Splitting and Seasoning Firewood

Freshly cut wood can be up to half water by weight, and a fire burning it spends its heat boiling that water off, with smoke and tar in the chimney. Firewood is ready below 20 % moisture. Splitting opens the wood so it dries, and a stack in sun and wind does the rest: softwoods take about 6 to 12 months, hardwoods such as oak and beech 12 to 24. Test a freshly split face with a moisture meter, never the weathered outside.