Our state’s natural disasters often knock down a lot of beautiful hardwood trees and leave many people asking themselves what to do next. In many cases, salvage harvests are not the answer because the amount of devastation is just not enough to justify a commercial harvesting operation. You could have a small portable sawmill operator cut a few boards for you, but that, too, may not be economically feasible. That leaves many turning to firewood as an answer. Others may be considering firewood simply because the cost of energy (electric, propane, natural gas) continues to rise, and they want an alternative. In this article, we will talk about firewood preparation, storage, etc., in hopes of you getting the most out of your hard work processing firewood.
Let’s start with the fact that fire can be dangerous, especially concerning enclosed structures and even more so when these structures are occupied with people and/or pets. Please take every precaution to have your fireplace, chimney, and any other equipment inspected by a professional to ensure you do not have a hazard. First-time fireplace owners should note that not all fireplaces are the same. Some are rated for gas log sets (either vented or ventless), and others are for wood burning. Wood-burning fireplaces with fire bricks should be inspected for cracks and other safety concerns and replaced accordingly.
Let’s begin with why tree identification is crucial regarding firewood. There are many good tree identification sources available today. Some of my current favorites are the mobile apps “iNaturalist” and “vTree,” as well as the Virginia Tech Dendrology website, which is a web-based version of “vTree” by Virginia Tech. One reason tree identification is so important is that certain species have certain burn characteristics. Some tree species naturally make popping and crackling sounds while burning, which, for some, adds to the experience and/or reason for burning firewood. Different tree species can also impact how easily the firewood is split and how much smoke it produces. Missouri Extension has a great publication entitled “Wood Fuel for Heating,” which includes a chart comparing the burning properties of several commonly found tree species.
When cutting firewood, remember to cut to the appropriate size length for the firebox in your fireplace. Trimming processed firewood to a shorter length can be dangerous with a chainsaw due to the increased risk of kickback, and poor body position during trimming can lead to muscle fatigue. Also, due to the splintering of the wood, blocks of firewood that have already been split into pieces pose a higher risk of the saw chain jumping off a chainsaw’s bar than round wood. Besides, who wants to waste more time, effort, energy, and fuel on cutting a few extra inches off your firewood?
Store firewood off the ground so it does not absorb moisture. Elevating firewood does not have to be elaborate. Most people lay down something they already have available (old lumber, scrap metal to act as runners, pallets, etc.). Stacking the wood under a cover (shed, barn, etc.) is just as important in the battle of keeping moisture out of your wood too. I have tarped wood before, and it works, but be mindful that it traps moisture, especially during our hot southern summers, and can be counterproductive as the moisture encourages the wood to rot. If you must use tarps, try to suspend them above the wood to allow airflow. Wood containing moisture will burn; however, it will not put off as much heat and will oftentimes give off excess smoke. Once a fire reaches an optimal temperature, dry wood will be consumed by flame at a proper intensity and often emit little smoke in the process.
Keeping wood in log-length sections before processing it into firewood is fine. However, remember to still store it off the ground, and know that the wood does not dry out nearly as fast as wood processed into firewood lengths. Thus, if you are trying to hold wood for many years, this is a great option; however, if you want to use it next year, you probably need to process it to dry out. The same can be said about keeping wood in round form versus splitting it; split wood will dry out faster. Wood that has been cut in advance and allowed to dry out is often referred to as ‘seasoned’ firewood. For many, firewood is not considered seasoned unless it dries out for a year.
If you are considering moving to a system where wood will be your primary heat source, consider having a storage system for keeping wood dry year-round. Also, keep at least 2 years ‘ worth of ‘seasoned’ firewood available; that way, if it is an unseasonable cold winter, you can dip into next year’s wood as needed. Granted, your ‘2 years out supply’ might not be perfectly seasoned just yet, but it beats the alternative of not having any. Then, you can cut enough wood to make up for the wood you dipped into before the next winter, as well as prepare the next second year’s wood source to build back up your 2-year stockpile.
I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the phrase “Don’t Move Firewood.” “Don’t Move Firewood” is a campaign that encourages people not to move firewood great distances to prevent the spreading of non-native species. Non-native simply implies a species that does not belong in a certain ecosystem. That term can be from as small as county to county, not to mention state to state or country to country. Granted, none of us are planning on moving wood very far for home heating purposes, but just be mindful during that next camping trip that’s a few hours from home, and maybe consider buying firewood from a local source during your camping excursion instead of bringing it from your woodpile at home.
Lastly, I do not want to go down the rabbit hole of buying firewood, but I must, especially since I mentioned doing so above. Do understand that a ‘cord’ is a forestry unit of measure that describes 128cu ft, or 4’x4’x8’, of space. According to Virginia Tech, studies show that a firewood pile can vary from 58 cubic feet to 94 cubic feet depending on how tightly wood is stacked within a cord. The same can be said for “a pickup truck load” of firewood, which can vary due to bed size and truck capability. Virginia Tech measured this variance range from 1/5 to +1/2 of a cord.
As always, if you have any questions about firewood, please contact your local Clemson Extension Office and have them contact your local Forestry & Natural Resource Extension Agent.
References:
Virginia Tech Firewood Facts, Follies, and Forest Management Presentation
Don’t Move Firewood
Author
Stephen Pohlman, Cooperative Extension, Forestry and Wildlife Agent
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