When deciding how to store firewood, several concerns must be addressed. It takes up space and can produce a continual debris pile that must be removed from time to time if kept indoors. Firewood should be kept dry if it is stored outdoors, and if it is freshly cut, it must be kept outdoors or in a ventilated enclosure to cure. Wood that is not kept in a secure enclosure must be in an area that makes it difficult to pilfer. The proximity to the fireplace or stove where it will eventually be needed is an important consideration as well.
Firewood is heavy and, if carried by hand, must be carried a few pieces at a time. If it is necessary to carry it very far, it can be a laborious chore. This is a major concern of those that must decide where and how to store firewood. Some wood burning stoves are placed in the basement with the wood near an opening or basement window. This is the ideal setup for the transport of wood to be kept to a minimum. The wood can be kept in a shed or other enclosure adjacent to the opening or basement window, or it can be stacked nearby and covered with a tarp to keep it dry.
If it is stacked outdoors and covered with a tarp, it should be elevated slightly to keep it from sitting on moist soil. Firewood stacked on moist soil will rot and attract wood-eating insects making the bottom of the stack useless or difficult to burn. Although, storing firewood outdoors under a tarp promotes curing, that which is merely covered by a tarp is easily pilfered.
Sneaky firewood ‘borrowing’ is a favorite pastime for unscrupulous people who heat with wood. A large pile of wood can dwindle considerably over time, and the dwindling can go unnoticed until there is not much left if it is pilfered a few pieces at a time. To keep it indoors in a firewood rack or in a secure shed is the ideal method of storage when this is a problem.
When deciding how to store firewood, it is important to consider the proximity to the stove or fireplace. It should be kept dry and away from the moist soil if it is stored outdoors. If it is not stored in a secure location, it should be monitored closely to prevent it from disappearing. A considerable savings of time, labor, and money is possible if these things are kept in mind by those that heat with wood or enjoy a fireplace.
