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Firewood, Heating Instructions, Safety, Tips to Dry Wood
If you live in the Northern US or Canada, there is a bit of a frenzy going on about heating your home this winter. Insulation is a must but how one heats can lead to a comfortable season or a disaster. Wood stoves, inserts and other heating systems that supplement oil and natural gas are selling like hot cakes. I think the dealers are encouraging people to buy now before they run out. I like that. Order your 2009 Farmers’ Almanac before we run out. Nice tone to it.
Here are a few suggestions as you prepare for winter and plan to use wood.
> If you buy firewood and it is “green” or wet, stack it so the pile looks like a tee pee. Air flows from the bottom up and dries the wood more quickly.
> One “old” Maine wood cutter tells me that he makes a cut around a dying tree 360 degrees without toppling it. He comes back a couple months later and the wood is dry. He takes it down and cuts to size. Not sure how well this works.
> Get your chimney inspected making sure the inside is clean and the bricks are secure.
> Clear any tree branches or leaves that overhang the house and chimney. It could catch fire or impact the chimney’s ability to discharge fumes efficiently.
> Be sure to burn wood that is either seasoned or dry. Seasoned is usual cut 6 months or more and dry has a full year of “airing”. You can tell by the weight and density of the wood whether it is dry enough to use. Don’t burn pine or treated woods.
> Keep items away from the fireplace that might be combustible including newspapers, matches, fuel, etc.
> Keep a 2009 Farmers’ Almanac on hand to prepare for whatever is coming your way. And, yes, keep it away from the fireplace!!
We has a sad situation in my town last weekend when a father was carrying a can of diesel fuel to help start a fire. Somehow the can exploded and engulfed his 6 year old son in flames. The boy is in Children’s Hospital in Boston but expect the unexpected when it comes to fire, combustibles and preparing for winter. Have smoke detectors operational.
Now is the time to get ready for winter. The better you prepare, the more comfortable and manageable your fuel bill will be this winter.
Peter Geiger is the Editor of the Farmers' Almanac. 
If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.
2 comments
Chimney cleaning is required for burning wood in order to remove creosote, which comes from all woods. But gas is clean and hot burning so there cannot be any build up. I would have the chimney checks every few years to be sure the bricks are still intact and the liner is in good condition.
I have a gas at my home which vents to a chimmey… Do I need to have the clean out yearly or even at all?