If you’ve ever tried to light a fire only to end up with smouldering, smoky logs that refuse to catch — the culprit is almost certainly moisture. The type of firewood you burn, and how it’s been dried, makes an enormous difference to your experience. At Local Seasoned Logs, all of our firewood is kiln-dried to a moisture content of 10–20%. Here’s why that matters, and how it compares to traditionally air-dried wood.
What Is Air-Dried Firewood?
Air-dried firewood is exactly what it sounds like — logs that have been left outdoors (or in a covered stack) to dry naturally over time. This is the traditional method that’s been used for centuries, and it works — eventually.
The catch is time. Freshly cut (‘green’) wood contains up to 50–60% moisture. For air-drying to bring that down to a usable level (below 25%), you typically need:
- Hardwoods: 1–2 years of stacking and drying
- Softwoods: 6–12 months minimum
Even then, results depend heavily on the weather, stacking method, and your geographic location. A wet British summer can significantly slow the process — meaning you may end up with wood that’s still too damp to burn well.
What Is Kiln-Dried Firewood?
Kiln-drying is a controlled, professional process where firewood is placed inside a large industrial oven (kiln) and heated at high temperatures until the moisture is driven out.
At Local Seasoned Logs, our firewood is baked at 270°F for 36 hours — reducing the moisture content to between 10% and 20%. That’s significantly drier than most air-dried wood, and it happens in days rather than years.
The process also isn’t just about speed. Kiln-drying kills off insects, larvae, and mould that can live inside freshly cut wood — making it a cleaner, safer product overall.
Head-to-Head Comparison
🔥 Ignition Speed
Kiln-dried: Lights quickly and easily with minimal kindling.
Air-dried: Can be hit-or-miss, especially if drying conditions were poor.
💨 Smoke Output
Kiln-dried: Minimal smoke due to low moisture content — great for indoor stoves and open fireplaces.
Air-dried: Higher moisture means more steam and smoke. This also leads to more creosote build-up in your chimney, which is a fire hazard.
🌡️ Heat Output
Kiln-dried: Burns hotter and more efficiently — more of the energy goes into heat, not evaporating water.
Air-dried: Lower heat output as energy is wasted burning off moisture.
⏳ Burn Duration
Kiln-dried: Steady, consistent burn — you use less wood to achieve the same warmth.
Air-dried: Burns less predictably, and you may end up using more logs to compensate for lower heat.
📦 Ready to Use
Kiln-dried: Ready the moment it’s delivered. No waiting, no storing for months first.
Air-dried: May need additional drying time if not properly seasoned before sale.
Does Air-Dried Firewood Have Any Advantages?
In fairness, air-dried firewood can be a cost-effective option if you have the space and time to dry your own logs. Some people prefer to source green wood cheaply and season it themselves over 1–2 years.
However, for most homeowners who want firewood that works right away — consistently, cleanly, and efficiently — kiln-dried is the clear winner.
Why UK Regulations Favour Kiln-Dried
Since May 2021, the UK’s ‘Ready to Burn’ scheme requires that firewood sold in volumes under 2m³ must have a moisture content of 20% or below. Kiln-dried firewood naturally meets this standard. Poorly seasoned air-dried wood often doesn’t — meaning it’s now illegal to sell it in smaller quantities without moisture certification.
All firewood from Local Seasoned Logs is kiln-dried and fully compliant with the Ready to Burn standard.
The Bottom Line
If you want a fire that lights fast, burns hot, produces minimal smoke, and is ready to use immediately — kiln-dried firewood is the only sensible choice. Air-drying has its place for the patient and the self-sufficient, but for reliable, high-performance firewood delivered to your door, kiln-dried wins every time.
Browse our full range of kiln-dried hardwoods and softwoods at Local Seasoned Logs — from Birch and Oak to Cherry, Hickory, and more. Every order comes with our full satisfaction guarantee: if you’re not happy, we’ll refund you — and you keep the wood.