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Storing firewood
Mistake #4: Storing logs that are not dry
If your logs are wet, they can encourage mold growth in your woodpile. Their logs could then become unusable and their combustion unhealthy. In any case, wet wood is much less flammable, so it is important to check the moisture content of the wood.
How to tell if firewood is dry?
Start with a visual inspection. With the naked eye, you can make sure that the wood is clean, hard, odorless, cracked at the ends and clear (most of the time), but also that it has clearly visible growth rings. This assessment can also help eliminate stumps that have fungus or mold. If it is not too cold, you can also tap your logs together to measure their moisture content based on the sound they make. A ringing sound indicates fairly dry wood, while a barely perceptible knock is more a sign of wood impregnated with moisture.
If you don’t have a moisture meter to measure the moisture content of your wood (a device you can buy at a hardware store), you can test your wood with… Detergent! Pour a few drops on the end of your wood and blow on the other end. If bubbles form, it means that the wood is completely dry. This indicates that the wood’s grain is dry enough to allow enough air to circulate to create bubbles.
Storing Firewood Logs
Efficient storage of firewood: the special case of green wood!
If you have purchased dry wood (with a moisture content of 20% or less), you can use it immediately and easily in your stove or fireplace. On the other hand, the same cannot be said for green wood. It must dry for at least two years before it can be used as fuel.
To do this, reserve a well-ventilated and sunny outdoor space, but also well protected. As explained above, this can be weather protection or a protective tarpaulin. For the latter, choose LDPE (low-density polyethylene), which is resistant to shocks, atmospheric agents and UV rays. It is also possible to use inclined sheet metal to optimize the drying of green firewood. When exposed to the sun, it retains heat, which can then return to the logs to help them dry.
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