Just like a human body, all plants and trees have a substantial amount of water. When a tree is cut down and then chopped up to make firewood, it dries up and dies. The moisture remains in the wood for a while. In their fresh state, firewood is called green wood.
Green wood does not burn as effectively as dry wood. In most cases, it will not burn at all, and when it does, it produces too much smoke. The green wood may release combustion byproducts when burning, and these will most likely damage your kidney. This is the reason that firewood must undergo seasoning before being used. Seasoning is a drying process that ensures the wood is efficient for firewood. There are various ways to season firewood. However, most experts have recommended using kiln-dried logs.
Producing Firewood: Seasoning the old-fashioned way
This way of producing firewood is quite easy. The wood is cut, chopped, and then placed in an area that is protected so that it can get sufficient air. When the wood sits in the area for some time, the moisture levels in the wood will drop. Once the moisture content is around thirty or forty percent, the wood will be ready to burn efficiently.
The duration of this process is determined by the amount of protection the wood has from the weather, and the humidity levels in the air. Generally, the process takes anywhere from a few months to several years. It means that if you want to have a sufficient amount of firewood supply, you will have to split the wood and season it in advance, or you can buy wood that has been seasoned already.
Kiln-dried Firewood: A Better Choice
Traditional wood seasoning is a good option, but it is riddled with issues. These are such as:
- One needs a large space to store the seasoned wood over years and protect it properly.
- The wood may not dry properly because some suppliers rush the process to make sure that they have an adequate supply to meet demands.
- The climate in Great Britain is mostly wet, which means that getting low moisture content is an issue.
Kiln drying is a method that offers a perfect solution for all of the above issues. The drying process is faster because the green wood is placed inside a kiln. The kiln is powered up by various forms of energy. They are powered by solar energy, electricity, or natural gas. All the moisture dries off when the wood is baked in a kiln.
A kiln is a much better option because it reduces the time needed to dry the wood and makes sure that the wood is seasoned evenly. It also removes the issue of inadequate storage space. When the wood is stacked, some of the areas are more exposed to the air than others. It means that you may end up with parts of the wood that still have some moisture and thus cause problems when burning.
Kiln-dried firewood gives a better choice for people that burn or sell firewood regularly. It is easy to use for people without experience with fireplaces. It also lowers the moisture in the wood considerably, thereby making for the perfect wood to burn.