One of the most common things I tell anyone who is new to fireplaces or wood stoves is that they have to think ahead. Not a few weeks or months even. They need to be preparing for next season before it
gets here. I have a few words that I work into the conversation that many people don’t associate with burning wood. Two of those words, for example are deliberate and intentional. I believe in being prepared. It’s the Boy Scout motto after all. But there is a big difference between being prepared and planning ahead.
This is where I use “intentionally.” See we can have a stack of firewood rotting behind the shed for a few years, but if you plan on burning wood for heat that won’t work. We have to take into account the type of firewood. How we store it. Where we store it. What the moisture content is. We have to figure out how much we burn and how long it needs to last. We have to plan ahead. How are we going to get it from the back yard to the living room when it’s freezing rain? And nobody wants to make the midnight run to the woodpile in p.j.s and slippers.
None of this is a reason not to burn firewood. It is however a wakeup call to anyone who thinks it’s as easy as throwing a couple of sticks in the fireplace to keep warm.
Plan ahead by having your chimney cleaned and inspected every year. Having it done at the end of the season instead of the beginning has some advantages. First of all, it helps with the smell. Eliminating the creosote and shoveling out the firebox will help with the odor most homeowners complain about. Secondly, it allows plenty of time to make repairs or address issues that could prevent you from burning your fireplace when you need it most. Another advantage is that you beat the last-minute rush. Even the best chimney sweeps can’t fit everyone in the week before your weatherman calls for freezing temps. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you can burn when a sudden drop in temperature comes your way.
If you don’t cut your own wood, finding a reliable local wood dealer is vital! While you can find a lot of people selling firewood on the first of October, most only have a few truckloads before they are sold out. There’s also no telling what you're getting. It may be all oak, or it might be half pine. And always check the moisture content, I can't stress this enough! They may not be trying to scam you or make a quick buck, but that doesn’t mean that have taken the time to dry and season their wood.
Storage options are the next hurdle to tackle. A wood drying rack like the ones linked below will keep your wood off the ground and allow air flow to dry your logs.
The one listed above is a middle-of-the-road rack that I like to use because of it's 8 feet width and nice weatherproof cover.
The SnugNiture is also an affordable option because it allows you to adjust the height and length to your specifications. This is also a more handy option if you have some 2x4s laying around the house.
The indoor firelog racks from Doeworks, will help
keep your floors clean and your home tidy. Doeworks also has matching fireplace sets available for purchase.
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