How To Store Firewood Outside In Summer?

It is very important to correctly store your firewood to prolong its life. There seems to be a lot of confusion amongst people when it comes to storing their firewood. Let’s take a look at how to correctly store the firewood and what factors you should keep in mind.

While storing firewood, make sure to keep it above the ground and in a clear area to prevent moisture contact from the ground. Also, ensure plenty of sunlight and airflow. Store the firewood at least 15-20ft away from the house and any property to prevent pests and mold from getting to your house.

firewood storage outside in summer

Tips For Storing Firewood Outside In The Summer Season

Let’s take a look at everything you need to keep in mind while storing firewood outside during the summer season.

Ventilation And Sunlight

The most important thing which you need to keep in mind while storing firewood is to ensure proper sunlight and ventilation.

Keep the firewood outside in an area that is not covered by a shade and that receives plenty of sunlight. You can also build a shed for storing your firewood which can protect the logs from rain or other outside elements.

Stacking the firewood correctly will also ensure proper ventilation to each log piece in the stack.

Proper Stacking

It is very important to properly stack your firewood, this will ensure proper ventilation and sunlight access in case you are not storing the wood in a shed.

Stack the wood on top of each other, in a straight line. If the wood is split, make sure that the bark is facing downwards if possible. This will ease the evaporation process and prevent moisture from the wood from getting stuck under the bark.

If you do not have a rack to stack the firewood, stack the sides using a criss-cross pattern to add more stability to the sides.

Keep a gap of at least 4-6 inches between the ground and the log. This will protect the firewood from coming in contact with moisture on the ground or rainwater.

If your region receives a lot of rainfall, always cover the stack with a tarp but only do it when you think it is about to rain. Covering the stack with a tarp will prolong the drying process, and encourages rotting and getting mold on the firewood.

If you do not want to use a tarp at times it starts to rain, It is a good idea to build a permanent roof over your stack so it does not come in contact with rainfall. It is important not to cover the sides of the stacks because then the airflow between logs remains.

It is always better to cut the firewood down to quarter splits. This increases their surface area which leads to quicker drying times.

Should You Store Firewood Inside During Summer?

Unless you live in a region where it rains a lot during this season, the ideal place for storing firewood would be outside. Just make sure that the stack is protected from sudden rain and has adequate airflow to prevent rotting in moist conditions.

Things To Keep In Mind While Storing Firewood In The Winter

Chances are that you will need to store the firewood during the winter season as well. Although most of the factors are the same as storing the firewood at an elevation to prevent moisture contact and storing them away from the house, there are some additional factors that you need to keep in mind.

During the winter season, in most regions, there is a high chance of dew, moisture, frost, snow, or rain. Prolonged exposure to moisture will end up ruining your seasoned wood. The easiest way to protect your firewood is to cover it with a plastic tarp for the winter.

If the temperatures are below freezing, there is no reason to remove the tarp on daily basis. Instead, you can keep the tarp on for the whole winter season.
Because of the low temperatures, all the moisture inside the wood is frozen, thus it will not start to rot.

Conclusion

Store the firewood in a stack, at least 15-20ft away from the house and in an area where it receives plenty of sunlight and ventilation. Protect the stack from any water and cover it with a tarp if it rains in your region.

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