How to Store Firewood So It Burns Well This Winter
There is a real difference between wood that catches easily and burns with a steady, generous heat, and wood that hisses, smokes and struggles to stay lit. More often than not, that difference comes down to how the firewood has been stored. As the nights begin to draw in, it is worth getting your log supply in order now, so that by the time you want a fire lit, the wood is ready to give its best.
Here is our guide to storing firewood properly through the colder months, drawn from the simple principles that have kept hearths burning well for generations.
Season your wood before you burn it
Freshly cut, or "green", wood can hold a great deal of moisture, and wet wood is the most common reason a fire disappoints. Burning it wastes much of the heat simply driving off water, produces more smoke, and leaves more deposits in your flue. Well-seasoned wood, by contrast, lights readily and burns cleanly and hot.
Seasoning is the process of letting cut logs dry out, usually over many months, until their moisture content is low enough to burn well. Hardwoods such as oak, ash and beech are prized for the long, steady heat they give, though they take longer to season than softer woods. The key point is simple: give your wood time, and store it in a way that helps it dry rather than holding damp in.
Keep logs off the ground and under cover
Two things spoil firewood in storage: ground moisture rising up from below, and rain soaking in from above. Good storage guards against both.
Stack your logs off the ground rather than directly on soil or paving, so air can move beneath the pile and damp cannot creep up into the wood. A dedicated log holder or basket does this job neatly, keeping the stack tidy, raised and easy to draw from. Then keep the top of the pile covered so rain runs off, while leaving the sides open to the air.
Let the air get to it
Wood dries by airflow, so the worst thing you can do is seal a stack up tight. Resist the temptation to wrap the whole pile in a tarpaulin or shut it away in an airless corner, as trapped moisture will simply keep the wood damp. Instead, stack loosely enough that air can pass through, ideally in a spot that catches a little sun and breeze. A sheltered, open-sided position is far better than a fully enclosed one.
Keep a working supply close to the fire
While the bulk of your wood is best seasoned outdoors, it pays to keep a smaller, ready supply indoors near the hearth. Bringing a few days' worth of logs inside lets them come up to room temperature and shed any surface damp, so they light more easily when you need them. A good indoor log basket or storage holder keeps that working supply tidy, dry and to hand beside the wood burner, rather than trailing bark and damp across the floor.
It is a small thing, but a well-kept log store by the fire makes the daily ritual of laying and lighting a fire a genuine pleasure rather than a chore.
A few finishing touches for the well-kept hearth
With your wood stored properly, the rest is about tending the fire well. A sturdy fireside companion set keeps poker, brush, shovel, and tongs to hand for managing the fire and clearing the ash, while a matchstick holder keeps matches dry and close by. For those who like to make the most of a lit fire, a cast iron kettle on the stovetop is a fine way to warm the room and boil water for a brew at the same time.
In short
Store your firewood off the ground, covered from the rain but open to the air, and give it the time it needs to season. Keep a small supply indoors to warm through before burning, and you will find your fires easier to light, cleaner to burn and far more rewarding through the colder months. Like most traditional things done properly, it is simple, sensible, and pays you back all winter long.
Explore our log baskets and storage and the rest of our fireside range to keep your hearth well-kept this autumn.
