Choosing and Storing Firewood
The quality of a wood fire is decided long before the match. Dry, well-chosen fuel lights quickly, releases more usable heat, and leaves much less residue in the appliance and chimney. Wet or unseasoned wood does the opposite, wasting energy boiling off water and feeding creosote build-up.
Hardwood versus softwood
Both burn well once dry; they simply behave differently.
| Type | Examples | Burning character |
|---|---|---|
| Dense hardwood | Maple, oak, birch, ash | Lights more slowly, burns long and steady, good for overnight heat |
| Softwood | Pine, spruce, fir | Lights easily, burns fast and hot, useful for kindling and quick warmth |
A practical approach in many Canadian woodsheds is to keep both: softwood to start a fire and bring the flue up to temperature, hardwood to carry the heat through the evening.
Seasoning and moisture
Freshly cut wood holds a large amount of water. Seasoning — drying split wood under cover with good airflow — brings the moisture content down to a level where it burns cleanly. As a working target, fuel below roughly 20 percent moisture is considered ready to burn.
- Hardwoods generally need a longer drying period than softwoods, often spanning a full year or more depending on conditions.
- Splitting wood before stacking exposes more surface area and speeds drying.
- An inexpensive pin-type moisture meter, pressed into a freshly split face, gives a quick reading.
Reading the wood
Seasoned wood is lighter than it looks, shows checking (cracks) on the cut ends, and makes a sharp knock rather than a dull thud when two pieces are struck together.
Stacking a pile that stays dry
Storage matters as much as the wood itself. Air needs to move through the stack, and rain and ground moisture need to stay out.
- Raise the pile off the ground on rails or pallets to break contact with damp soil.
- Stack so air can pass between rows; a single row dries faster than a deep block.
- Cover the top to shed snow and rain, but leave the sides open for ventilation.
- Position the pile where sun and prevailing wind reach it through the drying months.
A note on transport
Moving firewood long distances can carry tree pests and disease into new areas. Provincial and federal guidance generally encourages buying or sourcing wood near where it will be burned. The Government of Canada publishes related wildfire and forest-health information.