Why wet wood costs you
Water in the log has to boil off before the wood can burn well, and that takes heat that would otherwise go into the room. A wet fire runs cool and smoky, which blackens the glass and leaves creosote in the chimney.
How long to season
EPA guidance gave a minimum of 6 months for softwood and 12 months for hardwood, split and stacked. EPA’s advice also set a target of 20 percent moisture or less. Dense oak in a damp climate often takes longer, so measure and do not count on the calendar.
How to stack
Split first, since wood dries through its split faces. Stack it off the ground, in a row with air around it, and cover only the top. Covering the sides traps moisture. Sun and wind do most of the work.
What to burn, what to avoid
Burn dry, untreated wood. Do not burn painted, treated or pressure-treated lumber, trash, or driftwood, which can release harmful fumes. EPA’s Burn Wise pages are no longer updated, though this advice is standard across US state air agencies.
Questions that keep arriving by post
How do I test firewood moisture?
Split a piece and push a pin meter into the fresh inner face, along the grain. A reading on the outside of a log tells you little.
Does kiln-dried wood need seasoning?
Not if it reads dry when you buy it. Test it anyway, and keep it under cover, since dry wood can take up moisture again.
How much wood is a cord?
A cord is 128 cubic feet of stacked wood, a stack 4 by 4 by 8 feet. A face cord or rick is a single row and only a fraction of that, so ask the seller for the dimensions.
Last reviewed November 1, 2026