Is it OK for firewood to get rained on?

Once wood has properly seasoned, does it matter whether rain gets on seasoned firewood? Seasoned firewood should be stored out of the rain to help prolong how well it keeps for. If seasoned firewood gets rained on it can dry out within a few days, but constant contact with moisture will lead to the wood going bad.

Do you need to cover firewood from rain?

Firewood does not need to be covered all the time. However, it should be covered when possible to protect it from rain and snow or other elements that could cause it to become damp. Throwing a tarp over it when rain is expected is a good proactive measure to take.

What happens to wood left in rain?

Wood rot can and will start when the moisture content of the wood reaches 20 percent. But wood rot is a slow process where the fungi start to grow and feed on the cellulose in the wood. The wood needs to remain damp and wet all the time for wood rot to advance.

Will firewood burn if wet?

Generally speaking, wet wood won't burn efficiently or at all, so you probably won't generate much heat this way. Smoke is the second reason not to burn wet wood indoors.

Can firewood be left outside?

Finding the Best Place to Store Firewood

Unless you want spiders, mice, ants, termites, or a number of other pests crawling around your home, keep the wood outside. Besides, it's less likely to age well in the house where there's less airflow to dry it.

How To Make and Sustain a Fire in The Rain

How long does firewood need to dry after rain?

You can read more about how long it takes firewood to season in another one of our articles here. What is this? If seasoned firewood has been exposed to the rain, it can take a couple of days to a week for the firewood to completely dry out again.

Should I cover firewood outside?

To Cover or Not to Cover

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.

How do you dry firewood quickly?

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.

How do you dry out 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.

What do you do with wet firewood?

Wet firewood will be able to dry out. If firewood is wet because it hasn't been seasoned for long enough then it must be air dried or kiln dried in order to reduce its moisture content. If firewood is wet because of rain then it should be air dried for a short while until the moisture level returns to normal.

Should you cover 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.

How do you protect firewood from rain?

While basic racks and shelves just hold wood, one made for firewood comes with a ventilated waterproof cover to keep the rain away. The waterproof polyester cover should be adjustable to cover your wood rack as it fluctuates in height. Firewood racks are also high enough to keep all the wood off the ground.

How long before you can burn freshly cut 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.

What happens if you burn unseasoned wood?

If you burn unseasoned wood the water vapour, when combined with other gases and particles go up the chimney, and unless the chimney is kept warm, the condensation creates a creosote substance, which when hardens forms tar in the chimney. This tar can also seep into the brickwork if a chimney is unlined.

Does unseasoned wood burn faster?

Finally, unseasoned wood does not create nearly as much heat when burned as seasoned wood. For homeowners relying on the fire to heat the house, burning unseasoned wood only turns into a chilly night for everyone.

Does wood 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.

Will firewood dry in a pile?

If stacked correctly with all pieces of firewood stacked horizontally, the completed pile will stand as long as the wood can endure. Within a three-month period, the stack will shrink from 10 feet to eight, as the wood quickly dries.

Should you cover wet wood?

Above: If a wood stack is out in the open then it can be protected from rain with a tarpaulin or some other cover but this should never come down over the side of the pile because it would trap moisture, as well as potentially causing mold and rot.

What is the best way to store firewood outside?

Firewood is best stored outside. It should be stored neatly, with the outside of the wood exposed to the air. If possible, you should place the wood on top of plastic sheeting or in a wooden log store. Avoid tree cover if possible and don't leave the logs in a heap.

Is it OK to store firewood in garage?

Below are the best ways to store firewood: 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.

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.

Can firewood be too old?

Firewood can be stored for approximately four years without any issues. Burning slightly older wood is better because green, freshly cut firewood does not burn as well. To get the most of your firewood over time, store the wood raised off the bare ground in a sheltered location.

Is it better 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.

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.

What's the best way to stack firewood?

The best way to stack firewood is on top of a dry platform or raised off the ground, with the cut ends of the logs facing outwards and open to the atmosphere, while ensuring that the logs aren't packed together too tightly and have sufficient cover if the stack will be subject to rain or snow.