Do you give a lot of thought to the wood you throw on your fireplace fires? If not, you should be. When considering what’s ok and not okay to burn in your fireplace, there’s really just one simple rule:
The only thing you should be burning in your fireplace is seasoned firewood.
Seasoning wood is crucial for keeping your fires burning as efficiently and safely as possible – and it’s better for your chimney’s overall health too. Burning unseasoned (or wet or green) wood forces the fire to use a lot of energy evaporating the trapped moisture – which then reduces heat output and creates a lot of excessive smoke. More smoke results in more creosote and less pleasant fires, so trust us when we say that using seasoned wood is well worth it.
What Does Seasoning Wood Mean?
Seasoning firewood is the process of allowing freshly cut wood logs adequate time to dry until the pieces reach a moisture content of 15-20%. Why is this important? Because you don’t want your fire wasting energy drying out the wood. This takes heat from the fire and will cause it to not burn right.
Most wood, when seasoned properly, can reach proper moisture levels in a matter of months. To properly season your firewood:
- Cut and split the wood early enough that it will have months to dry out before being put to use.
- Split the wood into smaller pieces, as this increases surface area for faster moisture evaporation.
- Find a sunny, well-ventilated spot to store the firewood, as sunlight helps dry the wood and good airflow prevents mold from forming.
- Avoid storing the wood in damp or shaded areas, as these conditions slow the drying process.
- Elevate the wood off the ground using pallets or a firewood rack.
- Stack the wood loosely in neat rows, ensuring a solid and stable stack – but leaving space between pieces to allow for good airflow.
- Avoid stacking too high to ensure stability and easy access.
- Use a tarp or firewood cover to protect the top of the stack from rain and snow, but leave the sides open to allow air to flow through.
- Allow the wood to dry for, ideally, at least 6 months.
- Rotate your wood stack, and be sure to always use the oldest and driest wood first.
How Do I Know if My Wood Logs Are Seasoned?
The most reliable way to determine if wood is seasoned is to use a moisture meter, which can typically be purchased for around $20. You simply insert the prongs into the wood, after which it will give you a reading. If your moisture is in the 15-20% range, you should be good to go!
Now, if you don’t have a moisture meter, there are other signs that can indicate your wood is adequately seasoned and ready to burn:
- It’s cracked or split at the ends. Seasoned wood often develops cracks or splits at the ends as the moisture levels are reduced.
- It’s darker in color. Freshly cut wood is light-colored, but as it seasons, it darkens to a gray or darker brown hue.
- It sounds hollow. Bang two pieces of wood together and listen. If you hear a more hollow sound (as opposed to a dull/dense thud), the wood should be on the dryer side.
- It’s lighter weight. The more water that evaporates out of a piece of the wood, the lighter it will become, meaning fresh green wood will feel noticeably heavier.
- Its bark peels easily. Dryer wood has bark that easily peels away or falls off naturally, while wetter wood’s bark will remain more tightly attached.
All that said, some wood logs can be deceiving, so be sure to watch how it burns. If you light it and it produces a lot of smoke with minimal flames, there’s likely more moisture than you want in there. If the flames are hot, steady, and produce minimal smoke, enjoy your fire!
Ordering Firewood? We’ve Got Tips for That Too
Ordering your wood from another source? We recommend ordering the wood early to ensure you have time to let it sit and season for months ahead of time.
Oftentimes, these vendors will cut the tree, then let it season for a season before actually chopping it up. Seasoning wood pieces won’t work unless they’re split well ahead of time, as moisture will sit in a full log far longer than it would a smaller piece.
Or, if you do need to use the wood right away, use a moisture meter to verify a lower moisture content before accepting the delivery.
Call Lou Curley for Your Annual Inspection
Burning the right wood is important, but so is ensuring you get that annual chimney inspection done before lighting things up. If you have yet to schedule yours, don’t wait – reach out to our experts today!