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Here are some facts to consider in estimating drying time:
− Firewood bought from a dealer is rarely dry enough to burn, so it is advisable to buy the wood in
spring and dry it yourself;
− Drying happens faster in dry weather than in a damp climate;
− Drying happens faster in warm summer weather than in winter weather;
− Small pieces dry more quickly than large pieces;
− Split pieces dry more quickly than unsplit rounds;
− Softwoods like pine, spruce, poplar, and aspen take less time to dry than hardwoods. they can be
dry enough to burn after being stacked to air dry only for the summer months;
− Hardwoods like oak, maple and ash can take one, or even two years to dry fully, especially if the
pieces are big;
− Firewood dries more quickly when stacked outside in a location exposed to sun and wind; it takes
much longer to dry when stacked in a wood shed;
− Ready-to-burn wood with a moisture content of 15% to 20% will allow the appliance to achieve
its optimal use.
Use these guidelines to find out if the firewood is dry enough to burn:
5. Efficient wood combustion
5.1
General Advice
Wood burns best in cycles. A cycle starts when a new load of wood is ignited by hot coals and
ends when that load has been consumed down to a bed of charcoal about the same size as it
was when the wood was loaded. Trying to produce a steady fire by placing a single log at regular
intervals is not recommended. Always place at least three, and preferably more pieces on the
fire at a time so that the heat radiated from one piece helps to ignite the pieces next to it.
Prolonged and continuous use at a very low rate of combustion or with very wet
wood can cause highly flammable creosote to build up in the flue.
Burning in cycles means the stove door does not need to be opened while the wood is flaming.
This is an advantage since it is preventing smoke leaking from the stove when the door is opened
as a full fire is burning. This is especially true if the chimney is on the outside wall of the house.
If the door must be open while the fire is flaming, fully open the air control for a few
minutes then open the door slowly.
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− Cracks form at the ends of logs as they dry;
− The wood turns from white or cream colored to grey or yellow;
− Two pieces of wood struck together sounds hollow;
− Dry wood is much lighter in weight than wet wood;
− The face of a fresh cut feels warm and dry;
− The moisture content read by a moisture meter is between
15% to 20%.
Installation and operation manual - Bistro woodburning cookstove
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