What are the disadvantages of dried wood?
Dried wood — whether seasoned or kiln dried — is the best type of firewood for clean, efficient burning. However, like any fuel, there are a few disadvantages to be aware of. Most of these apply to seasoned (air-dried) wood rather than kiln dried hardwood logs.
1. Seasoned wood can take a long time to prepare
Properly air-drying firewood takes 12–24 months. This means you need space, time and the right weather conditions. If it’s not stacked well or protected from rain, it may never fully dry.
2. Quality is inconsistent
Seasoned wood depends heavily on how it was stored. One batch may be perfectly dry, while another may still hold 25–30% moisture, making it hard to light and smoky to burn.
3. Higher moisture means more smoke and tar
If seasoned wood isn’t fully dry, it can produce:
- Excess smoke
- Soot and creosote deposits in your chimney
- Poor heat output
- Dirty stove glass
This is rarely an issue with kiln dried logs, which are dried to below 18% moisture.
4. You need space for storage
Dried wood must be kept somewhere ventilated, raised off the ground and protected from the weather. Not all households have space for stacks of logs or wood stores.
5. Seasoned wood can attract pests
Air-dried logs stored outdoors may attract insects, spiders or mould if the wood becomes damp again. Kiln drying avoids this issue by heating the wood to a point where pests and spores are eliminated.
6. Kiln dried wood can be more expensive
The only real disadvantage of kiln dried firewood is the higher production cost. However, because it burns hotter, cleaner and longer than regular seasoned wood, you often need fewer logs — making it better value overall.
In summary, most disadvantages apply to seasoned firewood that isn’t dried properly. Kiln dried hardwood logs eliminate nearly all of these issues, offering the cleanest burn, best efficiency and most reliable performance for stoves and open fires.
