Finding Cheap Ways to Get Firewood

If you're like me you love building outdoor fires often, however it can get quite expensive if you have to buy your own firewood or other fuel sources to build these fires. Nonetheless there are simple ways that you can get cheap firewood and all you need are the proper tools and time. Some cheap ways to acquire firewood are to use trees on your own property, trees that are already down in the local area as well as finding logs thrown away in your local landfill. Below I will go in-depth on how these can be some cheap ways to have a great time with outdoor fires without taking too much out of your wallet.
The first way mentioned was acquiring firewood from trees on your own property. The first thing you have to do is check with your local laws and regulations on cutting trees to make sure you're not doing anything illegal or required to pay a fine later. Many times if there are restrictions all you have to do is file a permit which is usually cheaper than purchasing firewood. Once you've done that you're free to make your choice on which tree or trees you'd like to cut. Now I would only suggest felling your own tree if you have the proper training or experience or supervision from an arborist. If you do not have any of these qualifications listed above I would suggest hiring a professional. Now once the tree is down you should begin cutting the logs into smaller sections immediately.
Another way to acquire cheap firewood is to keep your eyes peeled when driving around for trees that are already down. Now when you find a tree that is down there a couple things you need to do such as asking for permission from the landowner, making sure the tree is not termite infested or rotting and finally in a place which you can work easily. You definitely want to ask the landowner's permission before you start removing the wood from the area as this can be a big liability and legal matter. Once you have permission from the owner you really want to make sure that the wood is not termite infested as you could bring that threat to your home which could cost you thousands of dollars in pest control and repairs in the future. You can easily tell if there are termites by looking at the wood and seeing if their small holes or tracks along the wood. If you can't tell from the outside try cutting a small section and looking at the inside of the wood and you'll be able to see small holes or voids in the wood which will give you a better idea if their termites are present. Rotting wood tends to be very soft and very easy to break through which is not a good choice of wood for you to use. Once you've made sure that the wood is good, cut it into manageable sections and load it into the back your truck for transportation. You can split the wood once you're at your own property.
Another good source for acquiring free firewood is your local landfill or yard waste dump. Many tree trimming and tree removal companies dump their wood at local landfills to dispose of them so all you have to do is call the landfill and see if you can pick them up. One warning to this is that many times once these companies drop off the wood the landfill will process the logs into mulch to get rid of the waste easier. All this means is that you have to go in earlier in the morning so that you can have your pick of the logs. This is a great way to get firewood that is usually already cut into smaller sections and as always make sure that the wood is not rotten or infested with bugs.
Once you've acquired all the logs that you need, start splitting them, stacking them and drying them out. You can refer to my other article entitled "How to dry firewood" also on this web site.

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The Facts About Firewood

Firewood is a wood material that is collected and used as fuel. Collecting and harvesting fire woods differ by culture and region. Firewood can be hard or soft. Hardwood gives less smoke and with more heat producing less creosote which is the root of most chimney fires. Softwoods are best in cutting and piling firewood, wood burner or warming up the cabin in an instant. The best time to cut firewood is when the trees shed their leaves

Newly-chopped firewood has approximately 60% water or more and won't burn in the fireplace. You must season first the woods in order to release the water content until the moisture is only 20% or less, by then, it is ready for burning. Seasoning firewood means letting the water content of the wood evaporates. Drying firewood can make it burn easily, safely and efficiently. Burning unseasoned firewood or partially seasoned wood is dangerous. It may cause fire due to creosote that may build up in the chimney. It takes time before the wood gets fully dried but it can be done in an easy way using some tricks and techniques to speed up the process.
In chopping wood, make the diameter 6-8 inches and 18" long as much as possible. Place the woods outside.
Pile the wood properly. Put a base under to keep it off the ground and to avoid soil's moist.. A pallet is a good base because it is a few inches higher on the ground.
Make or put side support to maintain the orderly of wood.
Put space from wood stack to the wall to maintain air passage. A pallet as base of your stack will also provide air flow to your stack. Air can speed up the drying process.
Do not cover the stack. Do not cover also ends to allow air circulation and release moisture. If the wood is still green, covering it will just hold in the moist and prevents air flow. Covering the stack too soon may increase drying time. If you really need to cover the pile, make sure it fully dried up.

Place your pile in a location with the most sunlight throughout the day. There are two beliefs about covering the pile while seasoning firewood. Other believes that you should cover the stack to protect it from rain. Others believed the above statements. They do not advise covering the stack no matter what. Most firewood is fully dried by the eight month but the longer is better.

Below are some firewood terms to easily understand facts about firewood:

Green - a newly cut and split firewood, it has not been kiln dried or seasoned. This state of wood is not yet ready for burning. If burned. This will result in a smoky fire or hissing.

Seasoned - firewood that has been cut and split and left out in the elements for at least nine months or more. It should have 20 percent moisture rate and the wood must be fairly lightweight.

Kiln Dried - firewood that has been cut and split and baked in a kiln to lessen moisture content. A kiln dried firewood is a premium firewood because it 100 percent bug free and wood underwent a 200 degree heat for several days. It is also cleaner than a seasoned wood.

Debarked/barkless - a firewood that was cut and split with no bark anymore. This is very clean firewood and moisture removes easily without the barks. This usually has ash, birch, beech, and other type of woods with a thin bark.

Compressed fire log - this is a compressed sawdust that is formed and held together using a type of resin to form a log. It is not real firewood but can be used as such. This type of wood doesn't get wet and falls apart easily. It produces more heat than the usual firewood but is more expensive.

Firewood is a good material to supply heat in your home when properly used. It is very useful if you have a fireplace and wants to spend time and bond with your family on comfortable cold nights leaving the rest of the house a little cooler for a good night sleep.

It is important to get the facts about seasoning firewood. If you burn wet firewood, you are going to have an increased level of creosote produced, and you will need to call a chimney sweep.

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