4+yr red oak burning - disapointment

Disappointed is a massive understatement. These trees were dropped in Spring 2014, CSS September 2014 record here: Hickory and Red Oak - worked for it
It's all been top covered in an exposed area.

I've been burning off mostly white oak with abundant heat output, excellent fire starts & reloads , but finally hit this stuff in my left stack and had left some bigger splits specifically for a winter cold snap (18F here this morning)

Last night I loaded 4 big splits on a hot coal load let it char and it just smoldered. Loaded some wood ~0430 before getting a shower and was highly disappointed with a barely smoldering few flames fire box before I just gave up and went to work. GF came home and she struggled with a 64F house until I came home and dropped some small pine splits with white oak to get us up to temp.

I really wanted to get under this red oak layer to some 4yr hickory, oh well it will be 62F here Saturday....
Maybe February

 

That sucks. Hopefully the Hickory is primo

 

Whatever you do, don't burn the deck.

 

other side of house - plus I've heard PT wood isn't ideal in a wood stove

I might resplit this stuff. No moisture meter to check, it feels ready but burns and barely throws heat like unseasoned wood -air control wide open for any flame.

 

This red oak that I'm burning recently is 3 yr seasoned and it's ok. It's not happy burning all by itself. It needs another kind of wood along with it, and then it does fine.

 

I just loaded our IS tonight with nothing but big chunky 9 year old red oak. Thought for sure there was enough coals for it to take off. 40 minutes later I got temp high enough to engage cat. That wood has been under roof for the last 6 years. If it doesn’t have moisture coming out the ends I’d try to mix a little something with it. Good luck.


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Here’s a 4x4 red oak block been in the stove for over an hour with some small white oak rounds and a piece of pine- they are all coals air wide open

 

Same deal here I’ve been using 2-3 year old walnut 18-22% moisture in November just not burning that good. Switched to mulberry and same deal air wide open and stt only 350’ish. Brought up some 18 month old elm and WOW does this burn good! It’s burning before I can get the next piece in the stove. Easy to cruise at 500.

 

Past years my wood supply consisted of mostly red oak.
Just wondering, did you have a moist year in Georgia?
Others can correct me if I’m wrong but red oak has a larger cell structure than many woods. Makes it adept at collecting and storing moisture.
Had a very moist year here in Ct. Was disappointed at readings from 20-30% on all types of wood for this year. Nothing wanted to burn well. Filled the basement and bought a dehumidifier. It’s burning good now but I’m chewing up a lot of tulip at the moment. Want to make sure that’s gone this year.

 

Moisture problems here too. Screw it. Ash, cherry, and maple. I’m warm.


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Cold is coming 7 and dropping fast.
Even the tulip is keeping up so far. Besides the fact you have to load the stove every four hours it does pretty good.

 

0 here. I’m leaving the red oak stacked until next year. I like oak but it’s a pain in the azz.


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In Maryland we broke the all time record with 71 inches and it rained or snowed 145 days out of the year. With the exception of my black locust that is basically petrified wood, my entire 3 year plan that’s top covered year round is so saturated I am really concerned that I am going to be in Basod’s situation next year.

 

I'm guessing this is a really good theory. Even if it didn't "soak up" any moisture it doesn't dry fast or easy. I've had some bigger 4 yr splits that didn't light right off. Wind dries it better than anything ime. really sux when you're expecting great performance & get a "wet blanket" instead.

 

-2 it’s frigin colder than a witch’s tit.


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Wet year here and I’ve noticed some of my wood not burning like it should. I brought some 3 yr old white ash that has been hit or mis as far as ash is concerned. The pieces near the bottom have some moisture in them. I chalk it up to heavy rain.

You can’t put this stuff in a better place to dry than I have mine stacked. It’s in an old hog lot between two fields, top covered. Just the way it goes.

I would try mixing the oak with a few pieces of drier stuff and see how it does.

 

Its why i dont top cover...

 

He's in Alabama, but if their weather was like ours in GA, it was wet most of the time.

 

Hmm, not sure how I messed that up. I spent a month in Pascagoula two years ago. I’m surprised the firewood down there doesn’t sprout every spring