OK, I'm getting the first 2 cord delivered tomorrow of maple that's been down, but not split, for a year and a half. Any idea what range moisture content I should be looking for? Thanks.
I say 33%.HollowHill said:Came in at 24 - 30%. Hope it will get down below 20 by Jan.
HollowHill said:Came in at 24 - 30%. Hope it will get down below 20 by Jan.
CTYank said:HollowHill said:Came in at 24 - 30%. Hope it will get down below 20 by Jan.
20% MC would be a good start for many current stoves. 10% would be a big improvement.
Say you get it down to 20% outdoors, and start gradually bringing some in, once you start burning. And you stack that near the stove, maybe a couple of feet away, depending on infrared intensity. You might see, as in my case, the MC go off-scale low, and the wood burn fantastically. (Quick-lighting, clean-burning, un-fussy.)
Side benefit in many cases: the moisture driven out of the wood humidifies the house. Don't get carried away with that and damage the house, though. The "tighter" the house, the more that's in play.
Well, that is what I was thinking, too, to bring it in the garage when it gets to be late Fall. But, the people I'm buying the stove from are recommending that I leave it out in the snow because of the shorter than desired seasoning time.Wood Heat Stoves said:20% is about maximum but lower would be better. Keep in mind that wood can absorb moisture outside from humidity under a tarp or direct rain or snow that blows under a cover, so bring it indoors for as long as possible before burning.
HollowHill said:Well, that is what I was thinking, too, to bring it in the garage when it gets to be late Fall. But, the people I'm buying the stove from are recommending that I leave it out in the snow because of the shorter than desired seasoning time.Wood Heat Stoves said:20% is about maximum but lower would be better. Keep in mind that wood can absorb moisture outside from humidity under a tarp or direct rain or snow that blows under a cover, so bring it indoors for as long as possible before burning.