Summertime is here and that means you’re probably planning a BBQ. Firewood, as it turns out, is an often overlooked piece of the puzzle when it comes to getting your grill ready for cooking some tasty burgers and hotdogs. So what does firewood need to do in order to be considered seasoned? It’s actually not all that difficult! Read on for a quick primer on firewood seasoning so you can enjoy a successful cookout this summer!
Seasoning your firewood is one of the most important things you can do to make sure it burns cleanly and doesn’t give off too much smoke. Here are some tips on how to season firewood, as well as what type of wood might be best for each season.
Does Firewood Need To Be Seasoned?
A lot of people think that wood needs to be seasoned before it can burn in a fire. This is not the case and in fact, there are some disadvantages to seasoning your own firewood. First off if you season your own logs then they will need to dry for much longer than just buying them already split and dried out. It might take well over six months or even up to one year depending on how much moisture is left in the logs. If you go to buy firewood that is already seasoned then it has been dried out, split and ready for use within a few weeks or months at most.
The other problem with seasoning your own wood is that if there are any knots on the log they might rot much faster than normal because moisture can enter through them easier. This will cause problems when burning as this could lead to smokey fires which emit an unpleasant aroma into your home. Also if the knots are not completely dry before attempting to burn them then they may explode during combustion causing further issues including sparks flying everywhere around your room!
Another reason why people season their own logs is so that they ‘get exactly what they want’. Seasoning takes up time however and it is not really worth the effort when you can buy logs that are already seasoned in a matter of minutes.
- When buying firewood, it is important to make sure you know whether or not your wood needs seasoning.
- Many people think all types of wood need to be seasoned before using them for fires, but this isn’t really the case.
- Some woods will actually burn better if they are used right away without being dried out first.
- If your firewood was cut within the last year and has been stored properly since then, there’s a good chance that it doesn’t need any extra drying time at all.
- However, if you purchased your wood from a different source or it’s been sitting outside for longer than that time period, there’s a good chance it does need to be seasoned.
No. Unlike seasoned cooking ingredients such as salt and pepper, firewood doesn’t require seasoning before you use it in your fireplace or wood stove. However, some people like to season their firewood with a light covering of oil so that they can get more mileage out of the same piece without having to buy new logs after just one or two fires. No matter what kind of fuel you prefer for burning purposes, always make sure it’s dry before attempting to set a flame–as any firefighters will tell you!
Freshly cut trees emit sap when placed under heat and pressure which is why we often find fresh wood difficult to light on an initial attempt. Dry wood burns faster because there are fewer chemicals present within its fibers; hence the best firewood is dry wood.
Safety Tips
- Never burn firewood in your fireplace if the wood has not been properly seasoned. I recommend buying it from a local source, rather than online to ensure that you are getting dried out pieces of firewood. To avoid problems with incomplete burning and creosote buildup on the chimney walls always buy untreated or unseasoned firewood.
- Keep an eye open for any insects that might be infesting your logs before adding them to the fireplace. If they’re fresh cut, there is no way of knowing what kind of pests may have made their home inside them while they were still attached to their tree waiting for someone like you to purchase them so check carefully! You don’t want little bugs dropping into your living room when you burn them!
- Always use dry seasoned firewood in your fireplace to prevent flare-ups and burning embers that could ignite furniture or carpeting. It is also important not to ever stack wet wood inside of the house because it will start rotting very quickly, creating a bad odor while emitting high levels of moisture into the air.
FAQs
Does Firewood Need To Be Seasoned?
The short answer is yes, but the long answer depends on a few factors. This article will discuss how to tell if firewood needs seasoning and what you should expect from seasoned wood vs unseasoned wood. Some people think that it’s easier just to buy pre-seasoned logs or bundles of firewood, however for those who have their own equipment they may find that buying green (unseasoned) firewood can be more economical than paying someone else to season your firewood for you.
How Is Firewood Measured?
Greenfire provides information on all things related to heating with wood at our website here: covered in this post are the following topics covered below briefly:
Is Firewood Seasoned The Same As Kiln Dried?
Short Answer: No. Longer Answer: When firewood is seasoned, it has been dried to approximately 20% moisture content (MC). It will take about six months for green wood to dry down to this level in most conditions if placed properly and stacked so that airflow can reach all sides of the logs. This means one face of each log needs to be exposed at all times, either facing up or down depending on your stacking style. To speed up the seasoning process you should cut larger logs into smaller pieces since they are more likely to allow air flow through the stack faster than large rounds which have tighter grains/layers. Even though adequately seasoning wood requires some time, it’s not the same as kiln drying. Kiln dried firewood is seasoned to less than 20% moisture content so that it can be stored in a warehouse or large container for up to two years before being sold at your local hardware store.
Conclusion
Firewood does not need to be seasoned from a forest. However, it will burn better if you season the wood before using it in your fireplace. To do this, stack the firewood off of the ground and cover with a tarp for two weeks or more during dry weather conditions.