The Definition Of Kiln Dried Logs
This is the process of drying wood in a ‘kiln oven’ by introducing heat. This lowers the moisture level of the wood, moisture levels of less than 18% are difficult to attain in most locations and 20% moisture is the standard for kiln-dried wood. Unseasoned wood ‘Wet wood’ has typically 60% moisture.
Are Kiln Dried Logs Worth It?
Unseasoned wood has a high moisture content, 2 kg of unseasoned wood with 50% moisture is half water and has 1 litre of water. Burning wet wood will mean a lot of the energy generated will be used to disperse the water from the wood, leaving less heat to pass to your room.
Burning unseasoned wood creates more smoke and soot, making it bad for the environment and emission levels.
Appliances suffer when you burn wet wood, the increased soot that is created means the log burner will need more maintenance and repair requirements.
Wet wood can take up to 2 years to dry through an air-dry seasoning process to have 20% moisture levels.
Overall kiln dried logs over a clean burn, with an efficient high heat and low smoke.
Kiln Dried VS Air Dried Firewood
Kiln-dried wood is very dry, with a moisture level of 20% or less, seasoned wood has been dried but the moisture level can vary, making it a more unreliable option.
Having kiln-dried wood is almost like having a catalytic converter in your car, it produces a high heat with a clean burn and less emissions.
Air-drying wood can take up to two years, but kiln-drying wood typically takes around 10 hours in an oven.
Kiln-dried logs offer a low moisture level at 20% or below, this means they produce a high heat and an efficient and clean burn, with low levels of soot and emissions.
Kiln-dried ash is a very popular species and happens to naturally have a low moisture level before the kiln-drying process.
Kiln-dried birch is popular because it burns well, it’s easy to handle because of its smooth bark and it offers a pleasant fragrance when burnt, some people say it smells festive.
Should I Buy Local?
Some people like to buy logs locally, Pheasant has a local delivery service using our own vans, this covers a 20-mile radius of our site in Gawcott, Buckingham and includes locations such as Towcester, Brackley, Northampton, Aylesbury, Milton Keynes, parts of Oxford, and the South Cotswolds.
If you order kiln-dried logs online we offer a UK-wide delivery service, which is delivered the next day if you order by 4.30 pm. Many of our orders come from all over the UK and only half are delivered locally to us.
How To Store Your Logs
Kiln-dried logs should be kept dry, this could be in a wood store for logs with a roof for weather protection cover or in a garage, shed or barn.
The benefit of a log store is that stacked wood is well-ventilated, the airflow keeps the wood dry and prevents mould and fungus from forming.
