How to store firewood and why “getting wet” isn’t the end of the world once it’s well seasoned
- Meon Valley Logs
- Oct 15
- 4 min read
When you buy firewood from Meon Valley Logs, you'll receive logs that have already been fully seasoned and are ready to burn.
That means the moisture content has been reduced to a point that enables efficient combustion and clean burning. But we are often asked the question:
If seasoned wood is stored outside and gets rained on, does that ruin it?
The short answer: Not really - if stored properly, a bit of damp on the surface doesn’t hurt seasoned wood’s burning qualities.
Read on to find out about good storage practices and why a little surface moisture isn’t a deal-breaker for seasoned firewood.
1. Proper Storage: The Key to Keeping Logs Ready to Burn
Even though your logs arrive seasoned, how you store them at home still makes a difference. Here are some best practices:
a. Elevate the stack
Never let your logs sit directly on the bare ground. Use pallets, concrete blocks, or battens to elevate the base so air can circulate from underneath. This helps prevent moisture being drawn up from the soil.
b. Face the cut ends outward & stack loosely
Stack logs so the cut (end-grain) faces outward, which promotes drying and airing. Avoid stacking logs too tightly: leave small gaps for airflow, which allows moisture that’s still in the wood to evaporate.
c. Use a roof or cover, but leave the sides open
A simple lean-to-style cover, corrugated roof, or even a tarpaulin draped over the top will protect logs from direct rain. Importantly, leave the front and sides open so air can move. Covering logs completely in plastic wraps or full enclosures can backfire — trapping moisture and preventing them from breathing.
d. Orient the stack to maximise shelter
If possible, place your log stack on the side of your building or wall that offers some windbreak or shelter from prevailing rains. Even a small overhang from the eaves helps.
e. Keep kindling and freshly cut logs separate
If you ever have freshly cut (green) logs or kindling, store them apart so they don’t “contaminate” your seasoned stack with wetter wood. Always use seasoned stock first.
With these steps, your logs remain well ventilated and dry at heart, even if the outer surfaces pick up a bit of damp.
2. Why It’s Okay If Seasoned Logs Get a Little Wet
Once wood is fully seasoned — i.e. its internal moisture content is low (typically < 20%) — getting a bit of surface damp doesn’t fundamentally change how it burns. Here’s why:
a. Most moisture is gone: only surface water remains
Seasoning drives the bulk of moisture out from the interior of the wood. What’s left over after careful drying is minimal. Rain or dew may dampen the outer layer, but that’s a thin layer that evaporates quickly when the fire starts.
b. The fire will “flash off” the surface moisture
When you light seasoned wood, the heat causes any residual surface moisture to evaporate rapidly before combustion really takes hold. The inside of the log remains dry and ready to burn cleanly.
c. Burning losses are small
Because the moisture content is already low, the energy lost to evaporating water is minimal. In contrast, burning green or poorly seasoned logs wastes much more heat (energy is used evaporating water rather than heating your room).
d. Wind, sun and airflow will dry the surface again
After a rain, the exposed surface will dry out under sun or wind quite quickly, especially if your stack is well ventilated. So any “wetting” is temporary.
e. Less frequent creosote and smoke
Already-seasoned wood produces less smoke and less tar/creosote, even when mildly dampened. In contrast, burning green or high-moisture logs often leads to smoky fires and deposit buildup in your chimney.
So in practice, a little surface dampness doesn’t seriously degrade your logs’ performance - especially when the logs started out well seasoned.
3. Tips for Use After Rain or Damp Weather
Check before burning: If logs feel very wet or have collected puddles, give them a day or two of airflow before use.
Split if possible: Splitting logs exposes fresh surfaces and helps any damp portion dry faster.
Use the driest logs first: In your stack, pick logs that were more sheltered or show fewer signs of damp.
Give them breathing room: Don’t stack logs too snugly; airflow helps even after wet spells.
So, once wood has been properly dried and seasoned, a little rain or dampness on the outer surface is not fatal to its burning properties - so long as your logs remain well ventilated and are not continuously soaked from the ground up.
A well-ventilated, covered-but-open-sided log stack will protect your fuel, let residual moisture escape, and ensure your logs stay ready for warming fires. So relax: once your firewood is well seasoned, occasional wetting isn’t a deal-breaker - it just needs a little air and time to recover before the fire is lit.
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