Moisture Content of Firewood - Small Cabin Forum

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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / Moisture Content of Firewood


Author	Message
rockies Member	# Posted: 29 Sep 2019 18:12 Reply I was reading an article on firewood and they said that even though you can test your firewood with a moisture meter most people poke the metal prongs into the end or side of the firewood to get a reading. They said that you should randomly split a few pieces and check the centers. Some pieces they tested showed that the middle of the log was more than double the moisture level for the end. This can be very important since most wood stove manufacturers say that the firewood you use shouldn't have a moisture level higher than 20% (any more than that can lead to the build up of creosote and possibly cause a chimney fire). https://healthyhandyman.com/best-wood-moisture-meters/

Brettny Member	# Posted: 1 Oct 2019 08:14 Reply Even with dry wood if you burn the fire low and slow you can still built of creosote. Add any 90* bends or masonry in your chimney and it gets worse quick. I burn 4-5cords of wood a year and have a fire going early nov-march. The fire never goes out and i clean my chimney only once a year. I make sure in early and late season i burn the creosote out with a nice hot fire. My chimney also goes streight up through the roof.

old243 Member	# Posted: 1 Oct 2019 08:45 Reply I cut, split and pile, my fire wood a year ahead. Mostly maple and beech, but will burn anything fallen , dead or dying. Mine is put in woodshed mid summer , in dry spell of weather. Whack two sticks together they should ring, not clunk. Also be light, for their size and type. I like a hot fire every morning , to keep chimney cleaned out. old 243