How to store firewood so it actually burns

The 20% rule

Firewood should burn at 20% moisture or below. Fresh-cut "green" wood is over 50%. Burning wet wood means most of the fire's energy boils off water instead of heating the room. Plus smoke, creosote, and a chimney fire risk.

How long seasoning takes

• Softwood (pine, fir): 6 to 12 months.
• Hardwood (oak, beech, eucalyptus): 12 to 24 months.
• Very dense hardwood (ironbark, hickory): 24+ months.

If a supplier sold you "seasoned" wood, don't take their word for it. A moisture meter costs $25 from any hardware store. Stab the freshly-split face of a few logs and see.

How to stack

1. Off the ground. Use a pallet, bricks, or a metal rack. Break ground contact.
2. Bark side up. Bark sheds water like roof tiles.
3. Loose enough for air. You should be able to slip a finger between most pieces.
4. Cover the top only. A tarp over the top, sides open. Wrapping the whole pile traps moisture and the wood rots from the inside.
5. Pick the sunny, breezy side of the house if you have a choice.

The free moisture test

Knock two pieces together. Dry wood makes a sharp tock. Wet wood makes a dull thud. Look at the ends too. Dry wood has cracks radiating from the centre.

Indoors

Bring one or two days' worth inside at a time. Stack it near the fire but not touching anything hot. Wood brought in from cold weather sweats. Give it an overnight to acclimatise before you burn it.

Splitting weather

Splitting wet wood in wet weather is asking for mould. Open Window Today's UV, wind, and humidity cards tell you when conditions are right for chopping and stacking.

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