The BEST Tips For Firewood Storage

If you’ve used wood as your heating or cooking source for any length of time, then you know the key to heat production is in properly drying and storing firewood.

We want to share what we’ve learned with you over the years about drying and firewood storage.

The BEST Tips For Firewood Storage

Winter is fast approaching and that means so is fireplace season. Coming from someone who relies on wood fires to stay warm and heat water, it’s essential that we have wood ready to burn.

We heat our home with a wood-burning stove in addition to our wood cookstove. We start chopping and stacking our firewood in the heat of the summer so it has the proper time to dry and we stay warm in the winter. 

What’s the Difference in Green Firewood and Snag Wood (deadwood)?

A tree that is alive when it’s freshly cut down is called greenwood. If a tree is dead when it’s cut down, it’s called snag wood.

If you purchase your firewood instead of cutting it down yourself, be sure you ask if it’s been aged and for how long or is it still green.

Green-wood won’t burn well, it mostly smokes and puts off little heat. The most efficient heat will be gained from properly drying and storing firewood. 

Properly Stack For Drying Firewood and Firewood Storage

You have a choice of splitting your rounds and then stacking them to dry or aging your rounds and then splitting them.

The average time for the wood to cure properly is 6 months to a year.

It takes this long for the proper moisture level in the wood to be reached, of course, the time it takes depends on the type of tree you cut for drying and storing firewood.

“Chopping wood will warm you twice! Once when you split it and again when you burn it.” Some people use a chainsaw to cut their wood, people who enjoy splitting wood, like my husband, use an ax while others may use a powered wood splitter.

No matter which kind of stacking method you use for drying and storing firewood, don’t stack it directly on the dirt.

Doing this puts the woodpile directly in contact with moisture.

After all the time and energy you’ve put out getting your wood supply, you don’t want to lose any of it because of improper stacking.

Learn from the old-timers and make good old-fashioned woodpile for drying and storing your firewood.

Location of Your Woodpile Matters

All woodpiles are alike in that the ground where you choose to place your firewood outdoors must be dry and level.

This means the area should have proper drainage so water isn’t allowed to pool or stand under your firewood storage. your firewood should also be protected from rain and snow. 

We like to do what’s called the “Straight Stack” for drying and storing firewood.

Scrap pieces of lumber or pallets are what we use as the base. If we use lumber, we set two parallel rows 10 inches apart ensuring both ends of the firewood rests on the lumber boards.

We also make sure the middle of the piece of firewood doesn’t touch the ground between the two parallel pieces of lumber.

Using Pallets for Storing Firewood

If we use a pallet, we stack directly on it. We usually don’t pile higher than 5 feet. I’m only 5’5” and J felt I should be able to see over it!

Firewood Attracting Critters

The thing I hate about wood piles is they bring critters. All kinds of creepy crawlies.

Be sure to not stack the woodpile next to your house to reduce the chance of rodents or insects getting in. Who enjoys mice running across the floor as you flip on the lights in the morning.

We won’t even talk about wood roaches that come in looking for warmth and water!

Apart from this, if critters Do find your woodpile, try making your own Critter Ridder recipe here. 

Wood Shed

Some people have a shed designated just for drying and storing firewood.

You know, the proverbial woodshed? This is an excellent way to keep the wood dry but you have to be sure there is plenty of airflow for proper curing.

Most wood sheds I’ve seen do this by leaving at least two sides of the shed unenclosed. 

Airflow also helps to prevent mold and moisture buildup. 

Round Stack

The “round stack” is another woodpile option for drying and storing firewood.  The area you choose on your homestead will determine which type of stack will work best for you. The round stack is pretty to look at, I think.

The round stack method of firewood storage is accomplished by stacking the wood in vertical rows in a circle.

All of the piece’s point towards the middle of the circle in a starburst design. In many countries, this is the standard way of stacking for drying and storing firewood. It’s certainly streamlined, but because of decreased airflow, the drying time can be increased.

Knowing When Stored Firewood Is Cured

Some people buy moisture meters to measure the moisture content in their wood.

Just for your knowledge, the ideal moisture level is 20%. This certainly isn’t necessary and it’s not something we’ve ever done.

• Fully seasoned wood is lighter in color. Some trees even change color completely. But color isn’t the only indicator.
• You should look for hairline cracks on the outside surface of the wood.
• Seasoned wood will also weigh less and have a higher-pitched sound when you knock on it.

The wood must be exposed to sun and airflow for proper curing. Tree bark is a natural moisture barrier so if you expect a lot of rain, stack the wood bark side up. We do this even though we keep the wood undercover. It serves as an extra level of protection.

If you expect excess moisture from the ground like areas with snow, putting the bark side down will help prevent moisture absorption from below. At least, this is what an old-timer once told me.

If you don’t have a roof of some kind over your woodpile, use a tarp to cover it. Using a strong, properly sized tarp will protect your wood from snow and rain.

I’ve seen woodpiles rot because the tarp was too snug. This kept air from circulating trapping the moisture inside.

As we’ve learned in the last year, a properly tarped woodpile will remain dry and ready to use even with feet of snow on the ground!

Best Firewood To Burn

How your fire will burn will depend on the density of your firewood and the water content. Different types of wood have different burn vales, making them a better choice for firewood. To see what wood is best for burning in your fireplace, read this article by the Old Farmer’s Almanac. 

Do you have another method of drying and storing firewood?

We’d all appreciate your sharing your wisdom and experience with us in the comments. Do you have a homemade fire rack you can share a picture of?

We’d all appreciate your sharing your wisdom and experience with us in the comments. Do you have a homemade fire rack you can share a picture of? 

Using Firewood Ash

After your fires have died out, you’ll be left with a lot of wood ash. Learn how to reuse that ash for some pretty amazing things such as soil amendment, de-icer, reduce pond algae and so much more.

10 Amazing Uses For Wood Ash. 

Sharing is caring!