Beyond frustrated with this year's wood; will not burn right.

[tyler-king]

I have a two story house with a furnace in the basement, all works well and always have.. except for this year.

I order my wood long from my supplier (unfortunately he's also the only supplier in the area) and this year it was really late. Meaning, I ordered 7 cord of spruce in May and he was so backed-up that I'd get it late this year, instead of getting it at a decent time. So, I didn't get it until the last week of October! When we already had snow flakes coming down..

Already I knew that would be bad news because it wouldn't be chopped and baking in the summer sun. Anyways, I cut it all up with my chainsaw a few weeks ago, packed it all away in my sheds and took a moisture reading. Most of the logs ranged from 17%-21% in content. So the trees were most likely cut the year before and laid on the ground until it got to me.

I knew it wouldn't burn like my good stuff from previous years (8%-10%), really-dry wood. But I didn't think it would be this difficult. The stuff just doesn't want to burn. It chars/coals up, sizzles a bit when I first throw a small log in as well. I have to have the furnace blower running and draft open all the way for a couple hours before it catches really well and has a good bed of coals where I can throw wood in. Its a constant drag. Luckily I work at home to tend on it but I'm tired of it. I'm used to throwing wood in and forgetting about it for most of the day.

I know theres probably not much I can do... I've had a cord in my basement for a few weeks now near the furnace and it hasent changed in moisture content.

Does anyone have any suggestions on getting it going good, any experience? Should I split every log I have to help?

TL;DR Wood supplier was late, now wood won't burn good because its not properly seasoned. What can I do to help it burn better.

 

[Huntindog1]

Kindling and Fire Starter. (A Good One)

 

[gregbesia]

bummer. look for some free wood pallets, cut them up and mix with the wood you have. good luck

 

[tyler-king]

Yeah I already have three pallets of already split pallet-wood. I usually ball up newspaper, then lay the split pallet wood in a grid/grate format a few layers up. It always burns hot and fine. I then add a layer of branches. After it burns good and creates some coal I put on a log, and with this wood, its the problem it seems because it tends to sizzle and I guess it hurts the heat I've built up.

I found the only way I can get it going really well is leave the door jared open about an inch or two for 15 minutes and have a completely raging fire in there before I can close the door and put the draft down. It helps but it still doesnt burn the same sadly.

I've been given some suggestions to try a different fire starter method so I'm going to give that a try.

Just sucks.. never been put in this situation before, always burned fine but this stuff is a touture. A friend suggested splitting would help not only dry it quicker but burn better which is why I mentioned it in my original post but I'd rather not spend the time to split everything if its not going to make a difference.

 

[Jags]

Put the logs directly on the pallet wood, don't wait for that stuff to get to the coaling point. No reason to not take advantage of the extra heat that would be on the not so dry logs. And yes, splitting the wood again will also help by increasing the surface area.

And I have not seen it mentioned yet, so....Keep a careful eye on your stack this year. Clean as needed. You already know that you are burning sub par wood, don't let it cause you any more trouble.

 

[saskwoodburner]

Do you have access to any areas with standing dead/dead fall that you could pillage? Brush piles that the RM or farmers have pushed down clearing land for road or field edges?

Old junky pallets may be found at lumber yards, trucking/warehousing places, the back of walmart, Canadian Tire etc

 

[BigFir]

Split it forsure...... and put a fan on the wood you have in your furnace room, it will help take the moisture out of the wood a lot faster!

 

[tyler-king]

Split it forsure...... and put a fan on the wood you have in your furnace room, it will help take the moisture out of the wood a lot faster!

If its worth it, ill spend the time on it. As in a regular standing rotating fan?

 

[BigFir]

Yes and even on low speed will help. The odd fir I get that is still a little damp I store like this for a few day and it makes a huge difference.

 

[tyler-king]

Yes and even on low speed will help. The odd fir I get that is still a little damp I store like this for a few day and it makes a huge difference.

