Firewood - kiln dried or not

woodburner365

Hi - I had a quick scan through recent threads, and couldn't see anything recent.

Questions I would be grateful for views on are

- do you see much benefit of kiln dried over seasoned wood for a wood burning stove.
- at this time of year, with a view to next year, is it advisable to purchase bulk seasoned firewood, accepting that it's probably >25% moisture, but allow further drying in next 4/5 months to bring to kiln-dried levels
- any recommendations as to storing for the next few months - i.e., log stack suggestions.

Robbie.G

woodburner365 wrote: »

Hi - I had a quick scan through recent threads, and couldn't see anything recent.

Questions I would be grateful for views on are

- do you see much benefit of kiln dried over seasoned wood for a wood burning stove.
- at this time of year, with a view to next year, is it advisable to purchase bulk seasoned firewood, accepting that it's probably >25% moisture, but allow further drying in next 4/5 months to bring to kiln-dried levels
- any recommendations as to storing for the next few months - i.e., log stack suggestions.

Ideally kiln dryed is the best option.
Seasoned will be very hard to get down to moisture content of 20%.
Most seasoned is around 30%
If you go with seasoned put them in a log store and stack in a wAy to get good airflow through them

richieburke01

Stack them like this pic get good airflow through them

esox28

kiln dried, not very green...its generally dried using commersial sized gas-oil burners.

woodburner365

yes, but logs >20% just dont burn well in a woodburner, and seems to be impossible to get seasoned below 20%

SmithySeller

I have a Morso Wood Burner, and for the first 2 months used Kiln Dried. According to my Moisture Meter the wood varied between 8% and 12% moisture (the Meter is a well worth while purchase BTW). It was mostly Birch wood. I found that ultimately it burnt too fast compared to seasoned dried of circa 20%. The stuff you see at most (not all) Garages is 30% plus, but I have found that most places that sell in bulk will be around 25% to 18% depending on time of the year. I too will be purchasing all my wood shortly at probably 25%, should be grand for October.

jack of all

I always thought that it was pointless to buy kiln dried timber unless it could be stored in a controlled environment where the relative humidity and temperature could be maintained and guaranteed, as otherwise the wood would just pick up moisture again from the air? Same principle applies to buying wood pellets. Kiln dried timber stored in an unheated garage or shed which is not airtight will return to 20% or so in time, especially in our damp climate.