Test Your Wood with a Moisture Meter
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Why should I use a moisture meter?
It takes the guesswork out of knowing if wood is dry, seasoned, and ready to burn
(below 20% moisture content).
U You can buy a basic wood moisture meter online or at a hardware store for $15 - $40
What are the benefits of burning dry, seasoned wood?
•	Makes it easier to start, build, and burn hot fires
•	Uses less wood to get the same amount of heat, meaning less wood to split and stack
•	Reduces creosote build-up, and decreases chimney fires

What if I burn wood that has a high moisture content?
Wet wood produces less heat and more smoke and creosote.
Wood smoke can harm your health and creosote is a chimney hazard.
O To dry and season your wood, split, stack, cover and store it
for at least 6-12 months. Split wood dries much faster than
whole logs, and smaller pieces burn cleaner.

How do I test my firewood?
Burn drier.
Burn better.
Use dry wood for a
cleaner fire with more
heat and less smoke
Test the newly split side of the log
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Split the wood
Split side
Test the newly split side
Insert probes into the
wood grain
Wood burns most efficiently when the moisture content is between 15-20%

See your meter's
instructions for
more specifics
Burn Wise
Learn more at www.epa.gov/burnwise/videos
of U.S. EPA
EPA-456/F-20-003

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