How do I maintain my firewood in my wood storage?
A wood storage helps you keep your firewood neat and dry. To keep your wood storage in good condition, it is important to maintain it regularly. This will also keep the quality of your wood good. If you do not perform maintenance, various problems can arise, such as wood rot, mold growth, insects affecting the wood, discoloration of the frame, subsidence, or moisture.
In this blog, we explain how to best maintain your wood storage and how to prevent these problems.
Summary
- Make sure to maintain your wood storage well to prevent problems such as wood rot, mold, and moisture.
- Ventilation is important to counteract moisture issues and to maintain the quality of your wood.
- In the autumn and winter, it is important to protect your wood extra against rain and wind.
- During the summer months, your wood can dry out more quickly due to the heat, so keep this in mind as well.
Tips to maintain the quality of your wood storage
By maintaining your wood storage well, you ensure that it lasts longer and looks neat. It is important to take care of and protect not only the frame of your storage but also the firewood itself. Here are some tips:
Seasonal maintenance
Good preparation of your wood storage for the different seasons ensures better protection:
Autumn and winter
In the autumn and winter, it is wise to protect your wood extra, for example with a roof or other covering. This helps to regulate humidity and prevents the wood from getting wet from wind and rain. If it is windy or raining hard, it is also best to cover the front of the storage.
Also, regularly check your storage in the autumn and clean it thoroughly. Remove wet leaves and dirt, as these can cause mold and wood rot. Moist conditions can also attract pests that can damage your wood.
Summer
In the summer, you need to protect your wood well from the sun and heat. Due to the heat, the wood can dry out more quickly. Too dry wood can burn too quickly, which means you can't enjoy your firewood for as long.
Ventilation
A good ventilation in and around your wood storage is important to prevent moisture problems. You can achieve this by stacking the wood so that air can flow through it well:
- Don’t stack the wood too tightly together; you should leave some space between the pieces of wood.
- Also, make sure that the back of the storage is not completely closed. This allows air to circulate better. The corten steel wood storage and steel wood storage from MySteel are for example open at the back.
How can I prevent problems with my wood storage?
If you are storing wood in a wood storage, you want to avoid problems like wood rot, mold, or moisture buildup. That is why regular maintenance is important. Below are a few handy tips that can help you with that:
Regular checks
Regularly check your wood storage for signs of wood rot, mold, or insects that affect your wood. If you discover these problems in time, you can address them and prevent further damage.
Protect against moisture
Make sure your wood storage is well-ventilated so that no moisture problems arise.
Cleaning
Regularly clean your wood storage by removing dust, dirt, and leaves. This helps to avoid mold, wood rot, and pests.
Place your wood storage in the right place
Place your wood storage on a dry and level surface to prevent subsidence and moisture problems. Also, ensure that there is sufficient distance between your storage and the ground. This allows air to circulate well and keeps your wood in good condition longer.
Common problems with wood storage and firewood
Are you still experiencing a problem despite regular maintenance? Below we will discuss the most common problems in storing wood and provide tips on how to easily and quickly resolve them:
My firewood shows signs of rot
If you notice that your wood feels soft or spongy, is discolored, or has a musty smell, this may mean it is rotting. This often happens due to too much contact with moisture and fungi affecting the wood.
Solution
Remove the rotten firewood and ensure better ventilation and moisture drainage around your wood storage. It is important that your storage is well protected against moisture.
My firewood is affected by mold
If you see dark spots or a powdery substance on the wood, it is likely mold. Mold thrives in damp environments with little air circulation.
Example of mold on firewood. If you see obvious mold on the firewood, dispose of it. This wood is not suitable for burning. Image from Mapleseed.farm.
Solution
Ensure more and better ventilation around your wood storage and reduce moisture sources. You can place a roof or cover the front of your storage with a net. This way, no wet leaves can land on the wood, but air can circulate well.
My wood storage has moisture problems
Clear moisture spots, a musty smell, or damp wood indicate moisture problems in your wood storage. These can arise from poor ventilation, leaks, or direct contact with the ground.
Solution
Identify the moisture sources and remove them immediately. Also, improve ventilation by creating airflow and ensure that the wood is not lying directly on the ground.
My wood storage has subsided
If your wood storage is no longer straight or you notice signs of instability, it may have subsided. This can be due to an unstable foundation, moisture problems, or a weak construction.
Solution
Check the foundation of your wood storage and strengthen it if necessary. Ensure proper drainage around the storage. If the subsidence is serious, consider re-leveling the structure or relocating it to a more stable base.
Conclusion
By properly and regularly maintaining your wood storage, you can prevent problems such as wood rot, mold, moisture, and subsidence. You do this by ensuring that there is always enough air around the wood, cleaning the storage regularly, and preparing well for the different seasons. This way, both your firewood and your wood storage will last much longer, and you can continue to enjoy a warm and cozy fire for a long time.
