Firewood: Ten hints that your firewood “is not” seasoned
1.Firewoodlooks weathered but still looks recently cut
2.Pungent smells, of freshly cut wood
3. No obvious dry cracking on the butt ends of the wood
4.Tree bark still tightly adheres to the wood
5.You hear a hissing moisture sound when the wood starts to burn
6.It is rather hard to get a fire started even using kindling wood or fire starters
7.Sluggish or stalled smoke in the firebox
8.Due to moisture the wood actually feels heavier than expected
9.Hitting two pieces of wood together, there is a deeper thud sound. Not that of a lighter baseball bat ringing sound
10.The best indicator is found in using a moisture meter; a bad moisture reading is that of above 25%
How do I know if my firewood is dry; and properly seasoned?
Often I’m asked when is firewood seasoned enough and ready to burn?
First let me tell you a quick story about a customer. Let’s call him Tommy Engineer.
Tommy was preparing to receive a delivery of firewood, in the middle of November. He had negotiated on the phone, for what he felt was a fair price. For a cord of wood to be delivery and to be stacked on the side of the garage. Tommy was told that it has been cut, split and well season and is ready to be burn for the Holidays.
When Tommy’s firewood order was being delivered to his home, he said it looked like a full cord of wood 4’high x 4’wide and 8’foot long as it was stacked on the delivery truck. It looked reasonably seasoned and grayish in color, but as the truck was backing into the driveway he said that the smelled freshly cut wood.
Tommy being an engineer at heart took out his moisture meter and pulled off a couple of pieces of wood. He had to check for the moisture content of the wood delivery before it was going to be unloaded and stacked. The screen on the moisture meter read 37 %, which was rather high for what was to be ready to burn seasoned firewood. He refused that first firewood delivery and then found another supplier, at a higher price, but the second cord of wood was properly seasoned. His fireplace was cleaned and now pretty much uses his fireplace daily, from the week of Thanks Giving, over the Holidays and throughout the Sundays playoff football games, leading up to the “Big game Day
Wood that has not dried below the 25% moisture content mark, will burn less efficiently and will generate a lot more smoke and less heat.
More smoke; means a high potential of building up of creosote in the fireplace chimney flue system. It takes a lot of burned fire energy to boil the water found within the green wood.
The heat needed to burn wet wood also means that the fire burns much cooler. This causes less real fire combustion and much higher emissions of smoke. Freshly cut firewood can contain a significant amount of water. And comes with a lot of problems in sluggish draft and creosote. If the wood is not fully seasoned, you may need to store and cover your wood before it is ready to be burned. Repeat your checklist looking for signs that your firewood might still be green before starting your fire.
So it goes without saying, just because wood looks gray on the delivery truck, doesn’t mean that it has been seasoned
The proper seasoning time for firewood will vary drastically in different parts of the country, as well as from, season to season. The ideal moisture content for firewood is between 15 to 25%. The natural seasoning process can take years if stored, as an “uncut log” . Or just leaving it as a big pile of uncovered wood. It is important to have your firewoodsplit and covered as it will dry at a much faster rate.
Personally, I cover our firewood, and just on the top of the woodpile and down on the sides, about 16’’. This shower capping of the fireplace provides somore circulation through the wood stack. Wood will season naturally (air dry) because the water eventually evaporates from the wood surface until it reaches a so-called Equilibrium Moisture Content or being that of the humidity of the surrounding air. Think of this in regards to rainy Portland vs the hot dry air of Phoenix of even down into Florida.
For all of our homeowners that are reading this blog, here are the best ways that I know of for checking to determine your firewood is seasoned or not, is by checking it with a moisture meter.
Hence, the real issue is how are you drying our firewood, and when do we plan to use it. Order your firewood in early spring and in most case it will be the properly seasoned in the fall. This is where that little handy dandy moisture meter will be your truth teller.
Burn Safe and Warm
FAQs
Firewood: Ten hints that your firewood is not “seasoned”
- Firewood looks weathered but still looks recently cut.
- Pungent smells, of freshly cut wood.
- No obvious dry cracking on the butt ends of the wood.
- Tree bark still tightly adheres to the wood.
- You hear a hissing moisture sound when the wood starts to burn.
Look at the firewood
- dry.
- clean.
- hard.
- having dry cracks on the ends.
- without mould and fungi.
