Hardwoods provide a longer lasting fire and are best used after preheating the chimney. If hardwoods are unavailable, you can control your fire s burn rate by using larger pieces of wood. The seasoning, or drying, process allows most of the natural moisture found in wood to evaporate, making it easier to burn. To properly season wood, split the logs as soon as possible and stack them in a dry spot for 6-18 months. Pile the wood loosely, allowing air to circulate through the split logs.
Hardwoods take longer to dry than softwoods.
Humidity and temperature levels also impact drying time. A. Avoid placing pieces of wood in parallel directions, where they may stack too closely. Vary the position of the wood in the firebox to maximize the exposed surface area of each piece of wood. Only use wood properly sized for your stove s fire chamber. Never burn garbage, plastic, foil, or any kind of chemically treated or painted wood.