Why seasoning of wood is required?

Why seasoning of wood is required?

Seasoning is the process of drying timber to remove the bound moisture contained in walls of the wood cells to produce seasoned timber. Seasoning can be achieved in a number of ways, but the aim is to remove water at a uniform rate through the piece to prevent damage to the wood during drying (seasoning degrade).

Does wood need to be seasoned?

So does firewood need to be seasoned? Yes, all wood should be seasoned before it’s used as firewood. Burning wood that is too wet will lead to numerous issues that will cause frustration when having fires in your home. A moisture meter will help you to identify which of your logs are will burn better in your fires.

Where can you season wood?

To season firewood properly, stack it in a place where the sun can warm it and the wind can blow through it. A single row exposed to the sun and prevailing winds is best—as the sun heats and evaporates the water from the wood, the wind whisks it away. Season for a season.

When should you season wood?

Stored wood starts to decay after four to five years, and burning ease and efficiency drops. For the best price on purchased wood, buy green (unseasoned) wood in advance and season it yourself. Green wood purchased in spring or early summer can be burned as soon as the coming winter.

Does Wood Season faster covered or uncovered?

Wood stacked by early spring should be ready to put away for winter use by October. Some people like to cover the drying woodpile with a tarp or shed. The theory is that the wood will dry faster because rain will not soak the pieces as they dry.

Is it OK for firewood to 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 dry in the winter?

Yes, but firewood dries slower in winter. Sunlight—one of the key ingredients for drying wood—is in short supply in winter. Though drier winter air helps extract some moisture from the firewood, the process is much slower than in warmer weather.

What is the fastest way to season firewood?

Let in the sun Allow sun and wind to reach your wood pile, the more sides of the wood it can reach, the faster your firewood will season. Your freshly cut wood can be left out in the wind and sun in a roughly built firewood stack for a few months before stacking it to speed along the drying time.

Can you bake firewood to dry it out?

The common kitchen oven can be used to dry cut pieces of wood. Dried wood burns with greater heat and less smoke than moist fresh-cut lumber. Wood dried outdoors can take months to harden and cure, but a kitchen oven speeds up the wood-drying process to a couple hours or less.

Will firewood dry in a shed?

Firewood will dry in a shed that has open sides if the wood is stacked properly and exposed to sufficient sunshine and air flow. However, if firewood is stacked in an enclosed shed, this can prevent or slow the drying of the firewood due to the limited airflow and sun exposure.

How long does it take to season firewood indoors?

Drying time depends on the type of wood. Softer woods take about 6-8 months, says Wood Splitters Direct, while for hardwoods, you may have to allow for a year or two.

Is it safe to keep 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.

Should firewood be covered?

Ideally, firewood should remain uncovered so it can be properly dried, but this is not practical when rain, snow and ice can quickly coat winter firewood. A good cover over the top of your woodpile will protect it, and be sure the cover is slanted to shed moisture away from the pile’s base.

Is it OK to cover firewood with a tarp?

Covering firewood is a great way to keep rain from causing mold inside the stack, but you need to make sure you cover it the right way. Don’t drape the tarp over the stack so it covers the front and sides. This will cut down on air circulation and can contribute to excess moisture in the wood.