When should you cover firewood?

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.

Should firewood be covered during summer?

A tarp or another similar cover should be loosely kept over the firewood, but should not be tightly wrapped around it or extended all the way to the ground. The idea is to protect the firewood from direct moisture and the weather elements, while still allowing proper air circulation.

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.

Should firewood be covered with a tarp?

You are precisely correct: the tarps don't allow the moisture to escape. Humidity cannot be managed - rain can. If your wood is outside, just cover the top of the stacks and let the rain and wind, etc.

Should you cover seasoned firewood?

Seasoning Your Firewood

You should leave your wood exposed to air and sunlight while allowing it to properly season, but once it's dry, it should be covered. You should not pack unseasoned firewood into a tight space or shed to dry.

#146 - Covering Firewood - Why You Should!

Is it OK to leave firewood uncovered?

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.

What happens if you don't cover firewood?

We get asked quite a bit about how to cover firewood. If you didn't know, covering your wood properly will keep it dry and help in the seasoning process. You see, when you stack firewood out in the open, it can become damp from rain or snow. That will make it difficult to use and create more smoke than you want.

How long will firewood last if covered?

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.

What is the best way to cover firewood?

A tarp and bungee cord cover is the least expensive and most accessible firewood cover to build. This type of firewood cover can be put together in minutes with just a few supplies from your local hardware store. A tarp will protect your wood from the rain and snow, while bungies will keep it tightly secured.

How long does it take for firewood to be seasoned?

Generally you should dry or “season” firewood for six to 18 months before burning.

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.

How long does firewood need to dry after rain?

If the wood is still wet after four weeks, it may not be seasoned well enough to burn. Even when dry outside, firewood can harbor moisture pockets that keep it damp inside. If it is a measure of time, an average person can estimate that four weeks would be the minimum amount of time required for wood to dry.

Where do you store firewood in the summer?

How do you protect firewood in wet weather?

Use a tarp to protect your firewood from moisture.

You can buy a tarp at any hardware store. Simply lay the tarp over the firewood and tie it down to secure it. You can also weigh the tarp down with something like bricks. It's important to allow for some air circulation, as you don't want your firewood to get too dry.

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.

How long should I wait to split wood?

The most important rules for preparing good firewood are: Cut, split and stack the wood in the early spring and let it stand in the sun and wind until it is seasoned. For many people seasoning will take about six months. for others, it will be a full year, depending on climate and wood species.

How long can I leave firewood outside?

With the conditions you have described you should be able to store the firewood outside for approximately 3 or 4 years before you have any issues with mold or decay. I normally keep my firewood on a three year rotation which works really well but there are A LOT of variables that determine how long the wood will last.

Can you store fire logs 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.

Can you burn freshly cut wood?

No matter which way you cut it (or split it with your trusty log splitter), fresh wood just doesn't burn right. Fresh-cut wood has a high moisture content, which makes it hard to get burning. It also gives off more smoke.

How can I speed up drying firewood?

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.

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 do I keep mice out of my wood pile?

Will firewood dry in a shed?

You can dry your firewood in a seasoning shed during the summer for use in the fall and winter. These structures are designed to dry wood more quickly than leaving them outside.

How do you know if wood is dry enough to burn?

You can also test the driness of your firewood by banging together two pieces of wood. Your firewood is dry when the sound is hard and ringing. Moist firewood has a dull sound.