Choosing and storing firewood

How to tell if wood is dry

A moisture meter is the only reliable test, and it is inexpensive. Split a piece, then measure on the freshly split face rather than the outside.

Seasoning and storage

• Split it. Whole rounds dry very slowly because moisture escapes mainly through cut ends and split faces.
• Allow time. EPA guidance says to season wood for at least six months. Dense hardwoods can take longer.
• Stack off the ground on pallets or rails so air moves underneath and the bottom row stays out of the damp.
• Cover only the top. A cover over the pile keeps rain and snow off while the open sides let moisture leave. Wrapping the whole stack in plastic traps it.
• Keep it away from the house wall. Allowing air space helps, and a stack against the building invites pests to the wall.
• Bring in only a few days of wood so it can come to room temperature before it is burned.

Why it matters for the chimney

Wet wood spends energy boiling off water, so the fire runs cooler. Cooler smoke carries more unburned material, and as it rises through a cooler flue it condenses and sticks as creosote. That is why wet wood is linked to heavier deposits and a smokier fire. See what is creosote? for how those deposits form and why they matter.

What not to burn

• Painted, stained or pressure-treated wood and plywood or particleboard offcuts.
• Trash, cardboard, wrapping paper and plastics.
• Accelerants such as gasoline or lighter fluid. Use kindling and a proper fire starter.
• Anything that is not natural, untreated firewood.

Burning habits that help

• Build a small hot fire rather than a large smoldering one.
• Open the damper fully before lighting, and keep it open until the fire is out.
• Keep the air supply open enough for the fire to burn actively.
• Do not let the fire smolder overnight.
• Clean out ash into a metal container and keep it away from the house.

Common misconceptions

"Dry-looking wood is dry." Wood can look fine and still be wet inside. Measure.

"Hardwood needs no seasoning." Hardwood often takes longer to dry than softwood.

"Burning hot all at once cleans the chimney." It does not remove deposits that are already there. A sweep does.

"Store it right by the fireplace all winter." A small supply indoors is fine. A large stack brings dust and insects inside.

See also

A fire that smokes into the room may have a draft cause rather than a wood cause: smoke coming into the house. For how often to have the flue checked, see how often to sweep a chimney.

Sources

• EPA Burn Wise, best wood burning practices (archived)
• CSIA, preventing chimney fires