I specifically request permission to ask this in the Boiler Room, even though I know that this might be considered a "general woodburning" question... 'cause in my opinion more than a little of the fact-based horsepower (rather than anecdotal opinions) tends to reside in this particular corner of the forums. Also, those with gasification boilers seem to have a particular appreciation of how much moisture content matters.
I have some wood that seasoned after being cut/ split/ stacked (in a breezy sunny spot) for part of 2011 and up through now and that I won't need until winter- it's looking pretty excellent, and heft and "tone" when smacked all also seem ideal.
It's currently stacked in a place that I'd like to put my newly-cut (2012) wood, cause that spot is under a roofed overhang yet on a sun-baked breezy south-facing exposure.
Space is limited so it's somewhat of an either-or.
One semi-natural place to want to put the "good wood" is in my cellar, where it would be nearest the boiler, out of the weather, and make one and only one move until it goes in the firebox.
But... my house dates from 1840 and has a mostly unmortared stone foundation, in an area with heavy soil and a relatively high water table. Translate: while my basement dries out in winter, it's pretty detectably damp down there now.
I fully recognize that if I were to put unseasoned wood in my cellar during damp months, it wouldn't season at all, as the cellar is probably at near 100% relative humidity- there'd be no gradient for moisture to exit the wood.
What I am trying to think through is: whether humid air, by itself, in the absence of actual wetting of the wood will cause well-seasoned wood to "retake" moisture... and if so, by how much...
I welcome thoughts and suggestions, particularly ones where dots are connected on the basis of how you reach the conclusion you do.
Thanks!
I have some wood that seasoned after being cut/ split/ stacked (in a breezy sunny spot) for part of 2011 and up through now and that I won't need until winter- it's looking pretty excellent, and heft and "tone" when smacked all also seem ideal.
It's currently stacked in a place that I'd like to put my newly-cut (2012) wood, cause that spot is under a roofed overhang yet on a sun-baked breezy south-facing exposure.
Space is limited so it's somewhat of an either-or.
One semi-natural place to want to put the "good wood" is in my cellar, where it would be nearest the boiler, out of the weather, and make one and only one move until it goes in the firebox.
But... my house dates from 1840 and has a mostly unmortared stone foundation, in an area with heavy soil and a relatively high water table. Translate: while my basement dries out in winter, it's pretty detectably damp down there now.
I fully recognize that if I were to put unseasoned wood in my cellar during damp months, it wouldn't season at all, as the cellar is probably at near 100% relative humidity- there'd be no gradient for moisture to exit the wood.
What I am trying to think through is: whether humid air, by itself, in the absence of actual wetting of the wood will cause well-seasoned wood to "retake" moisture... and if so, by how much...
I welcome thoughts and suggestions, particularly ones where dots are connected on the basis of how you reach the conclusion you do.
Thanks!