Your fireplace’s toasty roar can only last with the right firewood behind it. Depending on your situation, you never know if your firewood has hidden bugs, such as termites, or has too much moisture. We’ll guide you on how to store firewood indoors, ensuring you keep yourself and your home safe while storing your wood right.
Understand wood curing
If you’ve got your hands on freshly cut logs, then they will not be ready to burn. Firewood needs time to age. If you burn it before it’s ready, you can end up producing lots of creosote buildup in your chimney. Not only that, burning fresh wood produces less heat and flames and burns up really fast. You should give your firewood at least 6 months to cure and reduce its moisture levels for better burning, but different types of firewood cure at different rates.
When buying wood, make sure it’s aged and dry with no bark. Bought wood should be usable immediately if the seller has already aged it properly. To quickly test, bang two pieces together. A loud hollow crack means dry, while wet wood will sound dull.
The best place to store Firewood
You may be inspired by countless images and designs of firewood storage inside the house on an old bookshelf, but the best way to store firewood indoors is not to store it indoors. While it’s convenient, you take the risk of carrying various critters into your home, such as spiders, mice, ants and termites as well as potential mould. A general rule is that you shouldn’t store wood next to the foundations of your home in case there are termites. Plus, keeping fresher wood indoors in a tight spot means it can’t get the air it needs to properly dry, which can cause the logs to rot and form mould around the walls.
Consider alternative indoor firewood storage ideas such as an indoor firewood box, a firewood cover, or an indoor wood holder. However, keep in mind that the convenience of indoor storage comes with potential risks, and it’s essential to take measures to prevent pests and mould.
It’s better to keep your wood outside in a dry, breezy area. For stacking your wood, leave a bit of space from the wall so the wood has good airflow behind it. Try and keep the wood at least 6 meters away from doorways and windows, too to help prevent critters getting in. Properly aging your logs is one of the best ways to care for a wood burning fireplace.
Correctly stacking your Firewood
There’s more to stacking firewood than simply making a big pile. For firewood that isn’t fully cured, stack logs bark-side down to facilitate moisture evaporation. Once they’re aged, however, store them bark-side up as the bark acts as a natural shield from rain and snow. Additionally, consider investing in a firewood stacker for efficient organisation and easy access to your logs.
To optimise the aging process, keep your wood stacks shorter than 1.2 meters, ensuring there’s ample airflow between each log. Inadequate airflow, particularly for middle logs, may lead to rot instead of proper aging.
When selecting a storage location, prioritise a dry, well-ventilated area that won’t be exposed to moisture. The last thing you’d want is to inadvertently reverse the drying process and compromise the quality of your firewood. If you’re keen on incorporating a firewood log aesthetic into your home, a practical approach is to purchase artificial logs for decoration. Reserve the real ones for outdoor storage, allowing them to age effectively and maintain their optimal burning properties.
While firewood storage next to the fireplace is convenient and aesthetically appealing, it’s crucial to strike a balance between style and practicality. Ensuring the safety of your home and the quality of your firewood requires thoughtful consideration of storage methods. By understanding the nuances of wood curing, choosing the right storage location, and employing proper stacking techniques, you can enjoy the warmth and ambience of a crackling fire without compromising on safety or the efficiency of your wood-burning experience. So, go ahead and embrace the charm of a well-stored firewood stack, adding both functionality and visual appeal to your home’s hearth.
