HearthStone Quality Home Heating Products, Inc ®
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WFP-75 Model 8411
3.1.3 LOG LENGTH
Logs should be cut at least 1" (25 mm) shorter than the firebox so they fit in
easily. Pieces that are even slightly too long make loading the fireplace very
difficult. The most common standard length of firewood is 16" (406mm). The
WFP-75 will fit up to 20” wood. The pieces should be a consistent length,
with a maximum of 1" (25 mm) variation from piece to piece.
3.1.4 PIECE SIZE
Firewood dries more quickly when it is split. Large unsplit rounds can take
years to dry enough to burn. Even when dried, unsplit logs are difficult to
ignite because they don’t have the sharp edges where the flames first catch. Logs as small as 3” (75 mm)
should be split to encourage drying.
Wood should be split to a range of sizes, from about 3"
to 6" (75 mm to 150 mm) in cross section. Having a
range of sizes makes starting and rekindling fires much
easier. Often, the firewood purchased from commercial
suppliers is not split finely enough for convenient
stoking. It is sometimes advisable to resplit the wood
before stacking to dry.
3.1.5 HOW TO DRY FIREWOOD
Firewood that is not dry enough to burn is the cause of most
complaints about wood fireplaces. Continually burning green or
unseasoned wood produces more creosote and involves lack of
heat and dirty glass door. See
Section 5: Maintaining your
wood heating system
for concerns about creosote.
Here are some things to consider in estimating drying time:
•
Firewood takes a long time to dry.
•
Small pieces dry more quickly than large pieces.
•
Split pieces dry more quickly than unsplit rounds.
•
Softwoods take less time to dry than hardwoods.
•
Softwoods like pine, spruce, and poplar/aspen
can be dry enough to burn after being stacked in
the open for only the summer months.
•
Hardwoods like oak, maple and ash can take one,
or even two years to dry fully, especially if the
pieces are big.
•
Firewood that is ready to burn has a moisture
content between15% and 20% by weight and will
allow your fireplace to produce its highest possible
efficiency.
•
Firewood bought from a dealer is rarely dry enough
to burn, so it is advisable to buy the wood in spring
and dry it yourself.
•
Drying happens faster in dry weather than in damp,
maritime climates.
•
Drying happens faster in warm summer weather
than in winter weather.
•
Firewood dries more quickly when stacked in the
open where it is exposed to sun and wind; it takes
much longer to dry when stacked in a wood shed.
3.1.6 JUDGING FIREWOOD MOISTURE CONTENT
You can find out if some firewood is dry enough to burn by using these guidelines:
•
Cracks form at the ends of logs as they dry
•
As it dries in the sun, the wood turns from white or cream
colored to grey or yellow
•
Bang two pieces of wood together; seasoned wood
sounds hollow and wet wood sounds dull
•
Dry wood is much lighter in weight than wet wood
•
Split a piece, and if the fresh face feels warm and dry it
is dry enough to burn; if it feels damp, it is too wet
•
Burn a piece; wet wood hisses and sizzles in the fire
and dry wood does not
•
You could buy a wood moisture meter to test your firewood.
