How to Season Wood
Freshly-chopped wood won’t do much good as firewood, that’s why you have to prepare it in a procedure called seasoning. Seasoning firewood helps the firewood to last longer while being burned and to burn efficiently. Here’s how.
Know the wood you’re using. Pine and softwood typically take around six months to season properly, while hardwood like takes a year. However, it should be noted that it’s discouraged to use pine or evergreen as firewood. This is because burning these types of wood can cause creosote to accumulate in your chimney, which may start a fire. Sticking to hardwood firewood is the safest option you have.
Chop the firewood correctly. The standard size should be around six to eight inches in diameter, around 18 inches long. (Learn how to cut firewood)
Storing the firewood correctly is an important part in seasoning the firewood. What’s important is that the firewood be stacked where there is air circulation and heat. They should also should be stacked away from the wall and off the floor. (Tips on how to store a firewood)
The best place to store firewood is by using a log rack. Other alternatives include shipping pallets, poles and even other blocks of wood.
Stack the firewood so that they aren’t resting directly on the wall or on the floor. Stack in a criss-cross formation to allow stability and air to go around. Install a tarp under the wood, with space off the ground to allow the air to circulate.
When stacking the wood, make sure that the bark side of the logs face downward on the ground. Upward-facing barks only trap moisture and might cause the wood to rot.
If you’ve stacked your firewood outdoors, be sure that it has adequate protection against the rain. Put a tarp over the stack on rainy days, and take it off on sunny days.
If done correctly, well-seasoned firewood should only retain 20% of its original moisture.