There’s been a lot of talk about kiln-dried firewood lately. People are saying that kiln-dried firewood burns hotter and longer than seasoned logs, all the while releasing fewer polluting chemicals into the atmosphere and being more eco-friendly in general.
But is this really the case? What makes kiln-dried firewood better than the seasoned variety? And is it really worth paying a premium for kiln-dried firewood, or should you save money and season your own logs?
Read on to find out.
What Is Kiln-Dried Firewood Anyway?
Kiln-dried firewood is made by placing wet, freshly-chopped wood into an industrial kiln and drying it for a period between two and seven days (depending on the kiln, the firewood variety, and the amount of firewood that needs to be seasoned).
You can think of a kiln as an industrial-sized baking oven with a large fan. As the wood is heated up, the moisture contained inside it starts to evaporate. This allows suppliers to dry their products to extra-low moisture, with leading brands boasting firewood moisture content of just 10%.
How Is It Different From Seasoned Firewood?
Seasoned firewood, on the other hand, is produced without using any kind of industrial equipment. The tree is cut down, then left to dry on its own, either in the open or with overhead protection. As can be expected, this is the cheapest way of creating burnable firewood.
Traditionally, such firewood was dried to moisture levels of around 30%. However, thanks to the recent introduction of Defra’s Ready to Burn standard, firewood suppliers are now required to make sure their product contains no more than 20% moisture.
Kiln-Dried Firewood Is Safe From Bugs and Fungus
Unlike seasoning, the kiln-drying process kills bugs and fungus that like to hide in wet firewood. This means that kiln-dried firewood is 100% safe to store indoors. You don’t have to worry about breathing in any fungus spores or bringing unexpected guests into your home.
Kiln-Dried Firewood Looks and Burns Beautifully
Kiln-dried firewood is great for wood burners and fire-pits as it produces bright, beautiful flames without any smoke. This allows you to achieve a Hollywood-like flame every time. What’s more, when your wood is not in use, you can safely use it as decoration for many years without any worries.
Kiln-Dried Firewood Can Be Burned Immediately
One of the biggest benefits of kiln-dried firewood is its low moisture content, which means that it can be burned immediately. No seasoning or air-drying is required. What’s more, it is easy to light, burns at a high temperature, and does not produce any smoke when burned.
