What's the best way to store firewood outside in Ottawa so it's dry and ready by November?

The best way to store firewood in Ottawa is to stack it off the ground on a level, well-draining surface, cover only the top to shed rain and snow, leave the sides completely open to allow wind circulation, position it at least 5 metres away from your house, and stack it in loose rows rather than dense piles so air can flow through the entire stack. Done correctly, wood will season effectively through spring and summer, reaching the ideal 15 to 20 percent moisture content needed for clean, efficient burning by the time winter arrives.

Why Ottawa's Climate Makes Firewood Storage Critical

Ottawa's short outdoor burning season and long, intense winter mean that firewood quality directly impacts how much heat you get, how much creosote accumulates in your chimney, and whether you can actually enjoy your fireplace or wood stove in November. Wet or green wood (above 30 percent moisture) produces massive amounts of creosote — that sticky, flammable coating that builds up inside your chimney and becomes a serious chimney fire risk. Properly seasoned wood burns hotter, produces less smoke, generates far less creosote, and heats your home far more efficiently. In Ottawa, where many people rely on wood stoves or fireplaces for supplemental heating during the coldest months, the difference between well-seasoned and poorly seasoned wood is the difference between comfort and frustration.

The Right Storage Setup

Start by choosing a location that gets good air circulation and drains well — avoid low spots where water pools, the shaded north side of buildings, or areas where snow drifts accumulate. Lay down a foundation of wooden pallets, concrete blocks, or pressure-treated sleepers to lift the wood at least 4 to 6 inches off the ground. Direct ground contact traps moisture underneath the stack and invites insects and rot. Create parallel rows running east to west (so prevailing winds blow across the stack), space the rows 12 to 18 inches apart to allow air movement, and stack wood loosely rather than jamming pieces tightly together — air circulation is everything.

Cover only the top of the stack with a waterproof tarp, metal roof, or wooden frame covered with tar paper or roofing material. The critical mistake most people make is covering the sides as well — this traps moisture inside the stack and actually prevents seasoning. Rain that falls on exposed sides runs down and drains out naturally, but the open sides let wind dry the wood continuously. Think of it like a roof over a house — the walls are open to air but the roof keeps the bulk of rain off.

Stack wood in straight lines rather than haphazard piles, and keep the height to 4 to 5 feet so the weight doesn't crush wood at the bottom and allow easier access when you need to grab wood for burning. In Ottawa, where ice and heavy snow are inevitable, avoid stacking higher than 5 feet — winter snow load can collapse an unstable stack, and you do not want to be dismantling a frozen pile of wood in January.

Seasoning Timeline for Ottawa

Wood cut in spring or early summer will season through the summer months and should reach burnability (15 to 20 percent moisture) by fall, assuming it is hardwood (oak, maple, ash) rather than softwood (pine, spruce). Softwood seasons faster but produces more creosote and is generally not ideal for fireplaces or wood stoves — hardwood is worth seeking out. Hardwood cut in September or October will not dry sufficiently by November; plan on using that wood the following winter season instead. If you are buying firewood, ask the seller when it was cut and stack it immediately so it has several months to season before you burn it.

Test moisture with an inexpensive moisture meter (available at hardware stores for $25 to $50) — wood below 20 percent moisture is ready to burn. Dry wood sounds crisp when struck together (wet wood thuds dully), has visible cracks along the grain ends, has bark that separates easily, and feels noticeably lighter than freshly cut wood.

Storage Mistakes That Ruin Wood

Never cover the sides of your stack — trapped moisture means the wood never dries. Never stack wood directly on soil or grass — ground moisture wicks upward and prevents the bottom of the stack from seasoning. Never store wood in a completely enclosed shed or garage where humidity is high and air circulation is poor — the wood will dry slowly if at all. Never mix green and seasoned wood in the same stack — you will end up burning some unseasoned wood without realizing it. Never store firewood against the house or within 2 to 3 metres of it — insects, spiders, and rodents living in the wood pile will migrate into your home, and decaying wood near the foundation invites rot and moisture problems.

Distance From the House

Keep firewood at least 5 metres (roughly 16 feet) from your home's walls, foundation, and windows. Firewood piles attract insects (carpenter ants, termites, beetles) and rodents (mice, squirrels, rats) that will naturally migrate to your house when temperatures drop in autumn. The closer the wood to your home, the easier it is for these creatures to move indoors. In Ottawa winters, a mouse nest in your walls or attic is a genuine problem, so this distance is not arbitrary — it is practical pest management.

Late-Season Stacking

If you find yourself purchasing firewood in September or October because your spring supply is depleted, stack it immediately and plan to use it the following winter. Trying to dry wood between October and November is unrealistic in Ottawa — fall humidity is high, daylight is declining, and temperatures are cool. Any wood you purchase after August should be budgeted as next-season fuel. This is why smart Ottawa homeowners order firewood in spring or early summer when it has half the year to season.

When you are ready to move firewood inside for burning, bring in only what you will burn in the next few days to avoid bringing insects indoors and to prevent water tracking into your home.

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