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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.
Is it okay to store firewood inside?
Never stack firewood indoors. Firewood should not be stored indoors in any area – in the home, basement, or garage. Insects can emerge to take up residence within the structure, and the firewood pile can also provide attractive harborage for rodents or other wildlife or insect pests.
How long can you store firewood inside?
Softer woods take about 6-8 months, says Wood Splitters Direct, while for hardwoods, you may have to allow for a year or two. Always inspect logs before transporting indoors.
Should firewood be stored inside or outside?
When choosing a location to store firewood, not only should you keep it outside, but you’ll want to store it at least five feet away from your home. When you nestle a firewood pile directly on your home, you’re basically inviting pests to come inside.
Can firewood dry inside?
Placing it somewhere indoors, whether in your living room or a shed, can practically double the amount of time it takes for the wood to dry. If you have the space to accommodate it, store all of your firewood in a single row a few inches off the ground in a sunny area.
Can you store firewood in a 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. It will take longer for your wood to dry under those conditions.
What is the best way to store 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.
Can I store firewood in basement?
Although this will save you some time and hassle in the winter months, it’s not a good idea to store firewood so close to the home. If you’re concerned about keeping snow and moisture off the wood, keep the firewood securely covered outside rather than having it sit in the garage or basement attached to your home.
Does firewood attract termites?
Firewood should always be stored outside to avoid bringing in termites. The disadvantage is that firewood stored outside can attract moisture from the elements, and termites are good at finding wet wood. Keeping the wood dry not only deters termites but it burns much better to help keep your home toasty warm.
How do you store firewood to dry?
Keep the sides mostly exposed to air. If you completely cover a wood pile, the cover retains moisture, which the wood absorbs, making seasoned firewood burn like green wood. If you purchase seasoned wood, store it off the ground with a top cover. Or store it in an open-sided shed, lean-to or other structure.
Can firewood get rained on?
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.
Can you dry firewood in a garage?
Firewood will typically not dry very well when stored in a garage, because of the limited air flow and sunshine. In addition, depending on the condition of your garage, it could actually be more humid than the air outdoors. As a result, it is usually better to season firewood outdoors or in an open-sided woodshed.
How do you dry wood indoors?
All you need to do is set up a decent dehumidifier beside the stack of wood to be dried, let it run, and it will suck the moisture right out of the wood. This can speed up the drying time from months or weeks to just a few days. Even better is if you add an air fan into the mix to produce some extra airflow.
Is storing firewood a fire hazard?
Stacking Firewood and rotting. If you are stacking it on a hard surface, such as a concrete slab, still consider raising the stack to assist with airflow. Never stack firewood indoors – in addition to being a fire hazard, insects can emerge from the wood and potentially cause harm to the structure.
Should I cover firewood with a tarp?
If firewood is seasoned, dry and ready to burn, then it should have a tarp over the top of the stack to protect it from the elements. However, do not cover the sides of the stack with a tarp, or the wood may rot. Even after the wood is dry, the stack needs good air circulation to keep moisture out.
Can you dry wood on top of wood stove?
Some wood stove owners may choose to purchase their wood and that is a viable option, but if you have the space and the ability to cut wood for yourself, drying your own wood for your stove will cut your heating bills to practically nothing.
Will a fan help dry firewood?
If the air is dry enough, a fan can greatly reduce the amount of time needed to dry up your wet firewood. The drying process will be a lot faster than just leaving it out in the open for the sun and the wind to do their work. So, go ahead and use a fan during the dry seasons.
How much water should be in the wood if it is to be used indoors?
Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) Usually, woods that are used indoors have an EMC of 8% to 14% moisture content. If wood is used outdoors, then its EMC is approximately at around 12% to 18%.
How can you tell if firewood 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.
