This will be my 2nd year burning wood, and I need some advice on the best way to handle my situation this year. Last year I burnt ~4 cords of dry firewood. I have 3.5 cords of dry wood ready for this year, all about 15% moisture content. I ordered some log loads in the early spring and was banking on getting some ash (we’ve been wrecked by EAB here) that would be dry by fall to round out what I would need. But I wound up with two loads (12-13 cords) of all red oak and sugar maple, that are still sitting around 30%. Is it possible/advisable to “average moisture content” stove loads? i.e. can I load the stove with 90% dry and 10% wet to average ~20% moisture content to stretch the wood? Or does it not work that way? I’d rather not go back to having a propane bill, but I don’t want to do anything stupid.
If you have to burn the oak this season, as you said, with 90% dry wood, I’d say you’ll be ok. For extra piece of mind, checking the chimney for buildup after a month will let you know how you’re doing.
Well your doing better than most of your and mine neighbors so,,,,, Type of stove plays a role. I would say the best possible scenario would be bring that maple in the house and store it around your stove, safely. Not everyone can get away with that. Still the maple should dry faster. Concentrate on that. Bottom line mixing it in isn’t grounds for disbarment. Do what ya gotta do. Much better to be off by 10% than 100%.
Ben there, done that before. Best advice I was given was 1) CSS 1-1.5 cord of the sugar maple ASAP, split it small, put it in the sunniest windiest place you have, get it off the ground and top cover. By spring it should be usable mixed with existing seasoned wood! Now to augment what is well seasoned you can add 1-2 small pieces to each load. Bring the green wood inside and let it set by the stove for 24 hours prior to burning. Usually works better to use this during shoulder season when heat output is not as critical but if your stove is oversized for home will work in really cold weather just increased air flow will have you refilling more often!
If it makes you feel any better my neighbor just fired up his chainsaw last weekend to start bucking this winters wood. Who knows when the splitter will come out?
I would not recommend on drying wood around the stove. Since you would be using stove heat to dry it either way, just do it in the stove, by burning it mixed with drier wood.
I would assume drying wood around the stove would help regulate humidity in the room that is lost by running the stove. I personally would rather have the moisture added to the room than up the chimney.
I second what jo191145 said about the maple. I did exactly that last year with some sugar maple and it worked out phenomenally. The wood I used had been on the ground in the woods (in log form) for a couple years. MC was still well above 20% after I split it though. It sat split and stacked for about 2 months before I needed it. I brought it in close but not too close to the stove. Within a few days I started seeing some serious checking on the ends. That stuff burned awesome and it helped carry me through the tail end of winter. So for your case, I’d bank on the maple being the best option. Process that first as it gives up its moisture more readily than oak does. I’d still process the oak too, but use it as sparingly as you can. Mixing it with plenty of other dry woods should offset the higher MC in the oak.
You burned 4 cords last year and have 3.5 cords you consider dry at this point. I don’t see much of a problem. The last of what you have still has at least 6-7 months to dry.
Another option would be to get some processed enviro-blocks, and work them in. I'm in the group of keeping moisture out of the stove. Then, do what you can to get on the 3 year plan.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I'll try the stacking near the stove. I can move some stuff around and give myself plenty of room. I should be fine after this year. I started seriously on the 3 year plan this year and CSS 12-13 cords this spring. I guess I need to be burning three year old wood to be actually there.
I’m going to go a little different than most. What is your what dry? IME red maple might dry enough by February; Sugar maple no chance! SoI would split it small and mix it in. Of course a lot depends on stove is the Jotul a cat stove?
It's a non-catalytic Jotul. It's definitely sugar maple and red oak. The dry stuff is ash, red maple, and elm.
I'm a fan of pine for helping along wood that's not quite seasoned. If you can score some pine, split it small and supplement with that too.
