Published on 27 February 2025
Posted in Firewood
There’s nothing quite like the cosy comfort of a warm fire, especially during chilly British winters. However, to get the most out of your fireplace or stove, it’s essential to manage your firewood properly. Efficient firewood management means you’ll enjoy fires that burn hotter, cleaner, and longer, keeping you warm while protecting your home and chimney from dangerous creosote build-up.
But, do you get that seasoned firewood?
We’ll guide you step-by-step through everything you need to know about sourcing, splitting, stacking, seasoning, and storing firewood.
When sourcing firewood, you have two main options, buying pre-cut logs or collecting and cutting your firewood. Both methods require thoughtful consideration, especially around legality and wood type, to ensure you’re well-stocked with high-quality, sustainable firewood.
Before heading out to gather firewood, it’s important to familiarise yourself with local laws and regulations. Across the UK, different areas can have varied rules on collecting and cutting trees, particularly on public land or protected woodland. You might need a permit, or there could be restrictions on the quantity of wood you can collect or specific locations where gathering wood is prohibited.
One sustainable way to source your firewood is from fallen trees, which are ideal after stormy weather or woodland management activities. But timing matters. Ideally, cut your firewood in late winter to early spring, when trees hold minimal sap. This reduces moisture levels right from the start, making logs easier and quicker to season.
When preparing logs for splitting, cut them into manageable lengths (about 30 to 40 cm works well for most fireplaces or stoves). Aim to make flat, square cuts on each log’s ends, ensuring stability during splitting. Remove any protruding branches, as smooth logs are simpler and safer to handle.
Not all wood is created equal when it comes to heating your home. Broadly, you have two categories, hardwoods and softwoods. Each has distinct characteristics that impact how they burn.
Hardwoods such as oak, beech, ash, and birch offer a denser, more durable fire. These woods burn slower, hotter, and cleaner, giving you consistent warmth over extended periods and reducing chimney maintenance. Though typically pricier, hardwoods deliver superior long-term value for your heating needs.
Softwoods like pine, spruce, and fir, ignite faster and split easily but burn quicker, requiring frequent refuelling. They can also produce more smoke and creosote due to higher resin levels. While softwoods are ideal for kindling, hardwood logs are preferable as your primary fuel.
Moisture content is another vital factor. Freshly cut logs contain significant water, making them inefficient for burning. Ideally, seasoned logs have around 20% moisture or less, ensuring maximum heat output and minimal smoke. You can check moisture levels using a moisture metre, a handy tool available from most DIY stores.
Splitting your own firewood can be immensely satisfying, not to mention cost-effective. Let’s break down the basics.
To start, you’ll need the right tools. A good axe is essential for smaller logs, while a heavier splitting maul can handle the bigger chunks more efficiently. Wedges come in handy for the tougher pieces; they help split the wood when a maul alone might not do the trick. Always wear safety gear, including gloves and eye protection, to guard against splinters and flying wood chips.
Proper technique is crucial:
Correctly stacking firewood is as crucial as splitting it properly. It affects how well the wood seasons, impacting its burn efficiency when you finally light it in your fireplace or stove.
Good air circulation is essential for drying out the wood and preventing mold or rot. Wood that’s not properly dried can produce excessive smoke and build creosote in your chimney, a common cause of chimney fires.
To prevent moisture from seeping into the bottom logs, elevate your stack off the ground using pallets or tarpaulins. This also helps protect the wood from insects and ground moisture, especially critical in the damp UK climate.
Seasoning firewood is essential for efficient burning. This process involves reducing the moisture content in the wood to about 20%, which facilitates cleaner burning and more heat output.
Properly seasoned wood has significantly less moisture, burns hotter, and produces less smoke and creosote, a common cause of chimney fires.
To season firewood effectively:
Dry wood typically has cracks at the ends. Another way to check is by knocking two pieces together; seasoned wood sounds hollow, while unseasoned wood sounds dull. Using a moisture metre is the most accurate method to determine if the wood’s moisture content is at the desired level.
Typically, it takes about six months to season firewood, but this can vary based on wood type, size, and local climate conditions. Hardwoods generally take longer to dry than softwoods.
For convenience and assurance, Log Dog provides firewood certified under the Ready to Burn fuel certification scheme for both Manufactured Solid Fuels (MSF) and wood fuel. This certification ensures the firewood complies with stringent quality and dryness standards, guaranteeing efficient, safe, and clean burning. Remember, logs sold in quantities less than 2 cubic metres must legally carry the Ready to Burn certification, so always verify these safety standards before purchasing seasoned firewood.
Proper storage is key to maintaining the quality of your seasoned wood. Consider using wood sheds or log bags for storage. These solutions protect wood from the elements and pests while allowing enough ventilation to avoid moisture buildup.
Cover your wood stack with a tarp to protect it from rain and snow. However, ensure the tarp is not tightly fitted around the sides to allow air circulation. Arrange logs bark side up to shed water naturally and bark side down if ground moisture is an issue.
Furthermore, outdoor wood storage is also ideal, provided it has good drainage and some shelter from the worst of the weather. Keep the wood off the ground and stack it neatly away from buildings to prevent pests from moving indoors.
Efficient management of firewood, from splitting and stacking to seasoning and storing is crucial for safe and effective use in your fireplace or stove. Follow these guidelines to ensure your firewood is ready to provide warmth and comfort during the cold months.
While managing firewood can be fulfilling, you should be aware that it is also quite laborious. If you prefer not to spend your time splitting and seasoning wood, consider The Log Dog, your reliable supplier of high-quality firewood in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
We offer a range of seasoned firewood products, including bulk bags, kindling, and firelighters. Our 1 cubic metre and 2 cubic metres loose firewood options are perfect for long-term heating needs. Call us at 01295 256436 to learn more about our products and how we can help meet your firewood needs.
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