Covering firewood, how to prevent condensation/mold?

Title kind of states it.

I have a two deep stack of wood that is ~8 foot long by ~5 foot tall. I put a tarp across the top with about 2 foot draped down the front the back is not covered and leaning against a shed. The sides are not covered at all.

My problem is the tarp is collecting condensation inside and causing the wood to get wet/eventually "mold" to the point I need to start selling mushrooms

Here is what one of my stacks looks like:


BUT, the above stack is NOT molding. The stack that is molding is setup similarly(The above is just a hair over 6 foot tall).

One difference between the above stack and the "molding" stack is they are different loads of wood. The molding one came with a newer pile of wood that felt a bit wet which may add to the water issue.

Any input?

 

Put a pallet or piece of plywood on top, then the tarp.
Don't have it hanging over the back or front.
A painted piece of plywood works good as a top cover, no tarp needed .

 

I don't understand posting a pic of not the problem
so furry we wouldn't recognize it ?

I snagged some filon corrugated panels, they work like plywood panels but without the tarps
I've even used old plywood panels bare naked - just gotta weight them down to stop them from sailing away

 

The reason for posting the "not problem" pile is because both piles are stacked exactly the same. If the issue is how it is stacked/tarped, it would apply to both piles.

I didn't see how posting a picture of moldy wood would be of any use. I'm sure we all have seen moldy wood.

 

Mold or no mold. Pictures are always gooder.

 

I understand people love to put something on top of there stacks, i just don't understand it. 25 years of storing wood uncovered and never had problem.

 

The wood I'm covering is wood I'm intending to burn this season. While I'm new to burning, logic tells me that freshly rained upon wood isn't going to do me much good.

I won't make too many comments about the new cord of wood I got being too green and is smoking the hell out of my neighbor

 

A way to quick season wood in a pinch is to place it on top of the wood stove if you can, the heat will help dry out the wood, I did it my first year burning, was able to get one full load on top of the wood stove.
As for your fungi problem, I recommend what bogey said and use plywood, or currogated tin roofing if you have to.

 

I've only ever top covered the wood I planned to use, but that was after it had dried.

Neither does wood you just got that's wet. I know....it is what it is.
It'll burn....eventually.
Probably all of us have been at that point. Since you plan to burn it, put the tarp just on the top, no draping. That traps moisture.....I think you've noticed that.
You could do as Uncle Augie does and clear tarp the whole thing if it will get some sun.
Only put wood on top of the stove if you have a gooder memory than me. Don't ask.
Finally, get some more wood now, for next year. You'll be happier, cause the wood should be dryer by the time you use it.

 

Yea
I go 10 months uncovered, then to the shed, rainy season hit about mid august.
But I have birch which molds if damp/wet & will get punky in a year or 2 if not covered.
Many wood last a long time uncovered, some degrade relatively fast if they get wet for long periods. (birch & maple)
Spruce here seems to last a long time if off the ground. even in log form. (not birch )

During breakup with snow drifted in the stack, it was molding in 40° temps.
I dug it out & re-stacked,
burning that wood this year.

Some in the basement wood box: Mold stained.

 

Good link for seasoning wood
Study done in Fairbanks, 3 months to dry wood:
Good read, good charts,easy to see the different results with different methods used.
Several methods tested :
http://dec.alaska.gov/air/anpms/Projects&Reports/DOCS/Wood Storage Best Practices - Final Report.pdf

 

Thank you for lots of good input.

I'll address this on in particular:

I blame the "against the side of a building" setup on jumping into the firewood insert faster than I wanted(done Oct this year due to fear of my stupid government doing a knee jerk reaction due to two large fires near my home).

Part of this spring/summer will be spent addressing getting the stack shown above off the house. It will be shifted 90 degrees and be behind the hot tub shown in the picture.

Another "stack storage" area is being created. It will be between 8 to 12 foot long, double stacked, and about 6 foot tall.

Unfortunately, my "mold" stack is going to hang around a little longer

I'm still guestimating my total wood need for each year. Unfortunately, my lot doesn't allow me to store a bunch of wood so I will mostly be stuck buying wood as needed.

 

You'll either need to be really good at getting dry wood, getting wood dry, or dealing with wet wood.
Give Uncle Augie 's idea a shot next year.
I like to have more than needed in case we have a winter like last year.

 

My first two cords of wood bought were from a reputable place... highly recommended and large lot full of wood. The wood was pretty good minus a few that were a bit on the wet side.

I bought a third cord from a guy doing wood as a side business. The wood was not as good: irregular shaped and wetter than the other two cords.

I will absolutely be buying from the first place come spring this year. How much will depend on how much I burn through

 

Lil'John ,Having a small suburban lot and not wanting to take up most of it with 3 years of wood is the reason why I started messing with the solar kiln stuff. I now start next seasons hording when I start burning this season. I try to be done by spring so that I have 6 solid sunny months in the solar kiln. with that time I am confidant of having all of my wood under 20%MC. I am almost half done with the wood I need for next year already.

 

Just so ya' know, I'm not bustin' on ya'. Just trying to help.
Don't wait to get more if you can afford it.
True firewood hoarders put firewood everywhere.
Sounds like the first guy should be the go to.

 

See, tag them and they will come.
Thanks UA.

 

Welcome

 

The "mold stack" sounds like a different species of wood? or possibly punky. If the end grain shows some signs of spalting it's begun the decay process when stacked.
If you try to cover it you'll promote the fungus growth especially with the reduced sunlight of a dark tarp

Like some others above I use tin, but there are other forms of rigid roofing. It sheds the rain and keeps the top few rows dry in a sideways rain - plenty to burn before the tin moves down a layer of splits