Posted on Dec 1, 2023 at 12:03 pm by James T
Preparing firewood for winter is essential, especially if you cut your own wood or if you need to buy it already dry. We will explore quick and efficient methods to dry your wood before the arrival of the cold weather.
Table of Contents
Keeping your firewood dry
Dry wood is good, but wood that stays dry is even better! To keep your firewood dry, we recommend the following tips:
- Store your wood in a ventilated area: to keep your wood dry, store it in a ventilated area protected from moisture.
- Space out your logs: stack your logs in a way that allows air circulation between them to prevent potential mold.
- Protect your firewood stock: if you store your firewood outside, protect it from rain with a tarp while allowing air to pass through the sides.
It is also useful to consider traditional methods of firewood storage.
Speeding up the drying of your wood
Depending on its type, freshly cut wood can take between 12 and 24 months to dry, or even 36 months for oak. Hardwoods will take the longest to dry, followed by softwoods and finally resinous woods: the latter dry faster but are unfortunately not recommended as firewood.
If you don’t have a dryer or drying oven, here are some natural techniques to reduce the drying time of your wood:
- Prefer logs between 25 and 40 cm in length to facilitate their drying process.
- Place them as close as possible to your fireplace, at a distance of 50 cm from the fire to avoid any risk of fire.
- Invest in a ventilated solar greenhouse if you need large quantities of wood for the winter.
The advantages of well-dried firewood
Dry firewood offers many advantages, such as:
- Better combustion and optimal energy efficiency.
- Significant reduction in pollutant emissions and fine particles.
- Decreased risk of chimney or stove clogging.
- Comfortable use when lighting and reloading the fireplace.
Bonus tip: how to check the moisture content of your firewood?
There is a simple and quick way to check the moisture content of your wood: use a moisture meter or an electronic moisture probe to measure the wood’s moisture. These devices allow for accurate measurement of the moisture content present in the wood. An ideal moisture content for firewood is between 15 and 20%.
To fully enjoy the pleasant warmth provided by your fireplace or wood stove during winter, it is essential to properly prepare your firewood stock. By following our advice, you will be able to speed up the drying of your wood and enjoy high-quality fuel throughout the cold season.
