How much moisture is lost while storing indoors for a week?

[MagdalenaP]

If wood is put in the same room as the stove (let's say for arguments sake, 5 feet away), for a week, how much do you think it will lose, percentage wise?

(I'd test myself, but don't have stove put in, and moisture meter is on order).

 

[woodhog73]

It will depend on the species of wood. I burn mainly oak. If it’s green fresh cut I would say a week inside in a hot area near the stove isn’t going to dry it enough to burn. But if it were seasoned 1 year and partially dry then doing what you suggest might work enough to burn the wood.

For what it’s worth I have a family member who has a big wood furnace in the basement. He does what your describing. Within a couple weeks his wood is somewhat dry. But the basement is 90 plus degrees it’s a very big wood furnace in an insulated basement with no windows.

If you find yourself with less than ideal moisture content in your wood, you can resplit it smaller. The smaller the splits are the faster they will dry.

 

[Easy Livin’ 3000]

If wood is put in the same room as the stove (let's say for arguments sake, 5 feet away), for a week, how much do you think it will lose, percentage wise?

(I'd test myself, but don't have stove put in, and moisture meter is on order).

That's what we do. It helps, but not much if the wood wasn't seasoned to begin with. We also have a whole ritual of putting the wood that's going in next in front of the fire while we're around and awake, to get as much water out before it goes in.

 

[hickoryhoarder]

Well, it'll dry some, but I wouldn't look for dramatic results. I bring it in ahead of time mainly to have the outside of the wood nice and dry.

 

[weatherguy]

If its wet from rain quite a bit, if its green not much. A lot of my wood has been wet from rain/snow. A week in the garage and a few days in the rack in the stove room and it's as dry as a popcorn fart.

 

[twd000]

I've measured 3-5% moisture reduction in 3 days near my stove. This is 2-year seasoned wood that has gotten soaked with rain all summer. Smaller splits lose much more than larger splits.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

A side benefit is it humidifiers your house while drying.

 

[maple1]

Can't give a number, but if your wood is marginal it will improve it.

Also helps to re-split smaller first, and set up a fan blowing air through or at the stack. A big box fan on low works pretty good. If your house is dry (as most are in winter), a couple of weeks can make a big difference. And yes it will humidify.

 

[Easy Livin’ 3000]

 

[BoiledOver]

If its wet from rain quite a bit, if its green not much. A lot of my wood has been wet from rain/snow. A week in the garage and a few days in the rack in the stove room and it's as dry as a popcorn fart.

I agree with @weatherguy It will take the rain wetted content away in a hurry but will have little impact on the seasoning process. Five days is a very short time out in the open for seasoning. In a solar kiln 5 days might show results. Like many others, I bring the firewood into the boiler room in weekly amounts to allow that dry time.