Smart management of your wood and pellet stocks
It couldn't be easier to store wood and pellets. However, If you look closely, failure to observe a few basic rules could spoil the pleasure of the flame (a little). Incorrect assessment of needs, damp fuel, dirt... Here are a few ideas to help you avoid such problems. Our 3 watchwords: anticipation, functionality and aesthetics.
Assess your wood and pellet requirements
Estimating your consumption is the first step. To make sure you don't have too much wood and pellets in stock, or too little, which would mean you'd have to restock regularly and have to transport more, there are online simulators. First, enter the following parameters (which vary from simulator to simulator):
> the type of fuel,
> the region in which you live,
> the surface area of your home,
> the level of insulation,
> the efficiency of the heating appliance concerned,
> the desired temperature,
> the proportion of the home heated by this method (Single heating system? main heating? supplementary heating?).
The simulators then calculate the quantity of wood or pellets you need.
Correctly estimated consumption means less storage from one year to the next, and therefore more space.
The earlier you order, the better!
Don't wait until the last minute to buy! By ordering your wood or pellets in advance from spring/summer onwards, you'll be ready to use your heating appliance as soon as the first chill sets in.
Having a stock of wood or pellets in advance also means delaying the start-up of an additional heating system (gas, electricity, oil, etc.) and reducing your energy bill.
Packaging to suit every need
Most commercially available wood logs and densified wood logs are sold in bags, packs, filmed pallets or in bulk. Wood pellets are generally packaged in bags, but can also be delivered to your home in bulk.
Choose packaging that is adapted to your storage space. You should also think about accessibility for the delivery person, to reduce the effort involved in handling and storage.
Where and how should you store your wood and pellets?
At home, wood and pellets should be stored in a sheltered, dry place, indoors or outdoors, to preserve their qualities over the long term (garage, damp cellar, garden shed, etc.).
Pellets:
There are a number of accessories and solutions for storing your pellets and handling them easily: silos, upgradable reserve blocks that can be stacked vertically as required (minimum floor space), stylish containers that can be integrated into a living room, buckets and shovels... The choice is yours.
Wood logs and densified wood logs:
They can be stored in their original shrink-wrapped packaging, where you can come and use them as go. If you want to store them, place them a few centimetres away from the floor and wall, to facilitate ventilation.
At the foot of the heating appliance, they can be stored in log bags or baskets, making it easier to refuel the fireplace and giving your home a warm, woody feel...
« Home-made » wood logs: drying time to be respected
If it's wood that you've cut yourself, you won't be able to use it for 14 to 36 months, the drying time required (depending on the species). During this period, it should be stored in a dry, covered and ventilated place to achieve a moisture content of less than 20%.
Good quality wood logs are important for a number of reasons:
> High performance: it's more efficient, so you consume less.
> Calibration and debarking: it is sized for your fireplace, easy to store and clean.
> Compliance with ecological requirements: its combustion is environmentally friendly.
> Less maintenance: your installation is less clogged.
> Ready to use: moisture content between 15% and 20%.
What to do with the surplus ?
You haven't used up all your wood energy? You can use it next year. Now you know how to store it in the right conditions.