Great tips on storing your firewood
Well, it's that time of year again and whilst the swallows show no sign of gathering on the wires ready to flee back to South Africa, it won't be long before they do and so its time to start planning for the winter. Just as an aside, did you know that when swallows migrate, they travel 200 miles a day at an average speed of 17-20 mph!!
So, after a long winter last year, it's more important than ever to get stocked up and make sure you have enough logs to take you through a cold winter.
How much firewood do you need?
Always a difficult one, and depends on so many factors such as size of room, house insulation, stove efficiency and the way you use it, but as a rule of thumb I would work on about 3 - 4 m3 per annum. That's based on using it most evenings and weekends from October to April.
How much space?
Think about how you are going to use your wood and what are you going to buy. Do you want to do all your own drying/seasoning yourself or are you going to buy 'ready to burn' logs such as kiln dried logs below 25% moisture content. If the former you need to allow approx two years drying time so you need space for 6-8m3. Alternatively if you go for the kiln dried logs, you could have enough storage for 1.5m3 and when you are nearly out, you can just order more.
How to store
Make sure the logs are cut up into short lengths - ideally 25cm and most importantly split to increase the surface area and speed up drying. You must store the logs, stacked neatly under cover and in a store which allows maximum airflow from all sides and with the logs off the ground. Putting a sheet over your stack of logs is not ideal as it does not allow sufficient airflow across the top of the logs.
Where to store your logs
This is often not thought through. Its vital you consider both aspects of operations - i.e. where is the most convenient point for delivery, nice and handy to the store and where is the best place for taking logs into the house. So many people think about the getting the logs into the house, then end up having to barrow the logs all the way round the house which takes hours.
To have a look at our log stores, click here.