Stacking firewood properly is crucial for efficient drying, easier access, and maintaining a neat and safe woodpile. Proper stacking ensures good airflow, prevents moisture buildup, and helps reduce the risk of pests, mold, and rot. Whether you’re preparing for winter heating or storing wood for outdoor fires, following the right methods will ensure your firewood stays dry and burns efficiently.
Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to stack firewood correctly:
Step-by-Step Guide to Stacking Firewood
1. Choose the Right Location
Selecting a suitable location for your firewood stack is the first step to ensure it dries properly and stays accessible:
- Off the Ground: Choose a spot where you can elevate the firewood stack. Keeping the wood off the ground prevents moisture absorption from the soil and keeps pests away.
- Good Airflow: Ensure there’s good airflow around the stack to promote drying. An open area that gets a bit of wind and sunlight is ideal.
- Avoid Overhead Covering: Avoid stacking wood directly under trees or against walls that block airflow. However, a roof or tarp above (not directly on top) can help protect from rain.
- Proximity to Your Home: Stack the firewood reasonably close to where you’ll use it but not directly against your house. Stacking too close to your home can invite pests like termites and rodents.
2. Elevate the Woodpile
To keep the wood dry and well-ventilated, elevate it off the ground:
- Use Pallets or a Firewood Rack: Place wooden pallets or a metal firewood rack on the ground as a base. This will allow air to circulate underneath the stack and prevent moisture from wicking up from the ground.
- Concrete Blocks or Bricks: Alternatively, place concrete blocks, bricks, or large stones under the first layer of logs to keep them off the ground.
3. Stack the Firewood Neatly
Proper stacking technique is key to creating a stable and well-ventilated woodpile:
- Stack in Rows: Stack firewood in neat, single rows to allow maximum airflow. If you need to stack multiple rows, leave a few inches of space between each row.
- Criss-Cross the Ends: To create stable ends for your stack, alternate the direction of logs in a criss-cross or log-cabin style pattern at the ends. This will keep the stack from collapsing and maintain stability.
- Bark Side Up: If the wood has bark, stack it bark side up. The bark acts as a natural barrier to moisture, allowing rainwater to run off rather than soak into the wood.
- Keep Logs Level: Ensure each layer of wood is level. Uneven stacking can lead to instability and collapse.
4. Consider the Shape and Size of the Stack
The shape and size of your firewood stack can affect how well it dries and how accessible it is:
- Traditional Stacks (Rows): A simple row stack, 4 feet high and 8 feet long (common for a face cord), is most practical. It allows easy access to wood and good airflow.
- Circular Stacks (Holz Hausen Method): For a more compact and aesthetically pleasing stack, consider the Holz Hausen method. This involves stacking wood in a circular pattern, leaning logs inward as you go higher, and filling the center with smaller pieces. This method promotes excellent airflow and stability.
- Height Limit: Avoid stacking firewood too high. Four feet is a good maximum height for stability and safety.
5. Cover the Top, Not the Sides
Covering your woodpile helps protect it from rain and snow, but you want to maintain airflow:
- Top Cover Only: Use a tarp or metal roof to cover only the top of the stack, leaving the sides open for airflow. This will keep rain off the wood while allowing moisture to escape from the sides.
- Slope the Cover: If using a tarp, ensure it is sloped to allow rain and snow to run off easily. Secure the tarp with bungee cords or weights to prevent it from blowing away.
- Avoid Fully Enclosing: Never fully wrap or enclose the woodpile with plastic or tarps, as this traps moisture and promotes mold growth.
6. Allow Proper Seasoning Time
Seasoning is the process of drying firewood to reduce its moisture content for efficient burning:
- 6 Months to 2 Years: Most firewood needs to be seasoned for 6 months to 2 years. Hardwoods like oak take longer (up to 2 years), while softwoods like pine can dry in as little as 6-12 months.
- Monitor Moisture Content: Use a moisture meter to check the wood. The ideal moisture content for burning is around 15-20%.
7. Keep the Woodpile Maintained
Regular maintenance helps ensure your woodpile stays dry and safe:
- Inspect Regularly: Check your stack regularly for signs of rot, mold, or pests, and remove any compromised wood.
- Re-stack as Needed: If the pile becomes unstable or starts to lean, re-stack it to maintain stability.
- Rotate Wood: Use older wood first and keep adding new wood to the back of the stack to ensure you’re always using the driest, best-seasoned wood.
Conclusion
Properly stacking firewood is essential for efficient drying, safety, and convenience. By choosing the right location, elevating your stack, maintaining good airflow, and covering it properly, you can ensure your firewood stays dry, burns efficiently, and is ready for use whenever you need it. Follow these tips, and you’ll have a neat, well-organized woodpile that serves you well throughout the season.