44A ZC - Travis Industries Dealer Services Login Page

OPERATING YOUR APPLIANCE (Continued)Seasoning Wood (Continued)The bathroom scales can be used to check if firewood is still seasoning. Weigh a basket orbag of a few pieces of firewood. Place them back in the wood pile as an identified unit. Thenweigh them again in about a month. If they have lost weight, the wood is still drying. Cracksthat appear in the end of logs are good signs that the wood is well seasoned.Generally, wood that is 1) cut to length, 2) split, and 3) stacked in the open, preferably with acover, during the winter, should be thoroughly seasoned by the next heating season.Storing WoodFirewood is best stored outdoors, under cover and near the house so that valuable space inthe house is not used, insects are kept outside, and the dirt problem is reduced. Store thewood under cover to keep it dry and its fuel value high. It can be stored in a wood shed, utilitybuilding, garage or under a sheet of plastic or sheet metal roofing.When drying wood, the greater the surface area exposed to the air, the more rapid the drying.Wood greater than 8" in diameter or longer than 4' dries very slowly. Reduce the size of suchsticks by splitting and/or sawing. Be sure to keep an air space between the wood and anycovering. Stack the wood in loose piles that are raised off the ground. This will promote aircirculation that helps dry the wood.TYPICAL WOOD SHEDSheet Metal Roofing2x6x12 Rafter2x4 Purlins2x8x8' Girder4x4x2 Posts Spaced 8' ApartSiding and Girts(Optional)8' Width3' DepthPage 14