Burning somewhat wet wood

[farmboy05]

So i just started burning this weekend. I'm already hooked! I haven't quite got the temps people say I should see, and my glass is getting a bit dirty.

I'm positive it's the wood. It's soft maple CCS since early spring, but not covered. It's windy enough here in Northern Iowa (they're putting a ton of wind farms here for a good reason) that i figured I'd be ok, guess not lol.

A fresh split is reading 25-27% MC. It lights and burns really well, just the issues above. I don't really mind it, but I'm concerned about build up in the chimney. Is this wet enough to cause big issues? Or should i be ok for a month or two till i get a brush and do a bottom up clean? The chimney is inside the house and from the stove to the cap, it's about 20' tall.

I'm going to maybe get a load from a firewood dealer or two and see how that turns out. But at a little over $100 per pickup load around here, it's not something I want to do much of. One guy who's ad claimed to know what seasoned meaned, when i emailed him he said his ash/hardwood mix has been split for at least a year. Seasoned... [emoji1]

 

[toddnic]

Your wood should be under 20% moisture. It normally takes 2 to 3 years to get really good seasoned wood. Keep an eye on your chimney for build up. You should be alright for a month or so. FYI, I've never been able to get really good seasoned wood from a firewood dealer.

 

[Andy S.]

I'm surprised soft maple is still that high CSS since early spring. Are they really big splits? Maybe split them again and keep them in the wind. Anything you buy will be for next year, IMO.

 

[Ralphie Boy]

I'm going to maybe get a load from a firewood dealer

I hate to throw a wet blanket over your chimney, but guaranteed it won't be ready until next winter and maybe not even then depending on species. (of wood and dealer)

 

[Bigg_Redd]

I often burn non-ideal wood. My wood this year is all dry and ready but last year I burned 3+ cord of fairly wet Bigleaf Maple. It's what I had and with a bit of extra work it kept my house warm.

 

[BrotherBart]

Burn the 20% early and save the 27% for later this winter. It won't be 27% by then. Burn hot fires and you will be fine. I would burn 20% wood till the cows come home, it does not have to be popcorn fart dry.

But get out there and top cover it. Now.

 

[farmboy05]

So the ones i was pulling were on top so they were most subject to rain. Also i think they might have been a little punky when i stacked them.

I pulled some others from a couple other spots in my stack that just looked better and down lower in the stack and they came out to 15-16% on a fresh split face! [emoji3] So I lucked out.

I'll probably still order a load from a dealer or two to see where there stuff comes out at. And that way I have some hardwood for next year since I'm only able to get at softwoods myself.