Length of time to leave wood seasoning?

Western Pomise

Have some native timber cut into small blocks to fit into a household stove.Mainly Ash and Oak....am going leaving it to season sitting on wooden pallets and corrugated iron in a bay of a slatted shed.

May not be using some of it for a couple of years for firewood.Is it possible that it might 'dry out' too well in that time period leaving it prone to burning too quickly in the stove?

And thus not being that efficient a source of fuel or is it a bit of an urban myth that wood can be too well seasoned?

Thanks for any replies.

grogi

Western Pomise wrote: »

And thus not being that efficient a source of fuel or is it a bit of an urban myth that wood can be too well seasoned

If it burns too quickly just reduce the air flow.

Oldtree

Ash would be ready after one year. Oak may take longer, maby two years depending on density.

timmiekp

anyone have an idea how long sally and birch is fit to burn after cutting.

ford2600

timmiekp wrote: »

anyone have an idea how long sally and birch is fit to burn after cutting.

Ime the quicker in grows, the lower the density, the quicker it dries.

Sally, is a really good firewood, grows like a weed and drys quickly.

You can't put a time on it with other factors being known. Is it cut and split, covered with good ventilation? If yes to all three then 6 months from late spring to late Autumn and you would be OK with sallys

Shaggycoe

A wood for burning will never be too dry, it burns quicker because it has to expend less energy burning off the moisture and is therefore burning more efficiently. Also burn with damper at least 75% open in small batches. Burning with the damper near closed reduces the efficiency of secondary burn clogging your flue and risking a chimney fire. It is more work fuelling fire but safer and more efficient.

Jamesgrace

Shaggycoe wrote:

A wood for burning will never be too dry, it burns quicker because it has to expend less energy burning off the moisture and is therefore burning more efficiently. Also burn with damper at least 75% open in small batches. Burning with the damper near closed reduces the efficiency of secondary burn clogging your flue and risking a chimney fire. It is more work fuelling fire but safer and more efficient.

I agree, the dryer it is the more heat it throws out and the less cleaning is needed both in the flue and in the grate. Oak takes longer than Ash to dry so it might be worth leaving it longer, it is a terrible wood to burn wet and fantastic when dry. Burning wet timber is akin to spraying water on your fire.

Blackcurrants

I had a customer a few years ago who would sell on my seasoned hardwood. He said that one of his customers, a retired nun, used to complain my firewood was too dry and it wouldn't last in the fire. Her solution was to soak the bags in the bath the night before she'd use them.