Is Your Firewood Ready to Burn?

If you use a wood stove or fireplace, now is the time to make sure your firewood is covered and out of the weather.

Wet firewood boils when it burns. With wet wood, it can be harder to get a fire going and keep it burning. Wet firewood also makes a smoky fire with little heat, and wastes wood. So, it just makes sense to burn dry firewood. Wood that has been split, dried and stored under cover for at least six months usually burns best. Here's how to make sure your wood is dry enough to burn:

• If you buy wood from an independent firewood seller, ask them if the wood has been properly seasoned. It should have been dried under cover for at least six months. If not, you will need to dry it for several months before you can burn it.

• Use a moisture meter to check the  moisture content of split firewood. The goal is less than 20 percent moisture content.

And remember - burning small, hot fires gives you more heat and less smoke!