How to Stack & Dry Firewood

Cut and cure firewood so that it burns safe and hot.

Gathering wood for the fireplace prior to winter setting in provides an economical way to keep your house warm. Properly cured firewood burns hotter and provides more heat than wood that is wet or green. It also helps to prevent creosote buildup in chimneys, which can cause chimney fires. Stack firewood to dry in the heat of the sun during the summer to ensure you have fuel for the fireplace that burns hot and burns safely.

Things You'll Need

• Splitting maul
• Chainsaw or tree saw
• Heavy tarp large enough to cover the wood you wish to stack and dry
• 50 feet of rope or heavy twine
• 15 rocks or weights that weigh approximately 5 pounds each
• Wood logs

Instructions

1. Cut the wood into 18-inch pieces using a chainsaw or tree saw. Use a splitting maul to split the wood into smaller pieces that will fit easily into your fireplace or wood stove.

2. Locate the stack of wood in dry area exposed to the sun. Stack the wood in a single row along the edge of a building or fence. Position the wood so that one end of each piece faces the fence or building.

3. Place a plastic tarp over the wood and let the tarp drape down over the edge of the stack so that the tarp edge remains 2 feet from the ground.

4. Roll the corners of the tarp around a rock or lead weight that weighs approximately five pounds. Cut a three-foot piece of rope from the 50-foot rope or twine strand and then tie the tarp around the rock or weight with the rope or twine. Attach a rock or weight to the tarp in the same fashion every four or five feet to ensure that the tarp remains on top of the wood even during heavy winds.

References

• Keep It Simple Firewood: Drying Firewood
• Gransfors Bruks: To Dry and Store Firewood
• End Times Report: Storing Firewood