One match, a soft whoosh, steady heat, clear glass, and a chimney that behaves all season. That kind of fire isn’t luck. It’s the natural payoff of dry fuel, smart stacks, and a clean, hot start.
The most important word in firewood is “seasoned,” and it doesn’t mean a special species, but rather it means dry. Freshly cut logs can hold an astonishing amount of water, often well over a third of their weight. Burn that and you’re boiling a pot inside your fireplace, not heating your home. Aim for wood that measures under twenty percent moisture so energy turns into heat instead of steam. The quickest check is a pin-type moisture meter. Re-split a log, press the pins into the fresh face, and read the number; do it on a few pieces and you’ll know exactly where your stack stands. Species matter for timing, too. Oak asks for patience and rewards it with long, even burns; maple, ash, and birch usually dry on a friendlier schedule; softwoods shed moisture quickly and shine as kindling.
Right-sized splits make everything easier. Cut pieces so they fit your stove or firebox with a little breathing room, then keep a natural variety on hand—smaller sticks to spark life, medium pieces to carry the flame, and a couple of confident chunks for the long, steady heat once you’ve built a good coal bed.
How you stack wood also decides how fast it dries. Sun and wind are your best friends here, so give them access. Lift the stack off the ground on rails, pallets, or a rack. Let the air move through rather than squeezing logs into a tight, deep wall. Cap the top against rain but leave the sides open so moisture can escape. And because pests like cozy, undisturbed corners, keep bulk stacks a little bit away from the house and only bring in what you’ll burn over a day or two.
Lighting technique might be the most satisfying upgrade of all. A top-down fire, or big pieces on the bottom, medium in the middle, fine kindling on top, catches cleaner while smoking less. Give the chimney a generous burst of air at the start so it warms quickly, then ease the controls once flames are established and a bright bed of coals is doing the heavy lifting. Dry wood and a hot start also keep creosote in check. If you burn often, pair those habits with a yearly chimney inspection and cleaning.
Storage is the quiet hero of a good burn season. An airy, tidy rack outdoors beats a fully tarped mound every time. Sweep leaves from around the base so the first row stays dry, keep stacks off bare soil, and resist the temptation to warehouse a winter’s worth inside. If termites are a local concern, distance is your friend. Let the wood live out in the yard and treat the house like a day-use lounge for a few armloads at a time.
Most missteps are easy to fix. If your stack seems to be aging in place instead of drying, loosen it up and give the sides room to breathe. If fires feel sluggish or smoky, revisit moisture content and give the chimney a hotter launch before dialing down.
Keep it simple with dry wood, smart stacks, clean starts. We can help with the first part. Reserve seasoned firewood delivery from Bergholz’s Tree Experts, and start your burn season with wood that lights easily, throws steady heat, and keeps your chimney happier.
