Is Kiln Dried Firewood Worth It?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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It Burns More Efficiently

, Giving Off More Heat

If you’ve got limited firewood storage space, maintaining a stash of kiln-dried firewood is a good option for the money as you’ll get a better, more efficient fire pit burn with much less wood being thrown on the fire.

How much does it cost to kiln dry firewood?

Energy cost for drying 1 cord of firewood. 1.8 million btu. 2.8 million btu. to 4.2 million btu ~10% of a cord up to $13.00 16%-24% of a cord $20.00 to $50.00 $40.00 $62.00 – $92.00
$27.00


$40.00 – $60.00

How much does a cord of kiln dried firewood cost?

What Does a Cord Cost? Cordwood in Vermont goes for about $200 to $250 per green cord, $250 to $285 per seasoned cord, and

$300 to $400 per kiln-dried cord

. A kiln-dried cord costs about 30% more for wood that has about 30% less moisture.

How much does a cord of dry firewood cost?

Cord costs vary across the country, but in general you can expect to pay

between $120 and $180

for a cord of hardwood that is split and seasoned. While this is the average cost, many consumers can expect to pay more, especially in winter. In some places in the U.S. costs can be as high as $220 to $400 per cord.

Does kiln dried firewood burn better?

The moisture content of the wood is typically lower than seasoned wood. There is less likelihood of buying wood that is still too wet to burn efficiently on a fire.

Kiln dried wood can catch fire and burn much more quickly compared to seasoned

firewood due to its generally lower moisture content.

Can firewood be too dry?


Yes

, although it is not a common problem. Properly seasoned firewood still has a fair amount of water in it, say 15 to 20 percent of its weight. That water regulates the combustion process along with a few other factors like piece size, load configuration and combustion air supply.

What is the best kiln dried logs to burn?


Kiln Dried Oak Firewood

:

Oak produces a flame initially and then reduces down to a small flame/glow. This firewood will burn for longer than ash, birch and alder and for those who know how to use it properly, is a very popular and sought-after firewood.

How long does firewood take to dry in a kiln?

A firewood kiln is used to quickly dry firewood and reduce the overall moisture content. The process typically takes

about 3-6 days

depending on the unit. Kilns are popular if you own a firewood business because they allow you to produce premium firewood at any time of the year.

How long does it take to dry firewood in a solar kiln?

For good burning performance, firewood must air-dry for one summer season or longer. Solar kilns reduce the drying time compared to air drying, but still require from 1 month under ideal solar conditions to

3 to 4 months

under adverse solar conditions (U.S. Department of Energy 1983).

How do you dry firewood in a kiln?

In This Corner: Kiln-Dried Firewood

The kilns that make kiln-dried firewood are basically like big ovens. Once workers chop the wood to length, they stack it in a metal cage and load it into the kiln. The kiln then removes the moisture by using

a large fan to heat and dry the logs

.

Can you fit a cord of wood in a pickup truck?

Consumers should be on their guard, because

a pick-up cannot hold a cord of firewood

. An 8-foot truck bed can hold one-half of a cord while a 6-foot bed can barely hold one-third of a cord.

What does a 1/2 cord of wood look like?

A 1/2 cord of firewood is an amount of wood that fills a space equal to

4 feet long, 4 feet high, and 4 feet deep

. How much do I need?

What’s a good price for firewood?

Firewood Type Average Price Range Per Cord
Maple


$300 – $450

Mesquite


$300 – $660

Ash


$360 – $420

Hardwood


$300 – $500

Is it safe to burn kiln dried wood?

From a practical perspective, commercially kiln dried clean scraps of lumber (also called dimensional lumber) are a pretty safe alternative to traditional cut firewood. Because they are bark-free, and are usually stored indoors, this is a very low risk wood choice. …

Treated wood is highly toxic when burned

.

Is kiln dried wood more expensive?


Kiln dried wood is more expensive than green wood

. The lumber must be stacked and stickered until it is ready to be loaded in the kiln, then loaded in the kiln at the appropriate time, dried, and unloaded from the kiln. … kiln dried wood weighs significantly less than green wood, and costs much less to ship.

Does rain affect dry firewood?

Seasoned firewood

should be stored out of the rain

to help prolong how well it keeps for. If seasoned firewood gets rained on it can dry out within a few days, but constant contact with moisture will lead to the wood going bad.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.