How to store firewood correctly: avoid making some classic mistakes that can damage it
It's winter: more than any other time of the year, it's nice to relax in the warmth of your own home, perhaps enjoying a roaring fire! Not bad as a wish, right? However, to do this, it's necessary to plan well in advance to manage the resources needed to fuel a fireplace or a wood-burning stove.
We are talking here about firewood: a widely used fuel, and it's important to know how to take care of this resource. However, storing wood is not always done correctly...
The dangers of storing wood incorrectly
Freepik
Stacking wood in a pile may seem simple and hassle-free, but this is not the case: choosing the right location to store wood and how to protect it is crucial. Let's find out why.
Firstly, storing firewood too close to your home is not a good idea. While it may seem convenient and practical to have easy access to the fuel, it's not just convenient for you – a multitude of insects and pests find it so too! Termites, wood ants, and many others are eager to nest in your firewood and then might decide to explore what you have inside your home.
Another aspect of vital importance to consider is that rainwater can seriously compromise the quality of firewood. You don't want to deal with too much smoke, difficult burning, and the risk of the fire going out too quickly, right? Then you need to understand exactly where and how to stack firewood. Here are the guidelines we recommend you follow:
How to store wood correctly
So, let's get to it: it's very important to follow these guidelines.
Storing firewood indoors in a dry place? No, this should never be done due to the possibility of insects entering your home, and it's also dangerous in the case of a fire.
Storing firewood outdoors but close to your home? Not recommended either. A minimum distance of a couple of meters away is advised to prevent rainwater from flowing from the roof to the firewood, getting it wet.
Firewood should be stacked on a raised platform, like a pallet, and placed in a well-ventilated area where it can dry out properly without the risk of getting damp. Therefore, it should be stored either in a closed, dry space or in an outdoor, ventilated spot. Finally, consider whether to partially cover it (with a tarp, for example) or not based on the season: it's preferable to do so during the winter but not during the summer.
Remember to leave one side of your woodpile exposed so that it gets enough air!