When I was a boy, I had this weird assumption that even wet firewood could burn, but I was wrong. As you probably know, firewood should dry before you try to use it as fuel for a fire. This begs the question: how long does it take for firewood to dry after rain?
Typically, it takes about 2 to 7 days for firewood to dry after rain, depending on the size of the wood, the extent of the moisture, the climate, and the location in which it is stored afterwards. There are things you can do to speed up the process, and we’ll discuss that later.
The longer the firewood has been in the rain, the longer it may take to dry. In the cold season, it may take even longer to dry given the lack of warmth or humidity required for drying wet wood.
For this reason, it’s always advisable to store firewood indoors or in the garden shed during winter or a rainy season to prevent unnecessary exposure to rainwater or snow.
In my experience, thicker pieces of firewood tend to take longer to dry compared to thinly chopped or sliced wood.
The best way to measure the extent of moisture in firewood is to use a moisture meter. These devices are usually portable and accurate.
According to experts, the majority of moisture meters are designed and calibrated for wood, but in some cases, they can be used for other materials like concrete.
In general, a reading of 25% or more is considered too wet for burning. Anything below 20% should be able to burn, especially if the pieces of wood measured are thinly sliced.
With a reading of about 50%, it should take about 2 to 3 days for the wood to reach a range acceptable for burning if it’s placed in a dry, windy,sunny, or warm environment.
Sunlight may even speed up the process, depending on the time of year and the placement of the firewood.
How To Tell If Firewood Is Still Wet
1. It looks darker than usual
A telltale sign of wet firewood is a darker tone of color compared to dry pieces of wood.
2. It feels moist to the touch
Rarely will wood ever feel cold, damp, or moist unless it has been exposed to liquid. This is usually a quick and easy way to tell if rain has affected firewood.
3. It’s heavier than other pieces of dry wood
Given that wood can absorb rainwater, it makes sense that its weight will increase. If it appears to be the same size as other pieces of wood but is 15 to 30% heavier than the rest, it’s probably still wet.
4. Wet wood usually sizzles in the fire
Chuck a piece of firewood into the fire and observe whether it makes a sizzling or sparkling sound. If it does, then it’s still wet from exposure to the rain.
Tips On How To Dry Firewood That Is Wet
1. Cut them into smaller pieces
The thicker the wood, the longer it takes to dry because the air and temperature around it take some time to reach its core. To speed up the process of drying wet firewood, cut it into smaller pieces.
2. Dry them outside in the sun and wind
The simplest and most effective way to dry firewood after rain is to expose it to sunlight and wind. Stack them in a straight line by laying them flat or standing them upright. After some time, flip them over.
3. Use a fan or heater to dry firewood faster
If you’re stuck in cold weather and there’s no chance of air drying wet firewood outside, I suggest piling it on pieces of paper inside a room. Place a fan in front of the firewood or use a heater. It may take longer to dry, depending on the resources at your disposal.
Final Thoughts
From all the research I’ve done and my own experience with firewood, it seems like the average time it takes for firewood to dry after rain is 2–7 days, provided that it’s in a warm, windy, and dry location.
Storing wet firewood in a room that isn’t heated or insulated will prevent firewood from drying altogether for a much longer period of time, especially for thick logs of wood.
You may need to add fans or heaters to speed up the process of drying firewood after rain.
If you can expose wet firewood to sunlight and wind for hours at a time, you are more likely to dry it in a shorter period of time.
With that being said, I hope you found this article on how long it takes for firewood to dry after rain to be helpful. Please share this with your friends and family or leave a comment below to share your experience with drying firewood.
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