Properly Storing Firewood For The Winter

Did you know that properly storing firewood for the winter involves more than just tossing chopped wood into a pile in the backyard? Indeed, you’ll need to house the wood correctly if you want to experience the warming presence of your fireplace on the coldest days of the year. Keep reading for advice about how to keep your firewood safe from the fiercest winter weather.

Why is it necessary to store firewood?
Did you know that it’s not a good idea to burn freshly cut wood in your fireplace? Newly cut wood contains too much water, and you’ll end up with inefficient burning along with too much creosote in your chimney if you try to burn wet wood. A thick coating of creosote is one of the primary causes of chimney fires.

You can experience the pleasure that comes from a long lasting fire in your fireplace by making sure that the wood stays dry. Additionally, you’ll safeguard your family and home from the danger of a chimney fire by storing your firewood so that it has the opportunity to dry correctly.

The basics of safely storing firewood
Correctly storing firewood isn’t tricky if you keep a few fundamentals in mind. Although it’s tempting to save the wood indoors, experts don’t suggest that you choose this option. Keeping firewood outdoors helps it to dry out more quickly while also preventing bugs and other pests from entering your home.

The critical thing to remember when storing firewood is that you want to promote (1) air circulation, (2) a dry area, and (3) pest resistance. You can meet these goals by following the basics of safely storing firewood for winter use.

• Place the wood at least five feet from your house.
  
• Split the wood into approximately 3-6”  wide and 16” long pieces
  
• Stack the wood at least several inches above the ground
  

Some homeowners prefer to house firewood in a backyard storage shelter throughout the winter. While maintaining it in a storage shelter is an ideal way to protect it from the elements, you can also cover the wood with a waterproof tarp and use bricks to hold the tarp in place.

Lastly, by making an effort to store firewood throughout the winter safely, you’ll get to enjoy the pleasure of a robust blaze in your fireplace to warm your family on the frigid winter nights.

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