How to Dry Firewood (Complete Guide)

Dry firewood is what you need when you want to have a blazing bonfire. Dry wood burns better and lasts longer than wet wood, so it’s important that your wood is dry before you use it. If you don’t know how to dry the firewood yourself, this article will teach you everything there is to know about drying firewood!

Dry firewood is a new trend in the wood industry, and it’s not hard to see why. Dry firewood lasts longer than traditional logs and provides an easy way of storing fuel. Dry firewood can be used for both indoor and outdoor fires, so if you have a fireplace or outdoor grill this article will be perfect for you!

Why Dry Firewood?

Dry firewood is a necessity when it comes to heating your home with wood. Dry wood not only keeps the temperature regulated, but also burns longer and more efficiently than wet or green wood. If you’ve ever tried burning freshly cut logs in your fireplace, you know how quickly they will burn out.

Dry firewood can help save money on your heating bills and reduce the amount of time you have to work splitting your wood. Dry firewood can last from three months up to a year depending on how often it is used, whereas wetter logs will burn quickly and need to be replaced more frequently.

There are a few ways to ensure your firewood is as dry as possible. One way is to stack the logs in an outdoor space where they can be exposed to air and sunlight for at least one full year. This will guarantee that all of the moisture has evaporated from inside of each log, leaving them ready for use indoors or out.

Another method is to purchase your firewood from a local supplier. Dry wood can be purchased in bundles or as part of a full load, and typically costs less than wet logs bought at the grocery store. However, because these options are not always available, it’s important that you know how to dry firewood on your own.

If you are planning on drying your own firewood, the place where it will be stored is key. The logs should not be exposed to rain or moisture of any kind, as this can cause molding and rotting which reduces their efficacy when burned. Dry wood that has been soaked in water cannot dry out because it already contains too much moisture.

If you live in an area where it is not possible to store firewood outdoors, there are a few other options available for drying the wood indoors. Dry wood will typically lose between one half and three quarters of its weight when properly dried out through exposure to air and sunlight – or heat if necessary.

You can place your logs in a shed or garage to dry. If you have space, racks can be built that allow the wood to stand upright and rest against each other as they air out. In order for this method of drying firewood outdoors to be successful, it is important that there are no leaks in your walls or roof, allowing moisture into the area where the logs are stored.

Another option is to place the logs in an oven set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit for four hours before using them. This can be done throughout the year, and will use less energy than running your oven on a full cycle for too long. Make sure you leave plenty of room between each log so that they are not touching or overlapping each other. Dry firewood can be quickly dried in a microwave, but should not be used for cooking food at all after it has been microwaved because the wood may emit harmful toxins which are carcinogenic to humans when heated up.

A final option is to burn your wet logs indoors before they have time to dry out naturally over an extended period of time. Burning them quickly will allow you to enjoy their warmth while still removing some of the excess moisture, but it is important that they are not burned any more than necessary or left unattended during this process since wet wood can create dangerous levels of smoke and carbon monoxide if overheated. Dry firewood is essential for heating your home with efficiency and safety, and can be purchased or prepared in a number of ways.

How to Cut and Split Logs for Firewood?

It’s time to start thinking about your winter heating and what that means for the log stockpile. Dry logs burn cleaner, hotter and longer than green ones so it’s important to get this right! A good place to start is by learning how best to cut and split logs for firewood.

Use a chainsaw with an 18″ bar.
Dry wood is less likely to split than green wood, so you’ll need a sharp chainsaw blade. A dull one will crush the fibres rather than cut them cleanly which causes more friction and therefore heat loss through the sides of your logs.
The grain should run along the length of each individual log for best results.
Start by cutting the ends of your logs square to maximize surface area. Then split each log in half with an axe or maul, remembering to cut on the side of the grain.
Dry logs should be stacked with the bark side facing outwards.
The bottom layer of your firewood stack should have a gap underneath to allow for airflow and prevent a build up of moisture, which will cause the wood to rot. This is also important for protecting against rodents such as mice or squirrels who may try to burrow under the stack and make their home there.
Dry firewood should be stacked in a covered area such as under an outdoor shelter to protect it from rain, snow or frost which will accelerate rot. It’s also important that your logs are kept off the ground so standing water can’t get into them either. You’ll want to keep these stacks out of the wind too to prevent from drying out.
Dry firewood should be stored in a place where you’ll have easy access to it, but ensure that your fireplace is also free for air flow and clear of flammable objects such as curtains or furniture which may catch light when lit.

