This is incorrect, unseasoned wood is more difficult to get lit and then will burn very inefficiently. That moisture that the green wood is burning out with so much effort is also a problem. The moisture creates smoke, creates more creosote as it burns, and sticks to your chimney. Burn only seasoned wood.

Burning green wood can be dangerous. It creates a lot of smoke and may cause a dangerous creosote buildup over time.

Wood burns most efficiently when the moisture content is at 20% or less. Damp wood burns at a cooler temperature, resulting in incomplete combustion, more smoke, and dangerous creosote build-up in the chimney (a fire hazard). In short, avoid burning unseasoned wood!

six to nine months

No matter which way you cut it (or split it with your trusty log splitter), fresh wood just doesn’t burn right. Fresh-cut wood has a high moisture content, which makes it hard to get burning. It also gives off more smoke.

Place a dehumidifier in the center of the room once all of the standing water is removed. Set it to the highest extraction setting possible. Turn it on and leave it running for at least 24 hours to pull moisture from the boards. Place fans blowing across the surface to further aid in drying the wood out.

How long it takes to season wood actually depends on what type of wood it is. Soft wood can be dried within 6 months, if done correctly. Hardwood, meanwhile, such as oak, can take anywhere from 1 – 2 years.

Use leaves and bark for identifiers. Split wood may not have leaves, but often branches or twigs will have remnants of leaves that can identify firewood. Pines, cedars, firs and other softwoods have needles rather than leaves, which is a good identifier. Check the bark; there should be some on at least some logs.

Wood stacked by early spring should be ready to put away for winter use by October. Some people like to cover the drying woodpile with a tarp or shed. The theory is that the wood will dry faster because rain will not soak the pieces as they dry.

Ideally, firewood should remain uncovered so it can be properly dried, but this is not practical when rain, snow and ice can quickly coat winter firewood. A good cover over the top of your woodpile will protect it, and be sure the cover is slanted to shed moisture away from the pile’s base.

Seasoning Your Firewood You should leave your wood exposed to air and sunlight while allowing it to properly season, but once it’s dry, it should be covered. You should not pack unseasoned firewood into a tight space or shed to dry.