How do I know if wood is properly dry or “seasoned” for burning?
A. Seasoned wood is firewood that has a moisture content of less than 20% by weight. Only seasoned firewood is appropriate for burning in your fireplace and/or wood stove. Seasoned firewood has the following characteristics: • Dark colored with cracked ends with cracks radiating from the center like bicycle spokes; • Light in weight since much of the moisture has been removed, • Unique sound when two pieces of firewood are hit together. Dry wood rings with a resonant “crack”, like a bat hitting a baseball while wet wood makes a dull “thud” sound; • Easily peeled or broken bark with no green under the bark. Additionally, all firewood suppliers must label their firewood as seasoned or unseasoned with instructions on how to properly season the wood.
