Here is some informational FAQ's all about seasoned firewood.


Wood is basically a mass of modest long cylinders, or cell holes, that run the length of the tree. Moisture exists both as "free water" in these holes and as sub-atomic water that is secured in the cell dividers. At the point when a tree is felled, the moderate procedure of drying starts, and the free water is the first to dissipate. When the free water vanishes, the moisture of the wood is around 30 percent. This is known as the "fiber immersion point." After this, water starts to leave the cell dividers, and the wood begins to psychologist and split.

For ideal consuming, firewood needs to be dried, or "seasoned," until its moisture content is under 20 percent. Firewood with a moisture content higher than that may in the long run burn, however it is difficult to light and similarly as difficult to continue burning. Likewise, your new high-productivity wood-consuming stove or heater is ensured to perform poorly as it battles to consume wet split, or "green," firewood. Similarly, the stove doesn't consume the tars and creosote in the smoke delivered by the fire, and they wind up covering your pipes and stack. They additionally darken the glass windows of your wood-burning fireplace or woodstove and produce a great deal of blue- smoke, smoking out your home and irritating your neighbors.


How do I know I am getting quality seasoned firewood?

When you are phoning around to compare firewood and prices, Seasoned Firewood Questionmake sure you are comparing apples to apples! Firewood quality varies widely because of species, how it is cut, split, handled, stored and measured before it gets delivered to you. Look for:

  • A good hardwood mix – no softwood, poplar or weedy species such as Manitoba maple
  • Seasoned or at the very least partly seasoned – buying wood in the spring or summer will allow you time to further season the wood at home for best results
  • Uniform lengths and well split
  • Screened so you are not paying for a lot of bark, wood chips and dirt

What are the measurements for firewood?

In Canada, a cord is a legal unit of measurement defined by the Weights and Measures Regulations as 128 cubic feet. This is a stack of wood 4 feet x 8 feet x 4 feet. Locally, this is often called a “cubic cord” or “bush cord”.

However, most cut / split firewood businesses sell wood by the face cord. This is because usually firewood is cut in 16 inch lengths for use in wood stoves, fireplaces and indoor furnaces. If you make a pile of 16 inch lengths that is 4 feet high and 8 feet long you will have a face cord.


How to season and store my firewood?

There is nothing more frustrating than wood that won’t light or does not burn well. You get tons of smoke and no heat. Your firewood needs to be dry or “seasoned” for you to be happy with it. We season our wood by exposing it to sun and wind and protecting it from ground moisture. When it gets to your house, you need to store it properly for best results. Here are some storing tips:

  • Choose a location that gets plenty of air circulation, is protected from the rain and is easily accessible during the winter so you can easily bring the wood from your storage to your wood burning appliance – an open shed, shelter or porch is best.
  • Stack the wood. Make sure it is not too high or unstable for safety reasons and position stacks close enough together so that children or pets cannot climb between them or around them.
  • Leave a space between the wall and stacks of wood to increase the air flow.
  • Reduce exposure to ground moisture by putting something between the ground and the wood such as a tarp, wooden pallet or drainable gravel or rock
  • If your wood is stored outdoors, bring some wood inside ahead of time to “thaw”. It is much easier to light wood that is at room temperature.

Do you have any tips?

There is nothing like a cozy wood fire on a cold winter night. However, like every heating source, there are precautions that must be taken with firewood to keep your family safe:

  • Only burn seasoned firewood to prevent excessive build up of creosote in your chimney. Creosote can cause chimney fires.
  • Burn firewood and only firewood. Construction scraps, painted wood or other treated wood release dangerous chemicals that impact your indoor air quality and are terrible for the environment.
  • Burn the fire hot. Keep the damper open completely when you are starting the fire and then turn it down when the fire gets going well. Once hot coals are established, you can turn it right down to conserve wood but it will still burn hot. A hot fire prevents creosote from developing in your chimney which can cause chimney fires. It also creates fewer emissions which is better for the environment.
  • Get your chimney cleaned and your appliance checked regularly by a professional to ensure safety and efficiency.
  • Install carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors and ensure they are in working order.

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