How long should I season my firewood?
Firewood can take a very long time to properly season. Exactly how long is a matter of ongoing debate in wood-burning circles. The traditional rule of thumb is to season firewood for at least six months before the heating season; some hardwoods require at least one to two full years.
Can you season wood quickly?
Correctly Stack the Wood Stacking your firewood the correct way is essential to seasoning your firewood quickly. An easy and effective way to stack wood for seasoning is to use a firewood log rack, which will keep the wood off the ground and let both ends get plenty of air and sunlight.
How can you tell if firewood is seasoned?
Seasoned wood will be darker in color than green wood, and may be cracking at the ends. Seasoned wood can also lighter in weight and the bark can be peeled off more easily than unseasoned wood. A moisture meter will be able to provide an accurate reading of whether firewood is fully seasoned or not.
Can you burn partially seasoned firewood?
You won’t find softwoods that are more prone to produce creosote in this mix. We do not include softwoods such as poplar, bass wood, or pine. So you can rest assured that you will get the best burn from your firewood. Semi-seasoned firewood is ideal for home heating or burning occasional fires in fireplaces.
What is the fastest way to dry out firewood?
Stack firewood in a single row up off the ground so the sun and breeze can draw the moisture out the cut ends – most wood has a 30-50% moisture content when cut and you’ll need to get it down to around 15-20% before you can burn it efficiently.
How soon can you burn wood after cutting?
When a living tree is cut down, the timber needs to age or “season” for a minimum of six to nine months before burning. Freshly cut wood, called green wood, is loaded with sap (mostly water) and needs to dry out first. It’s hard to light and once you get it going, it burns very efficiently and smokes horribly.
Can you burn freshly cut wood?
No matter which way you cut it (or split it with your trusty log splitter), fresh wood just doesn’t burn right. Fresh-cut wood has a high moisture content, which makes it hard to get burning. It also gives off more smoke.
Can seasoned wood get rained on?
Seasoned firewood should be stored out of the rain to help prolong how well it keeps for. If seasoned firewood gets rained on it can dry out within a few days, but constant contact with moisture will lead to the wood going bad.
Is dry wood harder to cut?
Dry Wood Is Typically Easier to Split Regardless of the tree species from which it was harvested, dry wood contains less moisture, so there’s less resistance when cutting and splitting it. An ax or log splitter blade will easily cut through dry wood thanks to its low moisture content.