Be prepared

Getting ready for winter

Wood can take six months to a year to dry out, so stocking and storing is always an ongoing task.

Starting in spring or summer allows you to take advantage of longer, warmer days to speed up the drying process.

IMAGE - well stacked wood pile

Tips for faster seasoning

to expose more surface area and allow the wind and sun to dry it faster.
bark traps moisture, so removing it speeds up the drying process.
elevate the wood on pallets or a rack to keep it off damp ground and allow good airflow.
ensure space between rows and pieces for the air to move freely.
leave the sides of your stack exposed to the sun, ideally on the side of the house that gets more sunlight.
make sure the rain isn’t undoing the good work of steps one through five.

How to tell if the wood is dry

Dry, “seasoned” wood has a much lower moisture content than wet “unseasoned” or “green” wood.

Living trees can be up to 60 per cent water, and even those dead for several years may have up to 50 per cent moisture content.

The ideal moisture range for wood that’s ready to be burned is around 15-20 per cent. You can test this with an inexpensive moisture meter if you want to be sure.

Dry wood also:

cracks at the ends
sounds hollow when knocked together
feels lighter
feels dry to the touch.

[Include image of dry cracked wood]

Getting your chimney swept

Getting your chimney checked and swept at least once a year will help your fire burn cleaner and warmer by allowing for more complete combustion.

If you don’t, it can result in dangerous levels of creosote build-up that could cause a chimney fire and invalidate your home insurance.

Chimney sweeping can be a dirty and dangerous job, particularly if you don’t know what you’re doing, so it’s always advisable to employ a professional.

This will save you money in the long run by improving the heat output and of your fire reducing the risk of costly damage.

[Include image of chimney]