What is the Best Way to Season Firewood?

Firewood is an important and necessary commodity during the colder seasons.

But what is the best way to season firewood?

Seasoning firewood reduces its moisture content, preserving the wood’s nutrients and providing sufficient heat. It also improves the wood’s insulation value and makes it easier to start a fire. Proper drying of firewood will also reduce splitting, prevent mold growth, and reduce the amount of smoke.

There are three methods for seasoning firewood, depending upon the amount of time and space available:

Method 1 – Air Drying

The simplest, least expensive, and most common method for drying firewood is air drying. Air-dried firewood is cut into small pieces and stacked so that air can circulate freely through it to eliminate moisture from the wood.

It should be seasoned outdoors in an open area, away from any tree roots or other objects that may impede airflow.

Air drying can take anywhere from a few months up to a year, depending upon the type of wood and the size of the logs.

The larger diameter pieces of firewood such as those from cedar, redwood, or cypress trees will dry more quickly than the smaller wood type such as oak or ash.

Method 2 – How to season firewood FAST – Propane Drying in a Kiln

Propane drying is best for people who want a quick way to dry their wood but do not want to burn any fossil fuel. To begin, you must purchase a propane oven.

As with air drying, propane drying should be done outside away from tree roots or other objects that may impede airflow.

Propane dehydrators are available at most hardware stores or department stores. Many commercial firewood providers use this method on a large scale to process large volumes of firewood on scale.

Another option is to purchase a propane firebox. This can be found at many home improvement stores and online.

Method 3 – Electric Drying

Using an electric dryer eliminates the need to cut firewood into pieces and it consumes less energy than propane drying because it uses less electricity. Electric driers come in a variety of models, with prices ranging from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars.

Electric dehydrators are not as common as propane driers, but they are still available at most hardware stores or department stores. They can also be found online.

The firewood should be cut into pieces and stacked, just as with the other methods of drying.

Drying firewood properly can take time, but it is well worth the wait because of the money and energy saved in the long run. Once you have seasoned your firewood properly, it will last for several years without having to be dried again (provided you keep it dry).

Properly dried firewood will not only burn more efficiently and conserve more energy, it will also reduce the amount of smoke and carbon monoxide that you produce.

So actually, what is the best way to season firewood?

Alright, alright, you’ve heard three methods explaining the best ways to season firewood, but which is the best?

well… as with most things, it depends…

It specifically depends on your budget and time. If you have lots of time, then you can afford to air dry, however, if you are short on time, we would recommend a propane dehydrator or an electric dryer method.

Benefits of Seasoning Firewood:

Firewood should be seasoned outside in an open area away from tree roots or other objects that may impede airflow. Firewood seasoning takes time, but it is well worth the wait because of the money and energy saved in the long run.

Another benefit of firewood drying is that it reduces the amount of smoke and carbon monoxide you produce when you burn. Properly dried firewood will not only burn more efficiently, it will also reduce the amount of smoke and carbon monoxide that you produce.

A firewood rack is a neat way to keep unused firewood handy without damaging your property or yourself. They are generally less expensive than a traditional wood shed and require little maintenance after they are put in place.

To build a wood rack, the wood must be cut into long, thin pieces while still damp.

When you stack the wood, it should fit loosely to allow air to circulate through the wood. Use pieces any greater than 2 inches in diameter or you will trap moisture inside the rack and make your firewood too wet to burn efficiently.

A firewood rack should be placed where it is protected from being knocked over or blown over by wind and water. Mark the location of your rack carefully on your property before installing it.

How long to season firewood after splitting:

It really depends on the type of wood and how protected the area is that you are drying the wood in. A good tip to speed up the process is to paint the box you are storing the split wood in Black or a dark color so that it heats up the timbe inside. This will work to evaporate any moisture and leave your wood dry.

So, what is the best way to season firewood?

From the article, we can conclude that the best way to season firewood is to let it dry out and build a firewood rack. The cost-benefit of firewood and its energy-saving benefits make this a necessary commodity during the colder seasons.