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Many homeowners appreciate having a fireplace as it adds warmth and comfort to the abode. Still, one must take the storage of firewood into serious consideration.
The distance between the firewood storage and the home itself is a key topic of discussion. Is it wise to maintain the firewood stack nearby, or may dangers be involved? These queries need the right pondering.
While considering the advantages and disadvantages of keeping firewood close to one’s home, it is also significant to learn about aspects like safety, accessibility, and environmental effects.
Weighing these variables will help us choose the best way to store firewood while maintaining the structural integrity of the house and balancing between convenience and protection.
The Drawbacks of Storing Firewood Close to Your Home
When you are wondering if you must store the firewood close to your home or not, you may want first to enlist the pros and cons of doing so and then make the decision by yourself. Following are some disadvantages of storing firewood close to your home.
1. The Fire Problem
The storing of firewood must always be done safely. If the wood is not adequately seasoned, placing a woodpile too near the home may make it more likely to break out a fire. An uncontrollable situation may arise if even a spark ignites the stack, and when the wood is dry, you can imagine how fast it will spread. Well, you wouldn’t want to be stuck in any such situation, right?
2. The Damage of Firewood
The long-term effects of storing firewood close to the house might lead to structural damage with time. Having a woodpile against the outer walls of the place all the time might wear them down and perhaps cause rot or other type of damage or harm. Already damaged wood may not be of much use, so it is important that you keep a note of that.
3. Unwanted Breeding
The risk of insect infection is among the main issues with storing firewood near to the house. For several insects like termites, ants, and beetles, woodpiles may act as a haven and also as a place to reproduce. Once inside the house, these pests may move from the woodpile, harming the building. And you must know how easily these insects can destroy walls and wood.
4. Development of Molds
Being close to the home might unintentionally expose the woodpile to moisture from runoff from the roof or condensation from the structure itself. The formation of mold and mildew may be aided by the dampness, making the wood less suited for burning and perhaps dispersing dangerous spores into the atmosphere. Harming the environment can further cause harm to many.
The Benefits of Storing Firewood Close to Your Home
After discussing the major cons of storing firewood close to your home, we must also take a look at some beneficial points for doing so that may encourage you to keep the woodpile near your place.
1. Easy to Dry Wood
To burn effectively, firewood has to be well-seasoned. It can benefit from the lingering warmth of the house by being stored close to it, which enhances and speeds up the drying procedure. This may be particularly helpful in places that are known for their high humidity levels.
2. Can Be Convenient
Unmatched convenience is surely provided by keeping firewood near the house. Transporting it indoors is easier if it has been stacked closer to the house, especially considering the bad weather. Your indoor firewood stack is more easily accessible and easier to replace because of this proximity.
3. Gives Some Aesthetic Looks
The outside area may look rustic and inviting with the addition of a well-kept stack of firewood next to the home. It may be included in the landscape plan to provide an eye-catching aspect that accentuates the house’s architectural style. So this may give an amazing look to your place.
4. Less Exposure to the Wood
The inclement weather is less likely to affect firewood kept close to the home. Its longevity and burning effectiveness may both be maintained by doing this. In addition to being more difficult to light, wood that has been exposed to rain or snow for an extended period may also lead to lesser heat production when burnt.
Some consider keeping the woodpile stack about five feet away from your home to be better, while others believe that a distance of around twenty feet works best if you wish to store the firewood close to your house.
If you can make such arrangements, then you can store the firewood close to your house at a distance, which is considered the best.
Wrapping Up!
The choice of whether to keep firewood close to the house is not a universal one. It depends on carefully weighing the advantages and disadvantages of this practice. Need to buy firewood? Understand the essentials with our rick vs. cord of wood comparison.
While accessibility and convenience are evident benefits, it is important to consider the possible risks associated with insect infestation, fire hazards, and structural damage. A fair strategy may be choosing a site that will provide you with convenience without compromising the house.
This can include utilizing a woodshed or special storage space that is placed carefully to offer accessibility while reducing possible risks.
In the end, with careful design and routine upkeep, it is feasible to find a balance between keeping the firewood near your place and still maintaining the integrity and safety of your house.
So go through these perspectives and make your final decision.
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