Firewood-Should I cover it? (2014, home, live)

[Spanky25]

I just got a cord of wood for next year. Should I cover it for the summer? Or is it best uncovered to breath/dry out?

[bangorme]

It should be covered but not wrapped. Lots of air flow, but no rain access.

[Zymer]

Yeah, there was a big discussion on this, on another site devoted to wood-burning. Most said yes, some said no. The general consensus was that it was important to have good air flow thru the stack to aid in removing moisture so don't wrap it. But not giving it some sort of cover from the rain adds to the amount of moisture that needs to be removed.

Ideally, if you can find some scrap lumber (2x4, plywood) make a sort of roof that overhangs the sides of the stack by a little bit, then put your tarp/plastic sheeting over that- it will help to prevent moisture being released from condensing and dripping back onto the wood as well as protecting it from rain.

Some woods (like Oak) need more than one year to be at their best while others (like Ash) can be reasonably dry in a few months. The guys on the wood board say "90% of all burning problems can be solved with properly seasoned wood." If you can, you should try to get 1 to 2 years ahead. Any moisture left in the wood at the time you burn it is going to rob you of heat, because that heat is expended in converting the moisture to vapor instead of heating your stove...although, if you're only getting one cord I'm assuming that this isn't going to be your primary heat source, so maybe that isn't a big deal for you?

[maureenb]

Originally Posted by Spanky25

I just got a cord of wood for next year. Should I cover it for the summer? Or is it best uncovered to breath/dry out?

When you say, "...next year..." - do you mean the winter following the one on its way - 2012-2013? Not to split hairs, it's just that I normally get a pile of green, split wood delivered around now, which I won't burn until 2013-2014.

The pile of green wood that I had delivered this time last year has been sitting outside, stacked on wood pallets and covered only on the top with a doubled over old tarp. Because, like you, I've wondered which way - covered or not - seasons better, I have another pile outside, uncovered, that I stacked in a round, "Holz Hausen" style pile. At some point in the future, I move the wood that has been drying outside into the covered woodshed, now that there's room from last year's burning. I LOVE to handle wood!

Maybe check out some of the internet forums that are devoted to wood cutting/ burning/ stoves, etc. As Zymer sezs, there are varied opinions. And much has to do with weather - whether or not we have a wet summer.

Google "wood stack" and look at the images. Have fun with stacking your cord o' wood!

[woxyroxme]

Originally Posted by bangorme

It should be covered but not wrapped. Lots of air flow, but no rain access.

That would be the right answer.

[Edgar Cook]

I've burned wood for 40 years. I find wood stacked or piled outside from 8 months to a year as long as it is solid wood, doesn't need covering.Rain does not permeate the wood more than a sixteenth of an inch if solid and will dry out in a day or two after the rain. I've also burned dead wood that has deteriorated some and find that even then it will dry out in a week or two of dry weather.It doesn't last as long in the stove but I use when I'm home all day and don't mind feeding the fire more often. I usually get the wood in the shed the last of August or early September when it is driest.