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Wood should be split to a range of sizes, from about 3" to 6" (75 mm to 150 mm) in cross
section. Having a range of sizes makes starting and rekindling fires much easier. Often, the
firewood purchased from commercial suppliers is not split small enough to fuel the fire. It is
sometimes advisable to resplit the wood before stacking to air dry.
3.1.5 How to Dry Firewood
Firewood that is not dry enough to burn is the cause of most complaints about wood stoves.
Continually burning green or unseasoned wood produces more creosote and involves lack of
heat and dirty glass door.
Here are some things to consider in estimating drying time:
− Firewood takes a long time to dry;
− 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
damp, maritime climates;
− 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 take less time to dry than hardwoods;
− Softwoods like pine, spruce, poplar, and aspen 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;
− Firewood that is ready to burn has a moisture content between 15% and 20% and will allow the
stove to produce its highest possible efficiency.
3.1.6 Judging Firewood Moisture Content
Use these guidelines to find out if the firewood is dry enough to burn:
− Cracks form at the ends of logs as they dry,
− As it dries in the sun, the wood turns from white or cream colored
to grey or yellow,
− Bang two pieces of wood together; seasoned wood sounds
hollow and wet wood sounds dull,
− Dry wood is much lighter in weight than wet wood,
− Split a piece, and if the fresh face feels warm and dry it is dry enough to burn; if it feels damp, it is
too wet,
− Burn a piece; wet wood hisses and sizzles in the fire and dry wood does not.
− A wood moisture meter can be bought to test the firewood.
Page 18
Installation and Operation Manual - Solution 2.3
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