings under high pressure — no glue or additives needed, as the wood's natural binders hold the block together. Because they're squeezed so tightly and dried right down (usually well below the moisture level of seasoned logs), they pack a lot of energy into a compact, tidy shape.

You'll find them in our heat logs range in various sizes and shapes, from solid blocks to hollow-centred logs that catch a little faster.

Heat logs vs firewood: which should you choose?

• Heat output: Heat logs are very dry and dense, so they burn hot and hold that heat well.
• Burn time: A good heat log tends to last longer than a similar-sized log, which makes them great for an evening by the fire or topping up.
• Storage: Compact and uniform, so they stack neatly and take up less room than loose logs.
• Lighting: Firewood and kindling still tend to catch fastest, so many people light with logs and switch to heat logs once the fire is established.

In practice you don't have to pick one. Plenty of customers get the fire going with kiln dried logs and then add heat logs for a longer, steadier burn.

How to light heat logs

1. Start with kindling and a firelighter. Build a small nest of kindling with one or two natural firelighters, as you would for a normal fire.
2. Add the heat logs once the kindling is going. Because they're so dense, heat logs like a decent flame to get started — so let the kindling establish first.
3. Give them space and air. Don't bury them. Leave a gap around each log and keep the air vents open until they're properly alight.
4. Break one up to speed things along. If a log is slow to catch, splitting it exposes more surface area and helps it take.

How to store heat logs

The one golden rule with heat logs is keep them bone dry. Because they're compressed sawdust, they'll soak up moisture and swell or crumble if they get damp — so treat them a little more carefully than logs.

• Store them indoors or fully under cover — a shed, garage, or sealed store is ideal.
• Keep them off the floor on a pallet or shelf, away from any damp surfaces.
• Leave them in their wrapping until you need them, and reseal or cover any opened packs.
• Avoid leaving them outside under just a tarp, where damp air can still get to them.

Give heat logs a go

If you want a hot, long-lasting, easy-to-store fuel, our heat logs are a brilliant addition to the wood store. Pair them with a few kiln dried logs to get the fire going and some firelighters and kindling to light it cleanly, and you're set for the evening.