Wet or green wood should never be burned in any wood stove, regardless of design. Wood heating enthusiasts know that wood should be dried to between 15% to 20% moisture before burning. While there are trusted ways to determine if your firewood is properly seasoned like checking for checking or banging two pieces together and listening for a specific sound that can be reliable but they require some expertise in the wood burning area. For those who may are novice wood burners or if you are looking for a more precise measurement of the moisture level in your firewood we recommend using the Hearth Country Moisture Meter.
I am Melissa from Northline Express and I would like to introduce you to the Hearth Country Firewood Moisture Meter. This moisture meter uses the principle of electrical resistance to determine the moisture level in your firewood. When the moisture meters four pins are inserted into the wood the piece of wood becomes an element in a circuit because the moisture conducts electricity well.
It is constantly mentioned that you should NEVER burn wet wood, but why is that? Well first off burning wet wood is a complete waste. Wet wood has a high moisture content which will boil off when it is burnt. Fires built with wet wood will also be hard to light and if you do successfully get a wet wood fire going it is not going to be as cozy of a fire. It is not only a waste to burn green wood it can also be dangerous. Burning wood which is unseasoned or burning at low temperatures causes creosote buildup in your chimney which is one of the number one causes of chimney fires. Knowing these things, it just does not make sense to burn wet firewood.
A moisture meter is one of the most important tools a wood burner can own! It can help make sure that you are getting what you are promised from your firewood supplier. I am sure you have all heard someone upset when winter arrives and they realize they were sold green firewood. You can also use a moisture meter to see how your firewood is seasoning. This is a great way to test the best stacking techniques and be able to see and learn the most efficient methods of season firewood. Especially if you heat with wood and you are processing a lot of firewood.
It is very easy to use this moisture meter. You are simply going to insert the four pins on the meter into the wood that you are testing making sure that they are entered perpendicular to the grain of the wood. Then simply read the LCD display on the unit. Its best to take several readings in several locations to get a good average of the moisture level. This meter has a wide measuring range reading from 3% all the way up to 40%. It also features a data hold function allowing you to freeze the measured value on the LCD screen. It is not a heavy or large tool and includes a case to keep it stored in when not in use. The meter runs on a single 9 volt battery, which is included, and auto powers off after 15 minutes to save battery life.
No matter where you get your wood – on your property, on public lands, or from an independent firewood seller– it needs to be seasoned. Do not trust that it has already been dried. Test it! It is easy with the Hearth Country Firewood Moisture Meter, which is another great product from Northline Express, home of the “Buy and Try” satisfaction guarantee!