How do you air dry firewood?

To speed the drying of firewood, remove the bark initially and stack the wood so that air circulates around it from all sides. During rainy periods, put a cover over the top of firewood. Do not cover sides of the woodpile because this prevents water evaporation from the ends of the wood.
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What is the fastest way to air dry firewood?

Leave the wood uncovered so the wind and sun can dry it more quickly. If it is raining or snowing, cover the top of the stack with a tarp, plastic sheeting or tar paper to keep rain and snow from touching the wood and dew from condensing on it.
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How long does it take to air dry firewood?

It's a year-round task because firewood requires anywhere from six months to two years dry out. Late winter and early spring are ideal times to cut and store wood for the following year.
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How do you get moisture out of firewood?

Stack firewood in a single row up off the ground so the sun and breeze can draw the moisture out the cut ends – most wood has a 30-50% moisture content when cut and you'll need to get it down to around 15-20% before you can burn it efficiently.
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Will firewood dry uncovered?

Ideally, firewood should remain uncovered so it can be properly dried, but this is not practical when rain, snow and ice can quickly coat winter firewood. A good cover over the top of your woodpile will protect it, and be sure the cover is slanted to shed moisture away from the pile's base.
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DRIFTING THROUGH THE WEEKEND



Should I cover my firewood with a tarp?

The easiest way to cover your firewood is to use a tarp. After you've stacked the wood, place the tarp on the top of the stack. Cover only the top and let an inch or two hang down. Do not cover the sides of the stack, since you'll need airflow to dry the wood out.
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Can you burn wet firewood?

Wet firewood is wood that is too high in moisture content to burn efficiently in a fireplace or stove. Wood that is too wet to burn can struggle to catch fire, produce more smoke, release less heat and create an overall unpleasant burning experience.
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How can you tell if wood is seasoned?

Seasoned wood will be darker in color than green wood, and may be cracking at the ends. Seasoned wood can also lighter in weight and the bark can be peeled off more easily than unseasoned wood. A moisture meter will be able to provide an accurate reading of whether firewood is fully seasoned or not.
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Will a dehumidifier dry firewood?

Drying Firewood: FAQ

Although you could certainly use a dehumidifier to suck moisture from your firewood, it's probably not the most effective way to do so. Dehumidifiers use a lot of electricity and since they will constantly be absorbing moisture from the wood, they'll burn out more quickly.
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What wood produces the most creosote?

Softwoods like fir, pine and cedar make more smoke, and therefore more creosote. That said, these evergreens contain fragrant resins and oils that easily ignite even without a fire starter and are perfect for kindling.
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How do you burn fresh wood?

Burning Green Wood

Before lighting the fire, split the wood into very small pieces, and mix those pieces with dry kindling. Place the mixture inside a suitably sized burn container or fire pit, stacking the small pieces so that air can flow around the entire pile that will be burned.
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Does firewood dry better stacked or piled?

It uses up less space: in fact, a 10-foot pile can actually contain 2 1/2 cords. There is less effort in stacking because you do it right where you split the wood. One of the biggest benefits of this method is that the wood dries faster. This is because of the chimney effect that is created within the pile.
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Does firewood dry in the winter?

Is it Possible to Dry Firewood in Winter? Yes, but firewood dries slower in winter. Sunlight—one of the key ingredients for drying wood—is in short supply in winter. Though drier winter air helps extract some moisture from the firewood, the process is much slower than in warmer weather.
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Will firewood dry in a garage?

GARAGE – Not only will your wood stay dry, but it won't be covered in snow during winter. The only issue is that there isn't much airflow in a garage so you'll want to avoid stacking your wood in the garage if it's too wet. It will take longer for your wood to dry under those conditions.
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Can you dry wood in a microwave?

The microwave is great for drying wood. You can dry almost any type of wood in a microwave as long as it is small enough to fit. While kindling is too large, pieces of craft wood are ideal for microwave drying.
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How long does it take for firewood to be seasoned?

Generally you should dry or “season” firewood for six to 18 months before burning.
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Can wood season without being split?

Firewood doesn't necessarily need to be split to season but splitting wood when it's green can help speed up the drying out process. If you're looking to season your wood as fast as possible be sure to cut the logs to length and split them prior to stacking.
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Is it best to split wood wet or dry?

Dry Wood Is Typically Easier to Split

Normally, though, you'll find that dry, seasoned wood is easier to split than wet wood. Regardless of the tree species from which it was harvested, dry wood contains less moisture, so there's less resistance when cutting and splitting it.
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How long after cutting wood can you burn it?

Green Wood

When a living tree is cut down, the timber needs to age or "season" for a minimum of six to nine months before burning. Freshly cut wood, called green wood, is loaded with sap (mostly water) and needs to dry out first.
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Can I use freshly cut wood?

Freshly cut and milled wood must be cured before it can be used in construction, crafts, carvings, and even in a stove or fireplace. Throughout the curing process, the moisture content of the green wood, or freshly cut wood, is reduced.
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How long after you cut a tree down can you use it for firewood?

Generally, firewood needs to be cut at least six months before use. This is why you need to split between the late winter and early spring months, in order to get enough drying time for the firewood.
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Will a hot fire remove creosote?

One method to loosen crusty or tarry creosote so it flakes off and falls down into the firebox or fireplace is to burn aluminum cans in a very hot fire. While this method works, it does not clean the chimney of creosote completely, and chimney brush cleaning is still necessary.
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