Logs in log store have mould

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20% moisture is allegedly the optimum.
The optimum is zero - any water in the logs will use up energy to boil off in your burner/fire, but sub 20% is ok.

I'm wondering which way the open side of the log store faces, relative to your prevailing wind? If it's southwest you're likely to be getting rain blown in - I'd be tempted to extend the overhang.
The logs will dry better if split when you get them - water doesn't move easily through bark (varies between species)
Is that a green leylandii stalk in the third picture?
It's probably worth splitting a few, to check the moisture level in the middle of the logs. I'm not sure I'd expect unsplit hardwood logs to season properly in one summer.
I'm also wondering whether, if these are the logs you had lying around getting mouldy last winter, they're more likely to get mouldy again more easily.
 
The optimum is zero - any water in the logs will use up energy to boil off in your burner/fire, but sub 20% is ok.

I'm wondering which way the open side of the log store faces, relative to your prevailing wind? If it's southwest you're likely to be getting rain blown in - I'd be tempted to extend the overhang.
The logs will dry better if split when you get them - water doesn't move easily through bark (varies between species)
Is that a green leylandii stalk in the third picture?
It's probably worth splitting a few, to check the moisture level in the middle of the logs. I'm not sure I'd expect unsplit hardwood logs to season properly in one summer.
I'm also wondering whether, if these are the logs you had lying around getting mouldy last winter, they're more likely to get mouldy again more easily.

Nope, produces why more pollution, 20% is optimal for particulates.
 
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Nope, produces why more pollution, 20% is optimal for particulates.
It's intriguing this idea, and seems counter-intuitive - you've sent me on a quick websearch!
On the one hand, burning efficiency is higher the drier the wood, but I see there's some research that suggests that there are more small particulates produced with very dry wood, because it spends less time in the stove.

Hmmm, interesting, thank you - though I'm not going to start chucking water in the burner if I'm burning very dry wood!
 
So here are photos progressively zooming in. It's the round logs I'm having issues with, next to the orange bag, the others seem ok.
They look great until you get up close.

View attachment 174697 View attachment 174698 View attachment 174699
Your wood looks like Beech or Sycamore but would bet on it being the latter. They are both highly susceptible to going mouldy very quickly in all but ideal conditions with Sycamore getting covered in green or soot like deposits.
 
News to me too......I tend to stack my logs until they read around 15% on a good day, then move them inside.
I cant see them ever getting lower than this, considering the moisture in the air just now.
John :)
 
So I found this at https://www.aradastoves.com/blog/dry-wood-vs-wet-wood:
"So, can wood ever be too dry to burn?
The answer is, yes. Timber that is too dry can ignite and burn quickly and aggressively, using large volumes of air, which in turn can increase particulate emissions. It’s about getting the balance right. A small percentage of water is actually beneficial for wood burning, between 12 – 20%. This helps to moderate the combustion process and gives out the right amount of heat into the room"
I don't know where they got this info from, but interesting nonetheless
 
I cant see how logs can ever get so dry without artificial drying or loads of sunshine :rolleyes:
Interesting topic though.
I usually burn a mixture of timber and smokeless coal ovoids. Mind you, my logs are simply the best to use.....they’re free so long as I cut, transport and split them :whistle:
Tons of poplar with the odd sprinkle of ash.
John :)
 
So I found this at https://www.aradastoves.com/blog/dry-wood-vs-wet-wood:
"So, can wood ever be too dry to burn?
The answer is, yes. Timber that is too dry can ignite and burn quickly and aggressively, using large volumes of air, which in turn can increase particulate emissions. It’s about getting the balance right. A small percentage of water is actually beneficial for wood burning, between 12 – 20%. This helps to moderate the combustion process and gives out the right amount of heat into the room"
I don't know where they got this info from, but interesting nonetheless

MIT Research, log burners are a huge cause of air pollution.
 
Biomass (the apparent saviour of mankind) is dried to around the 5% mark before being ground from pellet form into dust prior to being blown into the furnace.
So, the Canadian trees are ground to dust, then pelletised for transport and then shipped through the Panama canal heading for Rotterdam.
The material is then transported in small ships to Hull and then to Goole (typical example) to feed the likes of Drax and more recently Ferrybridge. The pellets are then trained to the power station where an entire train load gives 20 minutes burning :eek:.......after being turned to dust once more, of course.
Green energy? Why, of course! :whistle:
John :)
 

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