Logs that don't burn

[Deleted User]

I had a load of seasoned hardwood logs delivered. My moisture meter shows them as being around 20% more or less. However they don't burn all the way through. I end up with charred lumps. Thought it was me so I tried a couple of nets from another supplier and they have burned brilliantly. I know then that its probably not me.

Have I got any option but to offload them. The supplier has ignored my email and to be honest I probably don't have a case because of the moisture reading.

greyteam1959

Logs with a moisture content like that should burn OK.
I would think you should be giving them a bit more draft.......
The other nets you bought might have been softwood & burnt quicker ??
Tell us what you are burning them on & somebody might have a better answer.
HTH

Greenfires

Might be more a case of how you're burning. Charred lumps are something I often find at customers where they clean the ash out every day and they're trying to burn on a clean grate. Wood burns much happier on a bed of ash with air coming from above. Clean grate and air from below often blows the heart out of the fire and you end up with what you have there.

Ectophile

Is the 20% moisture just on the outside of the logs? It could be worth splitting a few in half and checking the moisture inside.

Williwoodburner

Hi Missu,
Several possibilities with your wood problem,
Firstly different species of wood have different burning qualities, such as softwoods burn quickly, easy to light, lots of flame.
Hardwoods are much denser than softwoods and are slower to get going but burn longer with more heat but not necessarily more flame.
Oak for example is difficult to season (takes 3 years or more), not much flame but lots of heat and good embers which will keep In for ages.
Maybe as has been already said you are more used to softwoods ?.
Fruitwoods are also difficult to get going, I find with hardwoods you need to get to a higher temp before shutting down slowly in stages.
Another possibility is log placement.
Was the unburnt log at the back of the stove ?
If so it could be that the air supply to this area was restricted by other logs in front so they turn to charr before igniting.
Try mixing species and cris crossing the logs in the firebox.
I also put at least 3 logs in and try to mix sizes, smaller logs get going quicker, larger logs slower to get going but burn longer.

Hope this helps

Willie.

sandy2210

are you splitting the log before taking a reading the outside may be dry but you have to split one and take a reading on the new split face