Air Drying

Dry firewood refers to the process of storing wood in a shed or barn and letting it dry out slowly. Dry Firewood is preferable for several reasons:

First, it burns cleaner because the moisture content has been reduced;
Second, you’re not limited by seasons (dry firewood can be burned at any time);
Third, it’s a cheaper option since the wood is “free.”
Dry Firewood can be stored under a tarp in your yard for quick access to heat on a cold night or you can stack and store firewood inside of an outbuilding so that it takes up less space.

Kiln Drying

Dry Firewood Dry wood is firewood that has been dried. Drying the firewood prevents it from shrinking, rotting and warping while in storage. There are three different types of kiln drying for dry wood: radial, horizontal, or tangential-flow kilns.

Dry kiln drying is the most efficient way to dry firewood because it closes the pores of wood, resulting in faster and more complete evaporation than air drying.
Dry Firewood must be cut with a chainsaw or maul into pieces no longer than 16 inches (40 cm) long and no wider than 12 inches (30 cm) wide.
Dry Firewood should be stored in a well ventilated area that is protected from moisture and insects, such as rodents or other pests.

Storage Tips for Seasoned Wood

Dry Firewood should be stored in a dry place with good air circulation. The wood pile (if you can call it that) should be off the ground, either on pallets or raised shelves if there is enough room. Dry firewood will last longer if kept out of direct sunlight and rain. If possible, store your supply next to an outside wall. This will help to protect it from becoming damp or water-logged if the ground is ever affected by heavy rain, flooding or bad weather conditions.

Dry firewood should be stacked off the ground in small piles of no more than six feet high and four feet wide (this can vary depending on your space availability). It’s important for air to be able to circulate around the wood. You can achieve this by standing logs on end next to each other, with a space in between them and leave gaps for air to pass through if stacking upright against a wall. Dry firewood should not be kept inside your home as it will absorb moisture from the atmosphere which may cause damage or lead to an increase in fuel consumption.

If you intend to store your Dry Firewood for any length of time, it’s important that the wood is stacked off the ground and protected from water at all times. It needs to be kept under cover if there is a chance of rain or snow but still allow free airflow through the pile. If you’re stacking Dry Firewood in an open shed or garage and there’s a chance of rain, you can protect your Dry Firewood from the elements by stacking it under cover (indoors) and covering it loosely with hessian sacks. If stored correctly Dry Firewood should last for several months if not longer without any deterioration to quality.

Once Dry Firewood has been stacked, it’s important that you give it time to season. Dry Firewood must be left in the open for at least six months (ideally 12) before using on an open fire or woodburner. The best way of ensuring your Dry Firewood is Dry enough for burning is by judging its moisture content with a moisture meter. Dry Wood should have a moisture content of between 20-25% for optimal burning qualities. If you’re not sure whether your Dry Firewood is Dry enough, split one or two logs open to inspect the inside before using it on an open fire – this will tell you what condition the wood is in which can help with future stacking and storage decisions.

Step by Step Guide to Cutting, Splitting, and Stacking Your Own Firewood

The first step to successfully stacking your own firewood is cutting it down. Dry wood needs to be cut during the winter months, as this will allow for proper seasoning of the logs. The seasoned logs are dry, but still very heavy since they have not yet been split or stacked in any way. Splitting removes a log’s bark and any remaining knots or branches that may still be present. There are a few different tools that can be used to split firewood, including a maul and an ax.

A chainsaw is the most efficient way of cutting logs down into smaller pieces for splitting and stacking purposes.. If you plan on using your own saw, make sure it will not be getting wet or covered in dirt before you begin cutting. Dry wood is much lighter and easier to manipulate than damp logs, so it’s important to keep the saw clean as you work.

Once your log has been cut into smaller pieces, use a splitting wedge and sledgehammer to split each piece of firewood down even further into more manageable pieces.

Stack the firewood in a pile that is at least four feet high, and make sure to leave enough room for each layer of wood to be accessible from all sides. Dry firewood should not take up much space or cover large areas, as this may cause rot and decay over time. Make sure you inspect your stack every once in a while to ensure it is staying dry.

One of the most important things you should be aware of when stacking and storing firewood is how much moisture your logs contain. You can purchase a wood moisture meter at any hardware store for less than $20, which will allow you determine exactly what percentage of water your stack contains before using it in a fireplace or wood stove.

