Osburn Matrix Installation and Operation Manual
14 ______________________________________________________________________________
3.2.5
HOW TO DRY FIREWOOD
Firewood that is not dry enough to burn is the cause of most complaints about wood fires. The
complaints usually involve a lack of heat and dirty door glass.
Here are some things to consider in estimating drying time:
•
firewood takes a long time to dry
•
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
•
small pieces dry more quickly than large pieces
•
split pieces dry more quickly than unsplit rounds
•
softwoods take less time to dry than hardwoods
•
hardwoods like gums, Manuka and ironbark can take one, or even two years to dry fully,
especially if the pieces are big
•
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
•
firewood that is ready to burn has a moisture content between15 and 20% by weight and will
allow your wood fire to produce its highest possible efficiency
