Here’s how you can inspect your firewood to ensure it’s properly seasoned.
If you’ve been using your fireplace for a while, you should know that adequately seasoned firewood burns better. You’re going to have an easier time lighting a fire if the wood has been nicely dried out. But it’s more important than that. You should think twice before burning unseasoned wood in your fireplace because it increases your rate of creosote build-up. It’s not just an issue of convenience but an issue of safety. Here’s how you can inspect your wood to ensure it’s properly seasoned.
Weight
The more seasoned a piece of firewood is, the lighter it will become. This is because the seasoning process draws moisture out of the wood. You should quite easily be able to pick up a piece of seasoned firewood with one arm. If you have to use your second arm due to its weight, that’s a classic sign it could use some more time to dry out.
Color
Another best way to verify that your firewood has been properly seasoned is by examining its color. Thoroughly dried-out wood has a grayish, almost silvery tinge to it. On the other hand, unseasoned wood will look mostly brown and potentially even green. But if it looks nice and gray, there’s a good chance it’s safe to go in your fireplace.
Sound
Next, you can try listening. Take one piece of your firewood and hit it with another. You will notice a heavy thud if your wood needs more time to season. On the other hand, properly seasoned wood will bounce off the other with a hollow sound. Additionally, if you notice that you left a dent in the firewood while doing this test, that’s another sign it needs more time to season. As wood dries out, it becomes harder.
Sight
For our final test without specialized equipment, just give your firewood a light. Remember that seasoned firewood is more flammable than green stuff. This is a red flag if you notice it’s especially difficult to light. But you should be looking for excess smoke once it’s finally burning, as this is yet another sign of firewood that could use more time to cure.
Moisture Meter
If you want to ensure your firewood has reached a proper dryness level, you could always buy a moisture meter. These can be purchased relatively cheaply at your local hardware store. Well-seasoned firewood should have a moisture level below 20 percent on your meter.
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