Should You Cover Your Firewood?
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- čas přidán 6. 07. 2024
- In this video I discussed whether I cover my firewood while it's seasoning. There is a lot of debate on whether you should cover your firewood or if you should leave it exposed to the elements. In this video, I share my perspective and experience on what works best for me and my family.
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Let me know how you cover your firewood and what I can improve on.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the video! Great explanation of your system and why it works!
Living in Newfoundland our tree species is limited to mainly softwood with high amounts of resin. Additionally our weather is very damp so drying can take forever, I leave my balsam fir our to dry all summer and pack into a shed in the early fall and burn from there. I typically cut, split, pack my wood in the winter and 6-8 months later I am burning it. This year, I have cut some different species (eastern larch and yellow birch) and I am going to try mixing that in and see how those species are after a short dry time.
People obsessing over MC is crazy to me. As long as the wood produces heat, having a piece of wood at 30% vs 10% MC I can't see there being much of a difference.
We burn a fair amount of white and yellow birch. Seasons very fast relative to our other deciduous trees.
Good points!
Looks like a good system that works for you. For me (no basement) we store our wood in a wood shed that holds about 1.5 cord. We also have a wood bin by the house door that holds 2-3 nights worth of wood. Our main cash of wood is away from the house in a large shed that holds 6 cords. Each fall we move 1.5 cords down from that big shed before winter sets in. Again it’s what works for us. Thanks for sharing! Cheers, Mike.
I agree a wood shed makes more sense for most people. I'm actively brainstorming both designs and locations where I'm willing to have a structure like that. Thanks!
Nice video. You always have great video quality. I cover my ash species cause it's been dead so long here in Wisconsin that it seems like it actually absorbs more moisture from rain than other species. Have a great day! -Brett
Thanks! I've noticed ash on top of the pile will get a bit slimy too if we get a damp end of summer into fall.
Loved your honesty and the variable of YOUR experience. If it works for you great, you’re not “telling” people that your way is the best method of seasoning wood as a YT expert! For me, I was lucky enough to have an old covered tin barn in which I store wood - I would have to say it’s almost like kiln drying the wood because of the temp extremes in the summer and the southern exposure. I have the same meter and saw my moist content drop 10 points in just a few months. Now my wood is only used for bonfires.
As an opinion - if I had your circumstance and equipment, (wood mill) I would build myself a nice size outdoor building. One of the guys on GPOutdoors does this and stores 22 cords a season in his in northern Ontario. You have the space and ability for sure to make that happen if it would ever strike your fancy to try something like that from scratch!
Cheers!!
Hey, thanks! I've certainly got the room for a big out-door woodshed. But I over-thing the placement and over-estimate the permanence of a structure like that. Maybe someday if I can settle on a spot...
The moisture content on the oak was exactly what I guessed - between 30-35%. I always let oak dry 2+ years. Most everything else is fine after 1 year. To validate, I do the same thing on the top of the pile: use small rounds and/or put bark up. I don’t fuss with meters. It’s just time to dry. My wood dries about a year outside, then 9 months or so in a shed. No cover outside. I do still have some live ash here, but they are going pretty quick. Ash has less moisture when green so in an emergency you can even cut a live one and burn it relatively soon. Moisture moves vertically in trees, so most moisture comes out the ends of firewood, so shorter pieces dry faster.
Thanks for the validation! That's a good way to put it; seasons uncovered, and then when it's done, or close, to the shed it goes.
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I wonder if you, or anyone you know has been dropped, or threatened to be dropped by your home insurance company for having a fireplace, or a wood burning stove? I had an old wood burning stove that was in excellent condition out in my detached garage that sits about 100 yards from house. One day the insurance man showed up to photograph the property for the overwrighter. Next thing you know I got notice that I had been dropped by my insurer because of the wood stove. I had to remove the stove and call the guy back out to inspect and approve the removal/repair.
Not that I know of... my policy is clear, they know we two wood burning stoves and are happy to take my thousands of dollars each year. Soon, they will have collected enough in premiums from me for a full replacement cost anyways! 🤣
Sorry to hear they put you through that... what State are you in? My insurance Broker is very good about working with reasonable insurers.
At my last house, it took a few tries to find someone who'd issue me a policy because the oil tank was in the basement. (That's probably more common than wood stoves in my area)
@@Academy_Farm I'm in Alabama, but I recently watched a youtube video of an older gentleman in Louisiana who got dropped due to the fact he had a blacksmith shop out back with a forge in it. I think it's becoming more common practice. My question is, if they can't trust us with stoves and fireplaces, what's next? Gas/electric ovens and stovetops? Are they going to cook dinner for me if I remove the oven from my kitchen? 😁
@bs7497 I'll just knock on wood and hope to never file a claim. Homeowners insurance has only been a thing for the last 80 years or so. Apparently insurers have gotten used to "safe" clients and they don't need us high-risk individuals.
Great Video! I’m new to your channel. I’m still trying to figure out what to do with my wood piles. The last couple years my wood has not been dry when I’m ready to burn it. I’ve tried both covered and uncovered and I think covered might be better for me. I have a few things I’m going to change and see if it helps. Stay Safe, Continue Stacking, Keep Cuttin!🪵🪵🪵🪵
Thanks! Not much more frustrating than trying to start fires with damp wood at 4am! Tricky part with these "changes" is that it takes a year or so to see if they helped 😀