When you search for good quality firewood in the winter season, many factors need consideration. It is not as easy as you buy beer from any shop because its quality is consistent everywhere. Firewoods available at every merchant’s warehouse differ from each other on the basis of several factors. There are countless species of trees and their wood quality vary on the basis of density. A tree with high density produces hardwood and the less dense tree has softwood. Before using it for burning, it is important to reduce the moisture level as much as possible. This process of reducing moisture level is called seasoning. Nowadays, it is very difficult to find firewood from a dead tree which is already seasoned because of the increasing demand. Only authorized merchants can provide you an adequate amount of firewood in good quality. Before selling, they implement two different kinds of seasoning processes as mentioned below:-
- Natural Sunlight Seasoning Process
- Kiln Seasoning Process
The natural sunlight seasoning process
As the name is illustrating, this process totally depends on natural sunlight. The firewood is split apart into multiple pieces that further exposed to the direct sunlight. It is arranged in a manner that the sunlight can easily go throught the entire stock and reduces its moisture level. The process of natural seasoning requires a time period between 2 to 3 months that vary on the basis of its density. If the wood contains more water, more time is required for seasoning. It is an economical way of seasoning but cannot work when you are getting too many orders in the winter season. The firewood sellers need to start preparations of seasoning in the summer season.
Kiln seasoning process
The kiln is a kind of large oven where temperature level is artificially increased in order to reduce the water level. While doing a business, it is important to maintain a consistent level of quality. For this purpose, kiln seasoning is the most suitable process. For meeting the bulk orders requirement, you need a fast and reliable mechanism. The kiln is a heating chamber that increases the temperature to a safe level where wood doesn’t catch fire but releases its moisture rapidly. In the winter season when demand goes higher than supply, some sellers start supplying half seasoned inferior quality firewood that burns too horribly. While ordering firewood of pine, birch, ironbark or red gum in Sydney, make sure that it is thoroughly seasoned through kilns. This process hardly requires a week to reduce the moisture level to an adequate level ideal for combustion.
Which one is better?
If you have plenty of time for seasoning, the natural process can save a few bucks. However, kilns are essential for all commercial grade firewood sellers. If you want to engage your customers for a long time, it is essential to serve them with a consistent quality which is only possible with seasoning. It might costs a bit more than natural seasoning but most of the customers are ready to pay a higher amount if they are getting high-quality firewood.
Significance of seasoning in firewood
Firewood is meant for obtaining heat by combusting it but the temperature levels differ on the basis of several factors. The ironbark, birch or red gum firewood prices vary on the basis of its seasoning quality. Even the hardest firewood is also worthless if it is not seasoned properly. Excess of moisture level reduces the quality of the flame and sometimes it doesn’t even catch fire at all. Also, a poorly seasoned firewood release smoke more than flame which is not suitable for burning in outdoor or indoor locations.
