QA

How 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 my garage?

Store it away from potential fire hazards. Firewood is meant for burning, so the last thing you want to do is store it in a section of your garage where there’s a chance that it can catch fire. Storing your firewood inside will help keep it from getting wet and will make it easier to access when needed.

Is it OK to store firewood near 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.

How do you store firewood long term?

7 Firewood Storage Tips (Guide) Always properly stack your firewood. Stack your firewood above the ground. Keep your wood dry. Do not store firewood indoors. Do not stack firewood against your house. Keep your firewood storage away from dog runs and play areas. Keep your firewood storage area clean.

How do you store firewood for the winter?

Store wood in an open area with proper ventilation on all sides. If possible, store freshly cut wood in a windy, sunny location where it will dry more quickly, but protect it from rain or snow that will keep it wet and unusable. For the best seasoning, wood can need up to 1-2 years to thoroughly dry.

Does firewood dry under TARP?

Seasoned Firewood 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.

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.

How far away should firewood be from house?

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.

Do wood piles attract mice?

Firewood piles are also enticing to both rats and mice. Piles of lumber like firewood can serve as shelter for rodents if they can access it from the ground. Discarded furniture, automobiles, any other items that may act as potential shelter are also attractive to rodents.

Should you cover firewood in summer?

A tarp or another similar cover should be loosely kept over the firewood, but should not be tightly wrapped around it or extended all the way to the ground. The idea is to protect the firewood from direct moisture and the weather elements, while still allowing proper air circulation.

Should firewood be covered outside?

It is best if you can store your new firewood in a sunny place and keep it covered from rain. This will kill off pests, without having to use any insecticides or poisons.

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.

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.

Should I cover firewood with tarp?

Once the wood is stacked, take the tarp and place it over the top of the firewood. Do not cover the entire stack! Leave the sides and ends uncovered to allow air to flow through your stack of firewood. Completely covering the firewood will prevent moisture from escaping, creating an environment where mold can thrive.

Should you tarp your firewood?

If you didn’t know, covering your wood properly will keep it dry and help in the seasoning process. You see, when you stack firewood out in the open, it can become damp from rain or snow. That will make it difficult to use and create more smoke than you want.

Should logs be covered?

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is covering your logs completely. This will seal the entire pile and stop air circulation, allowing moisture to damage your supply, which will render it useless for burning. Make sure that the sides remain uncovered for proper aeration.

Can firewood be too old?

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. Stacking wood to allow aeration between logs is best to prevent the wood from becoming too damp; softened firewood may have molded or rotted.

How do you get moisture out of firewood?

Stack firewood in a single row up off the ground so the sun and breeze can draw the moisture out the cut ends – most wood has a 30-50% moisture content when cut and you’ll need to get it down to around 15-20% before you can burn it efficiently.

Can you season wood in your garage?

Do not bring wet or unseasoned wood into your garage. It will not dry well and can cause your wood to become moldy. Before you bring the wood into your garage, you will want to inspect it for bugs and pests.