ADVICE FOR DRYING LOGS FOR WOODBURNING STOVES & OPEN FIRES

The Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020.

This wood is not suitable for burning until it has been dried. You should not burn wood until it has a moisture content of 20% or less.

Wet wood contains moisture which creates smoke and harmful particulates when burnt.  As well as being harmful to your health and the environment, this can damage your stove and chimney and is an inefficient way to heat your home.  Dry it in a sunny, well-aired space for at least two years, keeping rain off in the winter.

Radial cracks and bark that comes off easily suggests wood that is ready for burning. Test the wood when you think it is ready for burning, ideally with a moisture meter. First calibrate the meter and then measure a freshly split surface to get the best reading.

It is important that logs are well seasoned before burning as this gives you maximum heat, helps protect your stove and produces less emissions.  Our logs are harvested from our own woodlands and seasoned once processed in our purpose build woodshed.  Our aim is to deliver our logs to you as dry as possible but, without kiln drying it is often difficult to guarantee a moisture content of less than 20%.

Air circulation is key when drying logs.  Stack your logs in rows with gaps in between so that air can circulate.

Wood should always sit on a dry surface, ideally on a base raised off the floor that has gaps, an old pallet is ideal for this.

The wood should be covered on top to keep any water out, with a roof sloping away from the front of the store.

The sides and back of your wood store should have small gaps to allow circulation.

Consider dividing your log shed into two different sections, one to contain seasoned logs ready to burn and one that contains logs that need further seasoning.

Bring the logs that you are planning on burning into the house 24 hours before you use them, this will give them a final drying off spell away from the cool outside air.