- the smell of resin and juice disappears as the wood dries.
- having clearly visible growth rings.
- light in colour. Sun exposure makes the wood yellow and old wood turns greyish. Often the bark will separate from the wood.
You should never burn green wood. Also known as unseasoned or 'wet' wood, this timber, regardless of species, is counterproductive for burning, and will result in excess smoking and a build-up of creosote (damaging sticky tar deposits) inside of the appliance and flue.
How to tell if wood is good for a fireplace? ›
The key factors that contribute to how wood burns and firewood quality are density and moisture retention. Wood with high density and moisture retention are the worst types of wood to burn. They don't burn as long and also don't produce enough heat. Therefore the best wood for burning should be dry and hard.
What happens if wood is not seasoned? ›
Wood burned inside the home should always be dry and seasoned for at least 6-12 months. Wood burns most efficiently when the moisture content is at 20% or less. Damp wood burns at a cooler temperature, resulting in incomplete combustion, more smoke, and dangerous creosote build-up in the chimney (a fire hazard).
What does bad firewood look like? ›
Green Wood
It's hard to light and once you get it going, it burns very efficiently and smokes horribly. If you're unsure if the wood is green, ask the seller when it was cut. You can also check the bark: firmly attached bark that's still sticky with sap when you nick it is a bad sign.
Should you split logs before seasoning? ›
Faster Seasoning: Splitting logs increases their surface area, which accelerates the drying or seasoning process by exposing more wood to the air. This is particularly important in the UK's damp climate, where reducing moisture content is crucial.
Can firewood be too dry to burn? ›
Yes, it is possible for firewood to become too dry. When firewood has an extremely low moisture content below 15%, it can start to have negative effects when burned.
How dry should seasoned firewood be? ›
Firewood that has been dried to less than 25 percent moisture content is a more efficient heat source. If you're buying firewood now, ask the seller how long it has been seasoned. Properly seasoned wood has a gray, weathered appearance and large cracks in the ends of the logs.
Why is my wood turning black but not burning? ›
To start a fire you must start with small pieces and gradually add larger logs as the coals grow larger. Any larger pieces of wood will not burn if you do not do this. They'll char and turn black. Anything that does light up will go out as quickly as it came on.
The problem: If your fire is smoldering soon after starting there's a chance the wood isn't lighting properly – and could be emitting a lot of smoke. The most likely reason is the appliance isn't warm enough to light a fire and optimum wood burning temperatures haven't yet been fulfilled.
What's the worst wood to burn? ›
Wood from toxic trees and woody shrubs - some trees and shrubs are just not meant to be burned (e.g., cherry, elder, horse chestnut, laburnum, oleander, rhododendron, and yew, etc.,) Wood with vines or ivy - these plants are toxic, and burning them is a bad idea.
What is the bad wood for firewood? ›
Spruce: Spruce is similar to pine; it's pitchy and can lead to creosote build-up. Poplar: This wood produces an awful smell when burned. Green or Wet Wood: Any wood that has yet to be appropriately cured will produce excessive smoke and inadequate heat and can lead to creosote accumulation.
What trees are not good for firewood? ›
Some deciduous trees also don't make good firewood. Aspen, basswood and willow trees all have very soft wood of generally poor quality for burning and producing heat.
Is a dead tree considered seasoned wood? ›
Since your trees are already dead, the curing process will have already started, and the wood should be dry enough to burn in a shorter time period. Hardwoods like oak will burn better if seasoned for more than a year.
What wood does not need to be seasoned? ›
Birch burns easily and can be burnt unseasoned. It also burns very quickly so is often best mixed with a slower burning wood such as Oak or Elm. Birch bark can make an excellent fire-lighter. Another good firewood, burns slowly, good heat output and little smoke.
How long does it take for wood to be considered seasoned? ›
Wait at least 6 months and up to 12 months for dry firewood depending on type of wood. Hardwoods like oak and maple dry more slowly than soft woods like pine and spruce. To ensure dry firewood, wait at least 12 months before burning. To test, bang two pieces together; dry wood sounds hollow, wet wood sounds dull.
Is it okay to burn fresh cut wood? ›
Since it wasn't seasoned or allowed to dry, the green wood uses its energy trying to remove the moisture from the wood rather than warming your home. It is an inefficient use of your firewood and a waste of money to burn it that way. A common misconception is that unseasoned wood will not light.
