Why Won’t My Firewood Burn – How to Get Wood to Catch Fire

If your firewood won’t burn, then look no further. This Fairwood Firewood guide will address all the common issues faced when starting fires and help you understand why is my wood not burning in the first place.

Airflow, moisture, and wood type all play a role in whether your wood catches fire, how well it burns, and how long it burns. There’s a lot to go over, but by the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll have all the knowledge necessary to build a perfect fire every time the occasion arises.

Key takeaways (firewood not burning / how to keep wood burning)

  • Use seasoned firewood to guarantee optimal moisture levels.
  • Choose a softwood like pine for kindling and a hardwood like maple or oak for your logs.
  • Store your wood off the ground in a place that is dry and protected from rain and snow.
  • Follow our guide to safely build a fire and keep it going.

Why is my firewood not burning?

Wet or damp wood

Moisture is the antithesis of fire. If your wood is damp, it’s the most likely reason you’re having trouble starting a fire. Also, besides being harder—if not impossible—to ignite, damp wood (even if it’s just slightly moist) creates more smoke, and it may be the root cause of why your firewood is charring not burning. It’s also a lot more wasteful, as unseasoned ‘green’ wood rarely burns all the way through. This is one of the most common reasons why won’t my logs catch fire becomes a problem for homeowners.

It’s also important to emphasize that the level of moisture that’s optimal for burning is extremely low—lower than what you generally get in the woods. This is why firewood businesses ‘season’ their wood.

The term ‘seasoning’ refers to the drying process undergone to remove all moisture from firewood. It takes a minimum of 6 months in well-ventilated, dry storage, and it’s 100% necessary to get reliable wood if you want how to get wood to catch fire to be effortless.

How to Make Firewood Last Longer

Assuming you do have totally dry wood, the next step to making sure you have optimal firewood for your next fire is to find a good storage place. Otherwise, you may still end up asking why won’t my wood burn even if it was seasoned when purchased.

It’s important to pick a similar environment to the one the wood was seasoned in, i.e., a place that is dry, has good air circulation (elevation helps a lot), and has cover so the wood won’t be exposed to rain or snow. Proper storage can dramatically improve how long the fire burns and help you avoid issues where wood won’t catch fire due to ambient moisture.

Best Firewood for Your Campfire
firewood splitting

How to Store Firewood

Now that we’ve covered all the basics, here’s a step-by-step guide to getting a roaring fire started so you’re never left wondering why won’t my wood burn or how to keep firewood burning.

Newspaper will work, but be aware that it leaves behind more ash and can potentially be dangerous, as burning paper can float away and catch fire. If you don’t have purpose-made kindling, a better alternative would be snapping your tinder down into smaller bits that are easier to ignite.

Set up your kindling in a flat-ish crisscross formation above the tinder, then build up to a teepee formation, leaving gaps between each piece to provide airflow. This structure improves how to get wood to burn because oxygen can move through the stack freely.

Place two logs parallel on each side of the kindling and light the kindling. Then, lay two more logs across the top of the existing logs at 90-degree angles, creating an overlapping square formation. This helps prevent your firewood from simply charring and not catching flame.

When building fires indoors, make sure you fully open both the top and bottom air vents when lighting the fire. Once the fire is going, remember to close the bottom vent almost completely, then adjust the top vent to control how fast the wood burns. Proper draft is essential for how to get wood to catch fire effectively.

Now that you’ve got your fire, if you’re wondering how to keep the fire going, the only two things you need to worry about are airflow and fuel. If wood has collapsed inward and smothered the flames, carefully rearrange the logs with a fire poker or uncover embers to allow more airflow. If the flame is still strong in the center, keep building the stack to maintain strong burning conditions.

Choosing The Right Wood For Your Fire

Getting a strong, long-lasting fire often comes down to what wood you’re using. A denser wood is going to burn longer and stronger, while a softer wood is going to fizzle out quicker. So, if you’re wondering how to make firewood last longer, it starts with choosing a good hardwood. Softwoods still have their place, specifically as kindling.

Hardwoods are also the most versatile, being preferred for cooking and smoking food and heating a home. Maple, apple, and hickory, all hardwoods, are common flavourful woods preferred for smoking, while oak is the best choice for heating an entire home. Using quality hardwoods can help you avoid the classic frustration of firewood not burning even when it appears dry.

Hardwoods to consider

  • Maple
  • Oak
  • Ash
  • Hickory
  • Birch
  • Apple

Softwoods good for kindling

  • Pine
  • Birch
  • Spruce
  • Fir
  • Redwood
  • Cedar

So, What to do When Your Wood is Not Catching Fire?

You now have all the knowledge you need to successfully build a fire for any occasion, whether indoors or outdoors. And remember, it all starts with your choice in seasoned firewood — without it, you may still wonder why is my wood not catching fire no matter how carefully you build your setup.

Fairwood Firewood Ltd. is 100% Canadian-owned and -operated, sourcing our wood locally from Muskoka and Bancroft forests. We’re here for all your firewood needs and ready to deliver at your convenience. Click this link to start shopping for firewood, or feel free to contact us by phone at 905-478-9090 or by email at sales@fairwoodfirewood.ca.

FAQs

First, make sure your wood is dry. Then, start by lighting tinder (or newspaper) with kindling layered over top of it. Lastly, place overlapping logs in a square tower formation to build your fire up.

Your wood is likely too damp, which is causing it to char rather than burn.

Damp wood is more prone to smoking rather than burning.

Fully open both the top and bottom air vents when lighting the fire. Once the fire is going, close the bottom vent almost completely and adjust the top vent to control how fast the wood burns.

Open a window so the smoke has somewhere to go if there is no draft, and make sure your chimney’s flue is open. Use well-seasoned hardwood with extremely low moisture for optimal performance.

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