Does burning extremely dry firewood in a wood burning stove pose any risks?

[Itslay90]

Does burning extremely dry firewood in a wood burning stove pose any risks??

 

[Woodsplitter67]

The chances of someone getting extremely dry wood is pretty slim. Most folks are getting subpar wood delivered. That being said if your kiln drying your own wood and make a mistake and leave it in the kiln to long you can get extremely dry wood. I did this myself. I got my oak down to 6% and cherry down to roughly 2% one year. Extremely dry wood doesn't change the amount of BTUs in the box, but the main difference is how fast the load takes off. Extremely dry wood catches fire quickly. You need to watch the stove a little closer and cut your air back quicker for sure. I dont consider it a real risk, but you cant treat it like its 20%MC wood either.

 

[Highbeam]

It’s really easy to dry woodshed wood to 12% even in wet western Washington. There is an equilibrium MC or a natural minimum for each location that is not too dry so getting to 2% is not going to happen for most of us outside of artificial drying.

I propose that the open secondaries of a noncat are more likely to run away on you than a cat stove design with no secondary air.

 

[Ctwoodtick]

Not going to get firewood “ too dry”, unless artificial dried.
The one myth I can think of about burning wood that is dry being dangerous would be the idea that someone has been poorly burning wet wood and a good bunch of creosote develops. Then that same person gets their hands on good dry wood and the fireplace or stove takes off because the user wasn’t aware of the difference between wet and dry wood. A situation like that does not mean the dry wood is the risk but the user themselves, but still worth mentioning.

 

[bigealta]

Yes over fire risk if you burn it like your 20% or greater wood.
Solution is to cut air supply much quicker and watch the stove pipe temps as others have said.
Also mix it with wetter wood if that's what you have to help clean up what could be a "too wet burn".

 

[Turbo89]

I have a lot of very dry, sub 10% wood in burning down (stored in doors, almost 10yrs after seasoned). As noted above it takes off a bit faster, and it seems to burn a little shorter than higher moisture content wood of the same species.

One thing that is interesting is that I can literally put a bic lighter to the splits and start the fire with no kindling.

Ive been using it to get the fire going and mixing it in with less seasoned wood.

 

[Ctwoodtick]

I have a lot of very dry, sub 10% wood in burning down (stored in doors, almost 10yrs after seasoned). As noted above it takes off a bit faster, and it seems to burn a little shorter than higher moisture content wood of the same species.

One thing that is interesting is that I can literally put a bic lighter to the splits and start the fire with no kindling.

Ive been using it to get the fire going and mixing it in with less seasoned wood.

Wow, that is great to have wood that dry. The driest I can get my wood in humid southern CT is about 17%. I don’t have a shed though. Top covered with tin roof so water hits the sides no doubt.

 

[Turbo89]

Wow, that is great to have wood that dry. The driest I can get my wood in humid southern CT is about 17%. I don’t have a shed though. Top covered with tin roof so water hits the sides no doubt.

This stuff is stacked indoors ( basement), off the floor and sort of nearish the heat blower. This is is maine, so should be achievable for you if you have the space and/or desire. Previous to that it was stacked outdoors on pallets with a top covering.

The first time I split and measured a piece it was 8%. I almost didn’t believe it, and thought my meter was broken.