How To Choose, Season And Store Firewood For Heating

There's nothing quite as cosy as a crackling log fire to curl up in front of on a miserable, chilly winter's night.  However, choosing the wrong type of wood or storing it incorrectly can cause problems and could even present a fire safety hazard. 

Here's a guide to help you select and store your firewood the right way.

Choosing firewood

The first rule of choosing firewood to be used for heating your home is never to use offcuts of wood that have been treated with any sort of varnish, creosote or paint.  When this type of wood burns, potentially toxic fumes are released that could be harmful to you and your family.  Burning paint and creosote also coats your flue with flammable resins and oils which could easily cause a chimney fire if ignited by a stray spark.

Green wood and sticks that you gather during country walks should not be used for burning on domestic fires.  Green wood contains high levels of sap and water.  Consequently, it won't burn easily or with much heat. The acidic water it contains also will finish up as sticky, flammable residue in your chimney. 

Green wood is easy to identify.  The water content makes it very heavy, and it often smells fresh.  When you strike two green logs together, they will make a dull, clunking sound.

When collecting dead wood, look out for branches and sticks that are dry and brittle with a pale coloured interior and no visible green tissue.  Seasoned dead wood is lightweight.  It produces a hollow, knocking sound when struck, and the bark will easily come away.

What's available will depend where you live and what species of trees are most abundant there, but ideally you want wood that will burn clean and for a long time.  Arid areas have slow growing trees with tight grain which burns more slowly and hotter than similar species in coastal regions where there is more water.

There are also businesses that specifically sell firewood for heating, making the 'gathering' process all the easier for you.

Seasoning firewood

All firewood contains a quantity of water.  If you use wood that's not properly seasoned, i.e. still wet, the heat that's generated through burning it will go towards evaporating the water, rather than providing your home with warmth. 

The best method of seasoning firewood is to cut it at least six months before use to allow it plenty of time to dry out.  Large logs should be split into quarters to aid the drying process and stored where the sun and wind can get at them to dry them out.  This applies to the firewood you buy from garages and garden centres, as well as what you've collected yourself.

Storing firewood

Keep your firewood in a weather-proof woodshed, away from the rain.  Open-sided sheds are preferable as they allow good air circulation which is essential if the wood is to dry out thoroughly, although you must remember to cover them with a tarpaulin on wet days.  Site your woodshed in a sunny spot for maximum drying power during the summer months.

It's vital you lift your woodshed off the ground.  This not only helps to prevent water from getting in but also deters termites from setting up home there.  Never site your woodshed next to your house as this could provide termites with easy access to your home.  Instead, keep a week's supply of seasoned firewood in a weather-proof box within easy reach outside your back door.

Always use firewood that's well-seasoned and dry.  Never use scraps of wood that have been chemically-treated or painted, and avoid green wood with high water content.  Remember to have your chimney swept annually before the cold weather sets in to remove any potentially flammable debris.