|
|
Spring Is Time to Start Seasoning Firewood
By
Terri McLean
 LEXINGTON,
Ky., (March 14, 2007) – With the arrival of longer days and
warmer temperatures, you might be seeing the light at the end of
winter’s tunnel. So the last thing you need to be thinking about
is purchasing, splitting, stacking and storing more firewood,
right?
Wrong, according to Doug McLaren, forestry specialist with the
University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. Whether
you heat your home with wood or build only the occasional fire,
“this is exactly when you need to start thinking about firewood
for next fall and winter,” he said.
“As with any fine wine, firewood gets better with age. It has to
be seasoned to produce the most heat efficiency,” he added.
Because wood is a living plant, it contains water. The more
water in the wood, the less heat it will generate when burned.
It should be dried to less than 25 percent moisture, which can
take a minimum of six months, McLaren explained.
“If it’s not properly seasoned, most of the heat that is
generated is going to be used to continue the drying process of
the firewood. But if it is properly dried, the majority of the
heat generated will be used to heat your home,” he said.
In addition to generating less warmth, burning unseasoned
firewood is a potential fire hazard. Wet wood produces a
smoldering fire that generates creosote buildup in the fireplace
and chimney. Over time, this buildup could lead to a chimney
fire, McLaren said.
“Inefficient burning of firewood can also lead to a poor draft
up the chimney, which in turn can cause smoke-filled rooms,” he
added.
McLaren recommends cutting firewood to the required fireplace
length and splitting it for quicker drying. Removing the bark
also speeds up the process. It should be stacked and dried in an
open area with good air flow and kept off wet soil. The top of
the wood should be covered to protect it from rainfall, while
the sides should be kept open to allow water to evaporate
through the ends.
“Don’t stack firewood against the home or a wooden fence because
moisture condensation can cause mold and decay on wall sections
and wood surfaces,” McLaren said.
Seasoning firewood is not the only task for spring. Now is also
the time to move firewood that has been stored inside to an
outside location.
“Insects that are in the wood or under the bark are going to
become active now and they are going to move from the wood to a
more conducive environment, which is going to include your
home,” McLaren said. |
Contact: Doug McLaren, 859-257-2703 |
|
The UK College
of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission, reaches across
the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension
to enhance the lives of Kentuckians. |
Questions/Comments,
e-mail the
webmaster
Copyright © 2001-2006 University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture,
Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
News Home
Other Headlines This Week
More
News
RSS Now Available
for those
using news aggregation programs
College News
|
