Where should I stack my firewood?

Choose a dry, breezy area of your property. Keep the wood about 20 feet from the nearest door to your house to prevent pests from having a direct route inside. If you're stacking wood next to a structure, stack it at least a few inches away from the structure to allow airflow behind the stack.

Should you stack firewood against the house?

At most, the Purdue Extension Department of Entomology says, you can store enough for a day or two. Otherwise, all firewood should actually be stored "at least five feet or more away from the foundation of the home," advises Orkin Pest Control. Stack it off the ground (pallets allow for drainage), and away from trees.

Is it OK to stack firewood in the 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.

Should firewood be stacked on the ground?

Is it OK to stack firewood on the ground? It's not a good idea to stack firewood on the ground. Wood attracts termites, plus moisture from the ground can get into the wood and prevent it from drying out. Instead, raise it off of the ground for storage with one of the stacking methods above.

Does firewood dry better stacked or piled?

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.

How I Stack My Firewood and Why I Do it This Way

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.

Why do people stack firewood in a circle?

Placing wood in a radius pattern is the best way to stack firewood because it allows the wood to dry more rapidly. Other benefits: stacking it in a round takes less time, sheds water better (because the wood is at an angle), takes less space and makes the pile more stable.

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.

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 long is firewood good for?

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.

Can I store firewood on my porch?

A wood deck is an excellent place to store firewood. It doesn't have to be particularly high off the ground. On the contrary, even if your deck is just a few inches off the ground, it will stick serve as a barrier between your firewood and the moisture-rich soil.

Can I store firewood in my basement?

It's recommended that firewood be stacked at least 20 to 30 feet away from the exterior of the home to keep pests away. Garage or basement – Instead of building a wood shed designed to store firewood, some New England homeowners opt to keep their firewood stacked in their garage or basement.

How long does firewood need to season?

How long does it take to season firewood? It can take 3-12 months or longer to season firewood. On average, it usually takes around 6-months to dry out the cut-firewood that you purchased from a store or supplier. Depending on the original timber's moisture content, it can take more or less time to season.

Can I stack firewood against a brick house?

If you do not have a rack, you can keep your wood off the ground by creating a foundation on which to stack it. To do this, you can use bricks, cinder blocks, pallets, scrap wood, 2x4s, or even some of your firewood logs.

Is it OK to store firewood next to your house?

Answer: Firewood storage attracts a number of pests including termites, other insects, and rodents. When you put firewood next to a building foundation, it's like leaving their favorite food right outside your door. I recommend that you keep any firewood at least five feet or more away from the foundation.

How close to house Can you stack firewood?

Keep the wood about 20 feet from the nearest door to your house to prevent pests from having a direct route inside. If you're stacking wood next to a structure, stack it at least a few inches away from the structure to allow airflow behind the stack.

How do I keep mice out of my wood pile?

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.

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 wood get too old to burn?

As long as firewood is left to sit in the right conditions and free from moisture it won't go bad for many years. Once firewood has been seasoned for the right amount of time it should be stored off the ground, under a form of cover and open to the atmosphere to ensure that it doesn't rot.

Why do split logs burn better?

Split Firewood Produces More Heat

With a greater density, split firewood has more “stuff” to burn than whole logs. Using only whole logs consisting mostly of bark won't produce much heat, assuming you're even able to light it. For maximum heat, it's recommended that you use split firewood.

Can I use 2x4 as firewood?

So what's our formal opinion on 2 x 4 scrap lumber bits for firewood? Its fine for home use, backyard use, and local campgrounds when permitted. But because it brings up a lot of questions when moved farther or across borders, it'd be best to restrict using 2x4s to your nearby campgrounds, and call ahead.

How do Norwegians stack wood?

When the structure is about 3.5 feet high (105cm) the logs are laid in toward the centre, and the whole thing is topped off with a layer of small logs with the bark facing upwards. This stack was made by Ruben Knutsen, Hamar (a small lakeside town an hour's drive north of Norway's capital, Oslo).

Can you stack firewood on gravel?

While there are many methods of stacking and storing firewood that vary by region and culture, the principles behind each of them are the same. Keep your firewood elevated off the ground or on gravel for proper drainage. Moisture can also seep into the bottom layer of wood from the ground via capillary action.