The Pacific Energy Summit LE
Firewood Guide
The firewood you burn has a significant impact on how your Pacific Energy Summit LE performs.
Premium kiln-dried hardwood with a moisture content below 20% burns hotter, produces more heat, creates longer-lasting coals, and helps reduce creosote buildup.
This guide explains which hardwood species we recommend, why moisture content matters, ideal log length, and how to get the best performance from your Pacific Energy Summit LE.
What You'll Learn
Properly Kiln-dried
Recommended Species
Premium kiln-dried hardwood with a moisture content below 20% helps the Summit LE produce maximum heat, longer-lasting coals, and clean, efficient burns.
Sugar Maple, White Ash, and Black Cherry are our primary recommendations because they provide dependable heat, clean combustion, and long-lasting coals.
Delivered & Ready
Every order is delivered clean, neatly stacked where you'll use it, and ready to burn from day one.
The recommendations in this guide are based on the burn characteristics of each hardwood species and our experience supplying premium kiln-dried firewood throughout Ontario.
Pacific Energy Summit LE Specifications
Recommended Hardwood Species
Sugar Maple • White Ash • Black Cherry
White Birch (when properly seasoned)
Recommended Moisture Content
Below 20% (kiln-dried)
Burn Characteristics
Long burn times • High heat output • Strong coal production • Clean combustion
Made In
Canada
Recommended Log Length
18-inch hardwood (recommended)
Primary Use
Large homes and primary home heating
Combustion System
Non-catalytic
Why We Recommend These Hardwood Species
The Pacific Energy Summit LE is designed to deliver exceptional heat output and long burn times when paired with premium kiln-dried hardwood.
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In our experience, Sugar Maple, White Ash, Black Cherry, and White Birch all perform well in this stove. Sugar Maple provides exceptional heat and long-lasting coals. White Ash burns hot, lights easily, and produces dependable coals. Black Cherry burns cleanly and creates attractive flames. Properly seasoned White Birch also performs well and is an excellent all-around hardwood.
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Regardless of species, properly kiln-dried firewood with a moisture content below 20% is the single biggest factor in achieving clean burns, dependable heat, and long-term stove performance.
Sugar Maple
Produces exceptional heat output and a long-lasting coal bed, making it an excellent choice for larger heating spaces. Premium kiln-dried Sugar Maple is one of the best all-around hardwoods for consistent, dependable winter heating.
White Ash
Burns hot, lights easily, and produces dependable coals. Premium kiln-dried White Ash seasons more quickly than many hardwoods and is an excellent everyday choice for homeowners looking for reliable, efficient heat.
Black Cherry
Lights easily, burns cleanly, and produces attractive flames. Premium kiln-dried Black Cherry is a favourite for its easy lighting, pleasant fire, and dependable day-to-day performance.
Regardless of species, premium kiln-dried hardwood with a moisture content below 20% is the key to clean combustion, dependable heat, reduced creosote buildup, and long-term stove performance.
White Birch
Lights quickly, burns cleanly, and produces bright, attractive flames. White Birch is an excellent choice for recreational fires and also performs well in larger wood stoves. When used for cooking applications such as pizza ovens, many people prefer to remove the bark before burning.
Regardless of species, premium kiln-dried hardwood with a moisture content below 20% is the key to clean combustion, dependable heat, reduced creosote buildup, and long-term stove performance.
Why the Right Firewood Matters
The Pacific Energy Summit LE is built to deliver exceptional heat output and long burn times. To get the maximum performance from this large-capacity wood stove, it needs properly seasoned firewood.
For most homeowners, moisture content has a greater impact on stove performance than the hardwood species itself. Premium kiln-dried hardwood with a moisture content below 20% burns hotter, lights more easily, produces less smoke, and helps reduce creosote buildup.
Once moisture content is right, the choice of hardwood species helps fine-tune the burning experience. Sugar Maple, White Ash, Black Cherry, and White Birch each offer their own strengths while delivering clean, dependable performance in the Pacific Energy Summit LE.
Why Premium Kiln-Dried Hardwood Performs Better
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✓ Hotter, more efficient fires
✓ Longer-lasting coal bed
✓ Easier fire starting
✓ Cleaner glass
✓ Less smoke
✓ Reduced creosote buildup
✓ Better overall stove performance
Choosing premium kiln-dried hardwood is one of the simplest ways to improve the performance, efficiency, and enjoyment of any modern wood stove.
Questions About the Pacific Energy Summit LE
Is 18-inch firewood suitable for the Pacific Energy Summit LE?
Yes.
Although the Summit LE accommodates logs up to 20 inches, many homeowners find that properly seasoned 18-inch firewood provides the best balance of easy loading, efficient burning, and dependable everyday performance.
What is the best firewood for the Pacific Energy Summit LE?
We primarily recommend Sugar Maple, White Ash, and Black Cherry for the Summit LE. Sugar Maple produces exceptional heat output and long-lasting coals, making it an excellent choice for larger heating spaces. White Ash burns hot and clean with dependable performance, while Black Cherry lights easily and produces attractive flames. Properly seasoned White Birch is also an excellent choice, particularly for recreational fires when properly dried.
Is White Ash a good choice for the Pacific Energy Summit LE?
Absolutely.
White Ash is one of the best all-around hardwood species for the Summit LE. It burns hot, lights easily, produces dependable coals, and seasons relatively quickly compared with many hardwoods.
How dry should firewood be?
For the best performance, burn premium kiln-dried hardwood with a moisture content below 20%. Dry firewood burns hotter, produces less smoke, keeps the stove glass cleaner, and helps reduce creosote buildup.
Why does my stove glass turn black?
Blackened stove glass is usually caused by burning firewood that is too wet or restricting the air supply too early. Properly seasoned or kiln-dried hardwood and good burning practices help keep the glass cleaner.
How much firewood will I need?
The amount depends on how often you burn. Occasional evening fires may require only a small quantity, while homeowners using the Summit LE as a primary heat source typically burn one or more face cords each heating season.
Can I burn Black Cherry every day?
Yes.
Properly seasoned Black Cherry is an excellent everyday hardwood. It lights easily, burns cleanly, and produces attractive flames, making it one of our favorite species for regular use.
Can I burn White Birch in my Pacific Energy Summit LE?
Yes.
Properly seasoned White Birch burns well and produces good heat. It lights easily and performs well when dry, making it a good choice for recreational fires and occasional home heating. For cooking applications such as pizza ovens, many people prefer to remove the bark before burning.
Can I mix different hardwood species?
Yes.
Many homeowners burn a combination of hardwood species throughout the season. Sugar Maple provides long-lasting heat and dependable coal production, White Ash burns hot and clean, Black Cherry offers easy lighting and attractive flames, and White Birch is often used to help start or brighten a fire. Mixing properly kiln-dried hardwoods lets you tailor the fire to your needs.
Ready to Get the Most from Your
Pacific Energy Summit LE?
Whether you're preparing for your first fire of the season or relying on your Summit LE to heat your home all winter, we're here to help you choose premium kiln-dried hardwood for dependable heat, cleaner burns, and long-lasting performance.
Looking for another wood stove?
Browse our Wood Stove Library.