frequently asked questions

 A:  When dry or seasoned firewood has a moisture content at or below 20%, it’s ready to burn. As for how long it takes to get there, well the answer to that question is, it depends. Most wood is seasoned within 6 to 9 months but there are so many variables that affect the time it takes to dry firewood. Hardwood take more time to dry because they’re more dense than softwood; some hardwood takes between 1 to 2 years. 

 A:  Burning freshly cut wood poses a handful of problems. The first and most obvious is it’s more difficult to get a fire started, not only that, but it’s harder to keep the fire going once you finally get it started. Also, wet wood produces more smoke which blackens any glass window you have in front of the fire . Most importantly, however, is that unseasoned wood or freshly cut wood leaves more creosote in your flue pipe . Creosote is a byproduct of burning wood and it can be dangerous. Third-degree creosote for example, is the most dangerous. It’s a black tar which is highly flammable. Chimney fires can lead to house fires, which is why it’s important to get your chimney inspected every year and restrain yourself from burning unseasoned firewood. 

 A:  It’s not necessarily the age you have to worry about. Rather, it’s the amount of moisture within the wood. Wood dries over time, so one could assume after many years the moisture level will be really low. That’s true in some cases,  but it depends how you store the wood too. Keeping your firewood outside exposed to natural humidity usually keeps the moisture content of the wood above 10%.

 A:  Covering your firewood with a tarp is a topic of debate within the firewood burning community. If it’s about to rain, then by all means cover it with a tarp for a few days or until it stops raining. There is no problem using a tarp to cover your firewood temporarily. However,  using a tarp can become a problem when it’s left on the wood for too long. When the tarp covers your pile of wood it locks in natural humidity and blocks airflow. These conditions are perfect for mold to grow, especially if the wood is sitting on the ground soaking up water.  So to answer the question, yes it’s okay, just don’t leave it there too long.  

A:  There are a few tried and true methods to determine whether or not your firewood is ready to burn before you throw it on the fire.

COLOUR: As wood seasons, its colour begins to darken and fade. It transitions from a bright, fresh piece of green wood into a dull, greyish piece of dry firewood. The colour is perhaps one of the best indicators on whether or not the wood is ready to burn. 

WEIGHT: Dry wood weighs less than green wood naturally, because of the lower amount of moisture content in the dry wood. Green wood weighs almost twice as much as dry wood.

SMELL: Using a small axe,  if you cut a piece of your firewood and there is a strong aroma it’s still too wet to use.

BARK: As wood begins to dry out, its bark loosens and eventually falls off. 

CRACKS: Another great indicator that your firewood is ready to burn is when small cracks appear near the centre of the log, going out to the outer parts of the log. As wood dries, the wood begins to shrink which causes these cracks. Fresh or green wood will not have these cracks, whereas seasoned wood is more likely to have them.