Page 17
Installation and Operation Manual - 2000
ENGLISH
Here are some things to consider in estimating drying time:
− Firewood takes a long time to dry;
− Firewood bought from a dealer is rarely
dry enough to burn, so it is advisable
to buy the wood in spring and dry it
yourself;
− Drying happens faster in dry weather
than in damp, maritime climates;
− Drying happens faster in warm summer
weather than in winter weather;
− Small pieces dry more quickly than
large pieces;
− Split pieces dry more quickly than
unsplit rounds;
− Softwoods take less time to dry than hardwoods;
− Softwoods like pine, spruce, and poplar/aspen can be dry enough to burn after being stacked in
the open for only the summer months;
− Hardwoods like oak, maple and ash can take one, or even two years to dry fully, especially if the
pieces are big;
− Firewood dries more quickly when stacked in the open where it is exposed to sun and wind; it takes
much longer to dry when stacked in a wood shed;
− Firewood that is ready to burn has a moisture content between15% and 20% by weight and will
allow your stove to produce its highest possible efficiency.
3.1.6 Judging Firewood Moisture Content
You can find out if some firewood is dry enough to burn by using these guidelines:
− Cracks form at the ends of logs as they dry,
− As it dries in the sun, the wood turns from white or cream colored to grey or yellow,
− Bang two pieces of wood together; seasoned wood sounds hollow and wet wood sounds dull,
− Dry wood is much lighter in weight than wet wood,
− Split a piece, and if the fresh face feels warm and dry it is dry
enough to burn; if it feels damp, it is too wet,
− Burn a piece; wet wood hisses and sizzles in the fire and dry
wood does not.
You could buy a wood moisture meter to test your firewood.
3.1.7 Manufactured Logs
Do not burn manufactured logs made of wax impregnated sawdust or
logs with any chemical additives. Manufactured logs made of 100%
compressed sawdust can be burned, but use caution in the number
of these logs burned at one time. Start with one manufactured log
and see how the stove reacts. Never use more than two manufactured
logs.
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