By James Rodriguez, Central Chimney Service.
More chimney problems trace back to the woodpile than to the chimney. Wet wood is the single largest cause of heavy creosote, poor heat output, and smoky rooms, and August is the last realistic month to do anything about this winter’s supply.
What seasoned actually means
Seasoned wood is wood dried to roughly twenty percent moisture content or less. Freshly cut wood can be half water by weight, and that water has to be boiled off before the wood will burn properly.
That is not a figure of speech. Energy that goes into evaporating water is energy that does not heat your house, which is why green wood hisses, produces weak flames, and leaves a firebox full of unburned material. Worse, the resulting cool, moisture-laden smoke condenses on the flue walls as creosote instead of exiting as gas.
Why time alone is not enough
Wood dries from the exposed end grain and the split faces, not through the bark. A round log left whole for a year is often still wet in the middle, because bark is designed to keep moisture in.
So: split it, and split it smaller than feels necessary. Then stack it off the ground on pallets or rails, in single rows rather than a solid block, with the rows spaced so air moves between them. Orient the rows so the prevailing wind runs along them. Cover only the top — a tarp wrapped down the sides turns the stack into a humidity chamber and defeats the whole exercise.
Species and realistic timelines
Dense hardwoods hold the most heat per piece and take the longest to dry. Oak is the extreme case and commonly needs a full two years split and stacked; hickory and hard maple want a year or more. Ash is the exception among the dense woods, drying faster than its density suggests.
Softer woods — birch, cherry, soft maple — can be ready in six to twelve months. What this means for August is straightforward: anything you split and stack now is next winter’s wood, not this winter’s. For this December you need wood that was split and stacked last year, and you should verify that rather than take a seller’s word for it.
Where you put the stack matters more than how much you buy. A pile in deep shade against a fence, boxed in on three sides, will still be wet next winter no matter how many months it sits there. The same wood in sun and open wind can shed most of its moisture over a single summer. If the only spot available is shaded, compensate by splitting smaller and stacking in narrower rows with wider gaps between them, and accept that it needs a longer runway before it is ready to burn.
How to check a delivery
Four tests, none of which need equipment. Look at the ends for radial cracks spreading from the center, which develop as wood dries. Knock two pieces together — seasoned wood gives a sharp crack, green wood a dull thud. Compare weight between similar-sized pieces of the same species; dry wood is noticeably lighter. And check the bark, which loosens or falls off on well-seasoned pieces.
A moisture meter on a freshly split face settles it for a few dollars. Never burn painted, treated, or construction lumber, driftwood, or anything with adhesive in it. Homeowners around Warrenville often have room for a proper two-row stack with real air movement, which is the biggest single factor in how fast wood dries [Observed]. Our DIY chimney care guide covers burning practices in more detail.
Before the first fire in Warrenville
Good wood in a dirty flue is still a problem. Central Chimney Service is insured and bonded, serves Warrenville seven days a week from 7 AM to 7 PM, and gives the price up front. Twenty-nine years in the trade. Book a chimney sweep or call (815) 305-5510.
Frequently asked questions about seasoning firewood
How can I tell if firewood is seasoned without a meter?
Look for radial cracks in the end grain, listen for a sharp crack rather than a dull thud when two pieces are knocked together, notice whether the piece feels light for its size, and check whether the bark has loosened. Any two of those together is a reasonable indicator.
Is kiln-dried firewood worth the extra cost?
It is genuinely dry and immediately usable, which matters if you have run out of time to season your own. Whether the premium is worth it depends on how much you burn. For occasional weekend fires it often is; for primary heating it adds up quickly.
Can I speed up seasoning?
Only by improving the conditions: split smaller, stack in single rows, raise it off the ground, expose it to sun and wind, and cover only the top. There is no method that turns green oak into seasoned oak in a season. Buying already-seasoned wood is the only real shortcut.
Is it bad to store firewood against the house?
It is generally discouraged. A stack against the wall holds moisture against the siding, blocks drying airflow on that side, and gives insects and rodents a sheltered route to the structure. A short distance away is better for the wood and the house.
What is the worst wood to burn in a fireplace?
Anything painted, treated, glued, or salvaged from construction, plus driftwood, which carries salt that corrodes metal components. Beyond that, unseasoned wood of any species and heavy resinous softwood burned green produce the most creosote.
Does burning hot fires prevent creosote?
Hot, well-established fires with adequate air produce far less creosote than smoldering ones, so burning practice matters a great deal. It reduces accumulation rather than eliminating it, and it does nothing about creosote already glazed on the flue.
How much wood should I buy for a winter?
It depends entirely on whether the fireplace is a primary heat source or occasional ambiance. The practical approach is to track what you actually used last winter and add a margin, rather than guessing at a cord figure.
Should I bring wood inside to dry before burning?
Bringing in a day or two of wood is fine and takes the chill off. Storing large quantities indoors long term brings insects into the house and is not recommended. The drying that matters happens outside over months, not indoors over days.
Published August 21, 2026 · Last updated August 9, 2026