Where to Store Firewood: 6 Tips for Taking Good Care of Your Wood
Firewood is used to keep your place cozy in the winter season. Proper storage is important to ensure that the wood burns efficiently and safely. If you have some extra wood or are preparing for the winter season, and it’s time to store the firewood, you must do it properly to keep the wood safe and usable throughout the winter. Keep reading to learn how to store firewood.
6 Tips To Store Firewood
The experts have recommended six tips to store firewood properly; those tips are as follows:
- Selection of Storage Location
The first and most important part is selecting the storage location. The firewood should be stored in a well-ventilated place. It should not touch the ground directly, as this can lead to moisture buildup and promote the growth of mold. Moreover, there should be space beneath the wood for air to pass, which helps to keep it dry.
If you are storing it outside, make sure that the wood is not in contact with the soil. It would be better if sunlight could reach the wood. This will help dry the firewood. Dry firewood burns with high efficiency and produces less smoke and pollutants than wood that has moisture in it.
- A Proper Stack of Firewood
It is also important to notice how the firewood is stacked. For better airflow, the wood logs should be stacked in a crisscross pattern. This pattern will allow the air to circulate around each piece of wood, and it will dry properly.
If there is a lot of firewood to stack, it is better to opt for multiple stacks rather than piling it all up in one stack. The ideal stack size to store firewood is four feet high, four feet wide, and eight feet long.
While stacking, it is advised not to stack the wood too tightly; there should be enough space between the logs for proper air circulation. Covering the top of the firewood with a tarp is also recommended to protect it from rain or any moist weather conditions.
- Keep Firewood Dry
Dry firewood is better to burn. It produces less smoke and harmful chemicals. On the other hand, moist wood doesn’t burn efficiently. It produces less heat and more smoke and emits hazardous gases. While drying the firewood, keep in mind that too much dried wood is also hard to burn.
- Rotate Firewood
Rotating firewood means moving older wood to the front of the stack so it gets used first. This way, the wood gets plenty of time to dry. It’s just like the first-in, first-out method, which helps when storing more wood.
- Keep Pests Away
It is the most important thing to focus on while storing firewood. Pests like ants, beetles, and termites can damage your firewood. Wood that has been damaged by pests can bring those pests inside your home when it is burned. The infestation of pests in your home can lead to more issues, such as damage to the home’s wooden components.
It is better to keep an eye on pest infestation in the woods, and if it happens, it should be dealt with at the initial stage.
- Avoid Storing Firewood Too Close to Your Home
Firewood should not be stored closer to the home. It should be at a safe distance, even from the garage. Storing wood closer to the home for a longer period of time can cause pest infestation and invite mold, leading to problematic situations.
How to Store Firewood Inside?
These days, while discussing firewood, everyone asks how to store firewood inside a home. Only the kiln-dried firewood can be stored inside a home. Green firewood or seasoned firewood should not be stored inside. Well, there are some additional tips to store firewood inside:
- Choose the appropriate space for wood storage
- Use a proper firewood rack for storage
- Store a limited amount of firewood inside
- Check the wood regularly for any insect infestation
- Keep the wood away from heat sources
- The place of storage should be clean and well-maintained
Conclusion
It is better to store firewood outside at an appropriate location, but you can also store it inside if needed. Proper firewood storage helps ensure that the wood burns efficiently, safely, and without problems.
The selection of the appropriate location and method to stack firewood is vital in keeping it in good condition.
However, it is better to check the stored wood regularly. To get the expert opinion, contact The Brickkicker to learn more about keeping your place safe for healthy living.