Moisture in wood

[Jan Pijpelink]

I grew up in the Netherlands with coal stoves, which were replaced by NG stoves. I have had some open fireplaces and since a few years I am using wood stoves. I still consider myself a beginner and need to learn a lot. I just finished a 2 cord load of red oak that had a moisture content of 9-12%. I was pretty happy with that. I recently started to burn oak and maple with a 19-22% content. According to you experts, what is the maximum moisture content in wood you want to load in a wood stove?

 

[begreen]

Try to keep it under 20%.

 

[Grisu]

9% to 12% for red oak sounds low. How do you measure the moisture content? The wood temp should be above freezing. Then split some pieces in half and press the pins of the moisture meter in the center of the fresh surface. That reading should be below 20%.

 

[TheRambler]

I'd say less than 20% is optimal, 20-25% is ok but far from ideal, and 25-30% is marginal to unburnale.

 

[Jan Pijpelink]

9% to 12% for red oak sounds low. How do you measure the moisture content? The wood temp should be above freezing. Then split some pieces in half and press the pins of the moisture meter in the center of the fresh surface. That reading should be below 20%.

Moisture meter, at room temperature. Has been seasoned for over 2 years. I will not measure moisture if not at room temp.

 

[Grisu]

When you resplit the pieces and take the measurement of the new surface then you are good. 9% to 12% is about as low as wood can get in your climate and there are enough people who just measure on the outside. But with over 2 years of seasoning your wood is probably that good.

 

[Jan Pijpelink]

When you resplit the pieces and take the measurement of the new surface then you are good. 9% to 12% is about as low as wood can get in your climate and there are enough people who just measure on the outside. But with over 2 years of seasoning your wood is probably that good.

I always measure on a fresh split after the pieces (I take more than 1 sample) are indoors for 24 hours. I measured the split side, not the bark side.

 

[Poindexter]

I think of 20% MC as a maximum wetness i want in my stove.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

I think you have an ideal situation for burning, you have wood under 20% and you have wood on its way to being under 20 too, so keep burning the good dry red oak and keep replenishing your wood stash so you are always burning under 20 wood for years to come......

 

[Stubborn Dutchman]

Do to moving too far to economically haul my wood stash, I'm forced to burn all ash with a MC of 22-24%. Boy can I tell the difference! It takes forever for it to really catch and most of the time I can't dial down all the way or the fire dies out. Same stove, with just a slightly shorter class A chimney(but good draft) . I didn't realize how spoiled I was with the drier wood. I won't have this problem next winter, for sure!