How to Properly Season Firewood for Maximum Quality
Properly seasoned firewood burns hotter, burns more efficiently, produces less smoke, and is easier for customers to use. For firewood businesses, understanding how to properly season firewood is also essential for producing a consistent, high-quality product that customers will come back for.
Whether you are selling hardwood firewood, supplying restaurants and pizzerias, or preparing firewood for residential customers, moisture content is one of the most important factors that determines firewood quality.
Freshly cut wood can contain a significant amount of moisture. That water must evaporate before the firewood can burn efficiently. Simply cutting and splitting a log does not make it ready to burn. Proper seasoning requires the right combination of splitting, stacking, airflow, sunlight, time, and protection from precipitation.
For commercial firewood producers, efficient seasoning starts long before the wood reaches the customer. The way logs are processed, split, stacked, stored, and handled can have a major impact on how quickly the finished firewood reaches its target moisture content.