An interesting idea was proposed to me by a neighbor. We were talking about one of my wood piles and talking about seasoning. I mentioned to him that even though most of the stacked wood was ash that was dieing, I stacked it approximately 54" high. By fall it was down to about 46." (I forgot to write down the 46". I think that is right but will measure again today and write it down this time.) At this point he said that if I measure that wood pile in late summer it will have expanded.
Now there is something I never considered but I do not think he is right. His theory is that in his house there is a spot where the floor will separate in the winter but when warm weather comes it will expand back. My thought is that he is comparing what happens in an enclosed environment vs. the wood which is always out in the weather. Heating the home in winter dries the air further (otherwise nobody would have humidifiers) which causes his shrinkage. Then when he quits heating and yes, more humidity in the summer it goes back. I do not think this would happen to any great extent in the wood pile. However, I am going to do some measuring from time to time.
I can say for certain that the wood pile is the same height now as it was last year when I measured in September and December.
Has anyone ever done experimenting or keeping track of their wood shrinkage like this?
Now there is something I never considered but I do not think he is right. His theory is that in his house there is a spot where the floor will separate in the winter but when warm weather comes it will expand back. My thought is that he is comparing what happens in an enclosed environment vs. the wood which is always out in the weather. Heating the home in winter dries the air further (otherwise nobody would have humidifiers) which causes his shrinkage. Then when he quits heating and yes, more humidity in the summer it goes back. I do not think this would happen to any great extent in the wood pile. However, I am going to do some measuring from time to time.
I can say for certain that the wood pile is the same height now as it was last year when I measured in September and December.
Has anyone ever done experimenting or keeping track of their wood shrinkage like this?