Seasoning of Wood for Woodburning Stoves

What is seasoned wood and why is burning it good for my stove and the environment ?

Seasoned wood is timber that has been felled then cut into lengths of approx 300 to 400 mm by 100 to 125mm kiln dried or left in the environment to undergo this process. We will discuss the later of the two.

All timber when felled has a very high water content which needs to be greatly reduced so that the wood especially hardwood with a much higher calorific heat value than soft wood can burn in a woodburning stove produce a great heat ,help the stove to burn efficiently and produce minimum pollution to the environment

Firstly after the wood has been cut to the approx sizes as stated above it is then stacked outside in a fashion so that the air can flow through it to help the natural drying process. The rain and the wind help remove the tannins from the wood. This first process is best to take place in late winter or early spring as it is a six-month process. The wood is then covered above for a further six months in such a way that the air can flow through it but it is now protected from the rain. The final stage is to bring the wood indoors to go through its final drying phase. Were this may not be feasible it can be left outside in a woodstore as above preferably for up to a further six months. This process has taken approx 18 months so if the seasoning process starts in early spring it is ready for the stove in time for the heating season the following year. Unlike many years ago our lives are not centred on the woodburnig stove, which then was also used for cooking purposes. The easier option is to buy from a properly managed forest where they kiln dry the wood and deliver it seasoned all ready for your woodburning stove.

When the wood is seasoned it will feel so much lighter as most of the water has been removed. Seasoned hardwood will feel heavier than seasoned softwood as it is a denser material with a much higher calorific heat value than softwood. Burning seasoned wood in your woodburning stove will produce a much higher temperature and ensure the gases from the wood are ignited and burnt off, greatly reducing emissions into the environment. Seasoned wood burning in an efficient woodburning stove should not produce smoke from your chimney.

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