How to Properly Store Firewood

When summer arrives, you might find yourself wondering: what should I do with the firewood? Maybe you have some leftover from the previous season, or you’ve started stocking up for when the cold returns. Either way, it’s essential to store the firewood correctly in the meantime. Do you know how to do it properly?

How to Store Firewood

Contrary to what many believe, properly storing firewood doesn’t mean just stacking logs in a corner of the storage room or placing them on a firewood rack without further care. Remember, firewood is the fuel that keeps your stove running efficiently, providing that cozy warmth that makes your home so comfortable in winter.

To achieve this, firewood should have less than 21% moisture content and be seasoned for 1.5 to 2 years. These two conditions ensure it ignites properly and produces more heat. So, how should you store your firewood? Here are some tips:

Choose a dry place: It’s crucial to pick a spot where the firewood won’t get wet and can dry out properly. Make sure it’s protected from rain to prevent moisture.
Stack the firewood allowing for airflow: Firewood should be stored in a way that allows for constant ventilation. Ensure air can circulate around all sides, including underneath the stack, to promote proper drying.
Be cautious when covering firewood: You might think it’s necessary to cover stored firewood, but completely covering it can block ventilation. It’s enough to place it in a sheltered spot to keep it dry when it rains.
Stack on level ground: Always stack firewood on level surfaces for stability and safety.

Fire with dry wood

Fire with wet wood

How to Build Your Own Firewood Storage

There are plenty of ready-made firewood storage solutions available on the market, as mentioned before. However, if you’re handy, you can build your own storage system that meets all the above requirements and also suits your style or design preferences.

Use durable materials to support the full weight of the wood. Make sure your storage system is raised off the ground, even by a few centimeters, and allows air to circulate on all sides. Most importantly, ensure the structure is solid so you can stack the firewood safely. You can achieve all this with just a few wooden shelves and slats. If you want to see how it’s done, don’t miss the following video.