How To Properly Store Firewood

Firewood isn’t cheap. It costs a lot of money, a lot of sweat equity, or both. Taking proper care of your firewood will help it last longer and burn better.

Here are some tips:

1. Season wood properly. Green wood is heavy, won’t burn well, and causes creosote to build up in your chimney.  Season wood by splitting any logs over 8” in diameter, and stacking them to allow airflow.
2. Cover your firewood, but not too tightly. Ideally, you want to keep it from being soaked every time it rains or snows, while still allowing air to circulate. Shelter the log pile under a tarp but try to keep as much of the sides exposed as you can.
3. Stack it off the ground. A log pile on the ground invites all kinds of intruders, such as snakes, mice and insects. It can also cause your wood to rot and decay where it comes in contact with the earth. Using a firewood rack will keep logs up off the ground, help them stay dry, and allow air to circulate under the wood pile to help promote even seasoning.
4. Don’t stack wood up against the house. I know it’s convenient on those cold winter nights, but log piles attract ants, spiders, and termites. Storing wood far away from your foundation will help keep these pests from migrating into your home.

One other note: burn your firewood at home. Don’t take it camping, or move it from place to place.  Tree killing insects like the Emerald Ash Borer are spread by this practice. Depending on where you live, you may or may not know about the Emerald Ash Borer. This insect was discovered in the US less than 10 years ago. It has since spread to over a dozen states and into Canada, causing tens of millions of dollars in damage to Ash trees. Even if you are not in an affected area, refraining from moving firewood is a good practice.