Green versus seasoned firewood
If you are buying firewood and you want to use it soon, make sure that you buy seasoned firewood. Seasoned refers to letting the wood dry to reduce the moisture content. Seasoning can take from six to nine months depending upon the moisture content of the wood when it was cut. Trees that were dead standing have lower moisture content than standing live trees and therefore will not require as much time to season.
How to find out if your firewood is seasoned
A simple method to determine if your firewood is dry is to strike two pieces of wood together. A sharp cracking sound means that the wood is fairly dry. A dull thud, however, means that the moisture content is still high. Dry wood will also display cracks or "checks" in the end grain along the cut surface.
Covering your firewood with plastic tarps or other types of material can help prolong your storage time.
Splitting and storing firewood
• The more surface area without bark that is exposed to air, the more rapidly the firewood will dry.
• Even small, round pieces of wood should be split for drying.
• Tools required for splitting by hand include axes, mauls and wedges.
• Motorized or hydraulic splitters are also common and take some of the backbreaking labor out of wood splitting.
• Whenever possible, firewood should not be stored in contact with the ground, as moisture can move from the ground to the firewood.
• All firewood, regardless of how it is stored, will decay over time.
• It is best to burn older firewood first. Most species of firewood will decay and become infested with wood boring and eating insects after just two seasons.
• Try not to carry over large quantities of firewood from season to season.
What is creosote and why is it dangerous?
The most common problem is that burning wood causes creosote to form in stovepipes, chimneys and exhaust systems. When wood or any organic material is burned in a stove or fireplace, volatile gases and vapors are produced. These gases and vapors are carried up the stovepipe or chimney where they condense and form creosote.
Creosote is combustible and can cause chimney fires if not periodically removed from inside the stovepipe or chimney. Creosote in the upper part of the chimney can ignite and set your roof on fire.
Certain species, including pine, have more potential than others for producing creosote, but the amount of creosote depends more on the type of fire and the temperature of the chimney surface. A smoldering, low-temperature fire will produce more creosote than a roaring high-temperature fire. Burning wet or green wood can also create more creosote. Creosote problems can be minimized by burning well-seasoned wood, making small, hot fires instead of large smoldering fires and cleaning the chimney and stovepipes frequently.
Burning firewood as supplemental heat, a primary source of heat, or periodically for pleasure is possible if you exercise common sense. Pay attention to what you are buying or cutting. Make sure that it is seasoned and ready to use. Take precautions to prevent creosote problems.
Firewood can be an affordable and enjoyable source of energy. Just pay attention to what you use and how you use it!
4-H Club information
For information about Garland County 4-H Club membership or program benefits, contact Linda Bates at the Garland County Cooperative Extension office located at 236 Woodbine in Hot Springs, call 501-623-6841, or email [email protected]. Additional information is available at http://www.uaex.edu/garland.
Master Gardener information
If you have an interest in gardening, you may want to apply to become a Master Gardener. The Master Gardener training is coming up soon. If you want an application, you may call our office to have one emailed to you, or drop by and pick one up at the Cooperative Extension Office, 236 Woodbine in Hot Springs. You're welcome to attend the monthly Master Gardener meeting which is held on the third Thursday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 132 Abbott Place. The meetings are open to the public and guests are always welcome. Call the Extension office at 623-6841 or email Allen Bates at [email protected] for more information.
EHC information
Are you interested in joining an existing Extension Homemakers Club? EHC is the largest volunteer organization in the state. For information on EHC call 623-6841 or email Alison Crane at [email protected]. Follow Alison on Facebook @garlandEGF and @GarlandFCS, and EHC on Facebook @GarlandCountyEHC.
Society on 01/14/2019