What is seasoned wood?

Seasoned wood is wood that has been allowed to dry out over a long period, typically a year or more after having been cut down. When suitably stored, water will evaporate from the logs reducing the moisture content. For optimum results, logs should be seasoned for 2 years or more to achieve a moisture content below 20%. This will not only give twice the heat output of freshly felled timber but will help avoid a build up of tar in your flue.

Freshly cut wood or 'green wood' has a very high moisture content - anything up to 80%. Adding this kind of unseasoned or wet wood to your fire causes issues as the water contained in the wood heats up and turns to steam, which mixes with the other exhaust gases and extinguishes the secondary burn needed to produce up to half of your stoves heat output.