Store Firewood

Firewood can provide warmth all winter long and a roaring fireplace can create a cozy setting. Storing firewood correctly can protect your wood and create a reserve during cold seasons. If you store firewood outdoors, choose a place near your home that's off of the soil. If you store it inside, choose a storage location like a shed or keep it in a trunk in your home. Make sure to protect firewood from moisture so it will burn effectively when you're ready to light a fire.

Steps

Selecting a Storage Location

1. Seek out a location close to your home. When storing firewood, it's important to keep convenience in mind. Firewood can be heavy to carry from outside into your home, and this can be especially stressful during the colder months. Seek out an appropriate space as close to your home as possible.
   • Keep in mind, if there aren't any appropriate spaces very close to your home, you can invest in a wheelbarrow to make transferring the firewood easier.
2. Find a location off of soil. When firewood is stored directly on the ground, it will rot quicker. Bacteria and bugs can get into the firewood, causing it to go bad. Look for a place off of soil.
   • Surfaces like concrete, asphalt, and clean gravel can be good surfaces for firewood.
   • If you can't find any appropriate surfaces, you can use sticks to elevate firewood off of the ground. You can also lay down a tarp underneath firewood.
3. See if there's room in an outdoor storage shed. If you have an outdoor storage shed, this a great place to store firewood. Inside a shed, firewood will be protected from things like rain. The shed will also provide a barrier between firewood and the soil. If possible, store firewood in an outdoor shed.
   • You can also store firewood in your garage.
4. Look for an appropriate location in your home. Some people store firewood in their home. If you have the room, it can be very convenient to store firewood in your home. Firewood will last longer away from moisture and soil.
   • You can store firewood in an old trunk, if you have one.
   • Some fireplaces have compartments built into the wall next to them where you can store firewood.
   • Make sure firewood you store indoors is fully dry. If you chopped or collected your own firewood, you should store it outside until it dries. It takes firewood around six months to fully dry out.

Storing Your Firewood Safely

1. Elevate firewood with 2 by 4 boards, if necessary. If you can't find an area outdoors off of the soil, you can easily elevate firewood using 2 by 4 boards. You can buy boards at any hardware store and create a quick storage area for your firewood.
   • Lay the boards on the ground about 15 inches apart. Lay down as many rows of boards as you need to stack all your firewood.
   • Lay your firewood over the boards, keeping them parallel to the boards. The boards should elevate the firewood off the ground slightly, preventing it from touching the soil.
2. Use a tarp to protect your firewood from moisture. You should always lay a tarp down over your firewood. You can buy a tarp at any hardware store. Simply lay the tarp over the firewood and tie it down to secure it. You can also weigh the tarp down with something like bricks.
   • It's important to allow for some air circulation, as you don't want your firewood to get too dry. You should leave the sides of your stack open to allow for airflow.
3. Stack firewood effectively. When stacking firewood, make sure to do so effectively. Stacking your firewood incorrectly can cause it to rot quicker.
   • You should always stack your firewood rather than throwing it in a pile. This will promote air circulation and keep firewood from drying out.
   • Never stack firewood against a wall when stacking it outdoors. This can leave firewood vulnerable to moisture and bacteria. Always leave a few inches of space between your firewood and a wall.
   • It's okay to stack firewood against a wall if you're stacking it indoors.

Avoiding Pitfalls

1. Do not put a tarp over firewood before it's dry. Wet firewood needs to dry out before it can be stored safely. Wet wood needs to be exposed to open air to dry out. If you've just collected firewood, refrain from putting a tarp over it.
   • If it's going to rain, it's appropriate to cover wet firewood with a tarp. Just make sure to leave the sides of firewood pile uncovered.
2. Makes sure your firewood is ready before using it. You do not want to throw wet firewood into your fireplace. Before using your firewood, make sure it's adequately dry.
   • Dry firewood will be gray with cracks along the edges.
   • Dry firewood will also be much lighter than wet firewood.
3. Check any local regulations regarding firewood storage. It's possible your city or neighborhood may have regulations about storing firewood. Look over local codes in your area before choosing a storage method for your firewood. You want to make sure you store your firewood legally.

Warnings

• Keep children away from firewood stacks and rows. Teach kids that the woodpile is not a place to play.
• Watch for snakes around stored piles of wood. Snakes hide in woodpiles to take refuge from cold temperatures and hide from other predators.

Related Articles

• Dry Firewood

Sources and Citations

See also

• Chop Wood
• Split Gnarly Firewood
• Build a Sawbuck for Cutting Firewood
• Light a Match
• Make a Fire Starter Using a Straw
• Measure a Cord of Wood
• Season Firewood
• Use a Fire Starter
• Dry Firewood
• Dispose of Burnt Firewood and Ash Safely

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• Dry Firewood