This really surprises me knowing how much rain that state tends to get. I'm not stating wood will be wetter or drier when uncovered but for sure we noticed a loss of btu when we left wood uncovered for more than that first summer and fall. Yes, very noticeable.
How is this possible? ...Assuming rain, snow or dew only affects the outside of the wood and dries very quickly in the sun and wind and the internal moisture content is at optimal levels? how would BTU levels be affected to any extent, never mind to a great degree, based solely on evaporative moisture on the outermost layer of the wood?
Maybe its a difference of opinion on what is absolutely necessary. My wood is definitely dryer and works/burns/heats better top covered, but it will work/burn/heat if not covered. I like optimum wood so I top cover. I burn mostly standing dead red oak. After sitting out uncovered for years, the sapwood gets punky and soaks up/holds a lot of moisture. Moving it to the covered porch a few months before burning helps but keeping the rain off for years while drying makes for dryer wood through and through. The moisture content equilibrium is lower if its been stored top covered, in my area.
Sawdog, I do not know how it is possible. I know only that it is true. I remember a long, long, long time ago when we left wood uncovered and it just never seemed to be as good so we simply never left it uncovered after that, except for the initial drying. Well, after reading stuff on the forums about several folks who never covered their wood, I just got the bug to experiment with it again. Somehow I like experimenting at times. So we did that. As stated, we noticed a big difference in the wood and in fact, I also well remember breaking into some other wood stacks that winter for overnight wood that would hold fires longer. In other words, yes, it burned just as hot and one would think just as good, but it definitely did not burn as long and there is the big difference. Why? I freely admit, I do not know the answer to that question. I only know what we experienced. Therefore, our wood will be top covered.
fox9988 I was thinking back to that wood I referred to and am sure there was oak, ash and maybe some cherry but my memory is a bit lacking as of late. I think perhaps I need more RAM or another hard drive...