Thanks. Gives me good confidence. I'll split the cord in my basement, put a couple fans on it and check on it over the week or two and see if I can notice a difference.

 

[BigFir]

If it is as wet as you say, you will here it cracking within a day or two. It is a great sound! I don't know if this would work as fast with a hardwood......

 

[tyler-king]

If it is as wet as you say, you will here it cracking within a day or two. It is a great sound! I don't know if this would work as fast with a hardwood......

It should be fine. Spruce is not a hardwood to my knowledge.

 

[BigFir]

It is a softwood.

 

[begreen]

How are you measure the wood moisture content? This wood definitely does not sound like it has only 17-21% MC.

 

[tyler-king]

How are you measure the wood moisture content? This wood definitely does not sound like it has only 17-21% MC.

I have a deep probe reader. So stick it directly into a full log. Also split a few and took several readings from the inside. All consistent both inside and out.

 

[begreen]

Perhaps it is not reading correctly? Is the wood being measured at room temp? 20% wood doesn't sizzle on the ends and 8% wood is like kiln dried flooring moisture.

 

[tyler-king]

I guess its possible its not reading right. I guess I'll have to try and test it on some fresh stuff to see its reading. I read it both outdoors in -5C and in my basement at around 18-20C. Its been consistent readings for the whole load.. I should test it to be sure though, good point.

 

[firefighterjake]

Short term solution: Pallets . . . bust them up and mix them in to help "drive" out the excess moisture.

Long term solution: If possible . . . order ahead so you're always working with wood that has been around for an extra year.

 

[brad wilton]

Dehumidifier

 

[BradleyW]

I agree with Jags, get the wood and pallets in there together to take full advantage of the extra heat from the pallets. I also wonder about using the branches--I've never had much luck with using even very small, very dry unsplit branches as kindling. It has to be split to burn well in my experience, no matter what.

 

[Smoked]

I wonder about the meters. I wonder if they are calibrated for interior wood where a 0%is in reality 5% or something like that. I split and checked some 2 year CSS cherry I have been griping about and it was 10-12% on the fresh split and 12-14% on the exposed split...yea interesting but it has been a wet fall. I still get some sizzlers though and some loads that are cranky. 12-14% on the high end with marginal performance just makes me wonder if there is not something assumed built it on the meter???

 

[revdocjim]

To be sure, the meter readings don't sound right since 20% wood should burn great. But it really isn't that important in this case since your burning experience is confirming that the wood isn't dry enough. So I wouldn't waste too much time or energy worrying about the meter. Just follow the various tips already given for dealing with wood that isn't quite dry enough.

 

[Poindexter]

OP, are you reading moisture content by sticking the pins into the cut end of a round log with bark all the way around the surface of the log?

It's the only way I can make the numbers you see in the meter jibe with the behavior you see in the firebox.

I hope the fresh splits in your furnace room dry out pretty quick for you, is it smelling like pine forest in your basement?

 

[ddahlgren]

A simple analogy bark is like your skin and keeps the inside on the inside. You get cut and inside is now outside. You split the wood the same happens and water has a better path to leave. I have never had much luck burning a full round anything at any size or age. I walked away from wood because I had no good suppliers and none was really seasoned. The few times I got some well seasoned wood it was epic the rest the pain you describe.

 

[Huntindog1]

I wonder about the meters. I wonder if they are calibrated for interior wood where a 0%is in reality 5% or something like that. I split and checked some 2 year CSS cherry I have been griping about and it was 10-12% on the fresh split and 12-14% on the exposed split...yea interesting but it has been a wet fall. I still get some sizzlers though and some loads that are cranky. 12-14% on the high end with marginal performance just makes me wonder if there is not something assumed built it on the meter???

My moisture meter has a option to select firewood. Its the one they sell at Lowes. Looks like its setting is for wood then one for building material.
For wood it goes from 5% to 50 %