Dennis's clean stack got me wonder how to solve the problem many have of not being able to get 2 & 3 year seasoned DRY wood. If you don't have the space to store 1 cords of wood, how you gonna get ahead if you need 5 cords per year? Can you buy it form a wood seller? NOT! No way the can store wood for 3 years to let it season properly. If they did, $$ Prices would be sky high. IMO, the solution needs to be with the stove designers, need a stove that'll cleanly burn wet wood. Possible ? I don't know that is is or isn't. How to best stop the dirty wood burning? Laws to stop it? Education helps but as most of us here have found out, can't convince some to change their burning habits to burn dry wood. Just "One of the worlds problems that needs solved"
Augie had a good solution and it works well. You put a clear tarp over the pile top with something to hold the center up like a tarp. It literally kiln dries the wood in 3 or 4 months.
Not sure about the clear tarp but I think you are on the right track with the kiln solution. Now, getting people to pay the premium required...
If you have to pay a premium, propane & heating oil come into play. No incentive if no money savings (well except for a few of us crazy wood burners)
May not be able to burn the oaks & other long drying wood, concept seems reasonable, relatively easy & doable. Would have to get you wood replaced, ASAP after burn season is over.
Very true Dave you would have to replace it fast. Augie claimed he dried Oak in a short time frame but I didn't see it. I will say he is a straight shooter and a fricken genius engineer.
There are people around here that do just that. They buy a few cords, sold to them as dry, and they pay a premium, but it still is cheaper than oil or propane. And much of that "seasoned wood" was standing last winter. Another part, even when cost is not the major factor is the determination not to be totally dependent on big oil, and the desire to be independent and secure, even with power outages.
Heres the write up from Cornell University that Petes talking about it seems legit and Ive read a lot of write ups on it and how well it works. http://www2.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/info/pubs/Harvesting/CC Accelerated Seasoning of Firewood.pdf
If I had to invent something I would attach a kiln box to a stove and blow heated air through it. I would design shelves so I could pull out a few days worth and replace as I went. I guess it might be pretty impractical for a living room/family room burner but it might work in a basement arrangement. Some engineering would be required to get the right size box to produce the proper amount of dry fuel. I have a feeling that two weeks with 170 degree plus air will make for some significant drying. As long as you finish the winter with a full box you will have enough to keep on drying the next.
Good point but I don't know. I took the (dark green) cover off my pool last year and spread it out to dry; some of it on concrete and some of it on grass. I don't remember how long I left it, maybe an hour. It burnt the grass. When I pulled up the tarp the grass was black and you could feel the heat. It later turned yellow. The heat killed it in no time. I don't see why it wouldn't work over wood.
As much as people burn wet wood a law might seem like a solution but adding more comment sense laws is something I don't agree with at all. Then you have the govt interfering with our off the grid and tax free heat source. That won't last. I think education is the most important. Get people like Dennis some publicity, get the word out. Don't blame firewood sellers, like you said they don't have the resources to stack wood multiple years. I think that things like approaching local fire departments for publicity on the issue would be beneficial. They would have the resources for adds and commercials. And surely they would be at least interested in spreading the word since they are the ones putting out the fires of people's mistakes. Once people understand what these EPA stoves need and how well they can perform then they will start looking for ways that fit each person to properly store and season wood. For some the kiln may be a good idea and work well. For others they may find another way like stacking wood at a friend, neighbor, or relatives land. But the first step is to get people to want to season their wood properly. I would even be willing to "give away" a small portion of wood to local people that are truly interested and don't know what real seasoned wood is. If someone simply doesn't know or is frustrated with stoves not burning right I think it's a small price for me to pay and will be more then worth it for the other person. Knowledge truly is power.
I think I'm going to try this, interesting me enough to give it a whirl. The pallet racks I use would be a perfect test for the solar kiln. I have some mulberry that fell over a few years ago (off the ground) but was just cut last week. Maybe I will test that. I can take a Moisture meter to the fresh splits and maybe check it every few weeks or once a month. I'm sure summer would be better but it's worth a shot.
Seattle is now in a "no burning" allowed alert ( Seattle burn ban) due to air quality & stagnate air. $1000 fine, night patrols..... these guys are serious. With no other heat, hope folks have electric blankets Fairbanks gets the same air quality alerts but if you stop people there from burning, they'd freeze. Both are pushing education & EPA certified stoves. A large % comes down to dry wood Hard to keep wood dry in the PNW in the winter
Would there be an exception to burners using an EPA stove and having truly dry wood? That would be a great opportunity to spread the word on good burning habits.
Pungent Sound burn ban: During a Stage 2 burn ban: No burning is allowed in ANY wood-burning fireplaces, wood stoves or fireplace inserts (certified or uncertified) or pellet stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled. The only exception is if a wood stove is a home's only adequate source of heat. No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas. Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty. It is OK to use natural gas and propane stoves or inserts during a Stage 2 burn ban. Burn ban enforcement has significantly increased in the Tacoma-Pierce County Smoke Reduction Zone. Wood burning during a ban may result in a fine, with fines in the past reaching $1,000. Increased enforcement and night patrols will increase the likelihood of violators receiving substantial fines this season.