Environmental Protection

Dry firewood, or wood that is dried outside to reduce its moisture content below 20%, has many advantages over the typical wet logs. Dry firewood will burn better and produce less smoke while releasing more heat per unit weight than green (wet) wood. Dry firewood also lasts longer when burned in a fireplace or stove because it does not release water or sap that can condense on the inside of your fireplace. Dry firewood also produces less creosote, which is a byproduct of incomplete combustion and can pose an environmental hazard if allowed to accumulate in wood-burning stoves.

A study conducted at Oregon State University shows us where most energy loss occurs when burning wet wood vs dry wood. In the study, they found that burning wet wood required two to three times more heat input than dry firewood did for a given amount of energy released in the form of light and heat.

The Dry Log Company of North Carolina says it takes about one year for good seasoned hardwoods to lose 20 percent moisture content, while soft woods can take four to six months. It’s important that the wood is stacked and stored correctly in order for it to lose its moisture content efficiently and retain quality as seasoned firewood.

You can stack your dry logs any way you like, but we recommend a method called “cantilevering” or log-stacking which allows air flow from all sides and keeps the wood off of the ground to keep it dry. Dry logs can be stacked during winter months or you could even use a tarp on top as long as there is good air flow between and under them all year round.

We recommend storing your firewood in an open area where rain, snow and wind won’t damage it. Dry firewood should be stacked off the ground with a minimum of six inches between pieces and rows two feet apart. As you can see in the picture above, we stack our wood on pallets for ease of use when loading into our stove or fireplace.

Safety Tips

Dry firewood is a great way to heat your home during the winter. Dry wood burns much better than green, wet or freshly cut logs and this means that you will get more warmth from each log that you burn in your fireplace. However, before getting started on the process of drying out some firewood for next year’s use it is very important to make sure that you are following all safety precautions.

Dry firewood is much more dangerous than green wood because dry logs will explode when they get too hot while wet or green logs do not pose the same threat of explosion, but it can still be very dangerous if handled improperly. Make sure that your gloves and protective goggles are on before beginning the process of splitting the logs and stacking them for air circulation.

FAQs

What is Dry Firewood?

Dry firewood is wood that has been cut and left to dry. This process enables the water in the logs to evaporate, leaving you with a light, crumbly form of fuel for your fireplace. Dry firewood usually takes around six months (or less) to fully season and can be ready for use after only one month. Dry firewood is great because it reduces the number of times you have to split your wood, which means less time spent on yard work!

What size should I cut my logs?

The larger the diameter, the longer it takes for seasoning and curing to happen. That being said, if you can find a good supplier, larger logs will often be cheaper per kilogram. Try to find a supplier that offers varying thicknesses and diameters of wood as this can help you save money in the long run if you're looking to cut costs on your fuel bills.

Do I need any special equipment?

When it comes down to buying dry firewood, you don't need to worry about buying a special vehicle or any other equipment. Dry firewood is small and light so can be carried by hand from the back of your car if necessary!

Is it better to split my own logs?

Splitting your own logs requires less effort than sawing them into rounds but will take more time. Dry firewood is best if it has been sawed into rounds as this will let the moisture escape from each log and prevent them from rotting over a longer period of time.

What other types of wood can I use?

Dry firewood is made up primarily of softwoods, which means you should only burn seasoned hardwood if you want to avoid any creosote build-up in your chimney. Dry wood is ideal because it has a low moisture content and produces less smoke when burned, which means that there's no need for huge amounts of kindling or other materials (such as coal) to get the fire started.

How do I season Dry Firewood?

To season dry firewood, you should select a lumber pile that is not visible from the outside and ensure it has an adequate amount of shade. The wood should be stacked so as to allow for plenty of airflow between layers – this will help with seasoning your logs by letting them breathe. Dry firewood should be left outdoors for a minimum of three months to allow the water within the logs to evaporate and ensure it is ready for use.

How do I know when Dry Firewood is dry?

A good way to check whether your firewood has been seasoned enough, you should try bending one log in half – if it cracks or breaks, it's ready for use. Dry firewood will also have a tendency to crumble when handled and should be easy enough to break with your hands.

How long can Dry Firewood stay outside?

Dry wood is best used within one year of being cut but if you are planning on keeping some logs in storage until next winter, you should ensure that they are kept in a dry and ventilated space. Dry firewood is best stored with the bark removed as this will prevent it from rotting too quickly and may help prolong its lifespan by keeping insects away.

Conclusion

Dry firewood is the best way to go. Dry wood not only allows for more efficient burning, but it also reduces smoke and creosote buildup in your chimney or flue. However, there are several issues that arise when you purchase dry firewood instead of seasoned wood which needs to be addressed prior to use.