I just tightly stacked my recently split fir because I will be gone for a while and wanted it top covered. Now I'm wondering if it would dry better left in a pile.
Piling seems to work just fine with some wind and time. Old picture but this was SOP for years and will be again in about four more when the stacked wood is gone. Owl
It depends, to a degree. However, there is no doubt wood will dry better when stacked. But, I needs to be stacked so that it gets air circulation and some sun helps too. Also, it should not be stacked on the ground but up high enough to get air under the stack too. Air circulation and warmth are the real keys to drying wood.
I used to pile on the ground and cover. Lost many splits to ground moisture. It seems that a tarp will form a terrarium of sorts if there is not sufficient airflow.
Ive always stacked mine due to limited storage plus its more pleasing to the eye. It would be an interesting experiment to have a cord of wood in a pile and one stacked side by side with the same sun and wind exposure to see what the results would be. Im sure the interior splits in a pile will have a higher MC than those getting full sun. The wood seller I cut for PT has mostly piles, BUT they are on pallets as he learned the hard way wood touching the ground doesn't dry. He also uses IBC totes with wood loose thrown in. I know jrider and jo191145 have pig piles of splits. Maybe they can chime in.
I can't give you a comparison from one to the other but I can tell you wood stored out in the open will dry faster than wood that isn't. I see guys jam wood sheds full and then it takes a long time for it to dry because there is little to no air flow or wind.
If you're leaving it in a pile, at least let it be out in open air with plenty of sunshine. The splits that stay off the ground will fare better in the stove than the ones that don't and the ones that do can go right in the stack or barn bin if you've let given it enough time to release that bound up moisture. Let the rest of the pile be in the sun for a little while longer and they'll still burn.
