--- title: How to Season and Stack Firewood in Northern Nevada url: https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/how-to-season-and-stack-firewood/ business: Battle Born Tree Service address: 6301 US Highway 50 East, Carson City, NV 89701 phone: 775.232.8243 hours: Office Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5:00 pm; phones answered seven days a week; 24-hour emergency service credentials: ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A on staff; Nevada Business License # 20131580674; fully insured type: Tree service (removal, crane work, pruning, stump grinding, defensible space, snow removal, firewood) --- - [Home](https://battleborntreeservice.com/) - [The Field Guide](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/) - How to season and stack firewood # How to season and stack firewood Split the wood, stack it off the ground with air around it, cover only the top, and wait at least six months for softwood and 12 months for hardwood. The EPA says wood burns best below 20 percent moisture content and recommends checking it with a moisture meter before you burn. Key takeaways - Split logs first; splitting shortens drying time. - Season softwood at least 6 months and hardwood 12 months (EPA). - Stack off the ground; cover the top, not the sides. - Keep woodpiles out of the first 5 feet around the house (UNR Extension, Zone 0). Dry air helps in the high desert, but wood still needs time and airflow. Wet wood burns poorly and smokes, which is a problem for your chimney and your neighbors. ## The short version | Step | What to do | |---|---| | Split | Split logs soon after cutting. Splitting shortens drying time. | | Raise | Put the stack on a base so it is off the ground, away from moisture and pests. | | Stack loosely | Leave gaps for air to move through the pile. | | Cover the top | A roof wide enough to shed rain and snow. Do not wrap the sides. | | Wait | At least 6 months for softwood, 12 months for hardwood. | | Test | Moisture meter reading below 20 percent. | ## How long should firewood season? The EPA's guidance is to season softwood at least 6 months and hardwood at least 12. Those are minimums. Time on the stack matters more than the calendar year: wood split in spring and stacked in the sun and wind will be ready sooner than wood stacked in a damp corner. Test it anyway. Signs of seasoned wood, per the EPA, are that it is darker, weighs less and sounds hollow when two pieces are knocked together. ## Stacking and storage - Keep wood outdoors and off the ground. - Build or buy a base so the bottom row is off the dirt. - Make the roof overhang wide enough to shield the wood from rain and snow, and slope it so water does not pool. - Cover only the top; covering the sides holds in moisture. - Tie the ends or tops of a freestanding stack so it does not tip. ## Where should you put the woodpile? Not against the house. University of Nevada, Reno Extension's Zone 0 guidance says to clear woodpiles from the first 5 feet around a building, and the guide does not give a longer distance, so your fire district may ask for more. A shed or rack away from the structure is also easier on the stack, because you can get air to it. See [what is defensible space](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/what-is-defensible-space/). ## Burning it Test a freshly split face with a moisture meter. Burn wood below 20 percent moisture. In Washoe County, winter burn-day rules and device rules also apply; see [Washoe County burn codes](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/washoe-county-burn-codes/). ## Common mistakes The most common mistakes are stacking wood on bare ground, wrapping the whole stack in a tarp, stacking wood tight against the house, and burning wood that was split last month. Each one holds moisture or creates a fire hazard. A second mistake is trusting looks. Wood that has been in a pile for a year can still be damp in the middle if the pile was packed tight and kept wet, which is why a meter reading on a freshly split face beats guessing. If your wood is not dry enough, keep burning your driest pieces first, bring a few days' worth indoors to warm up before use, and plan to season the rest longer. ## If you buy firewood Ask the seller how long the wood has been split and dry, and expect to season it more if it is not ready. We sell a variety of Reno firewood from our Carson City yard. Call [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243) for availability and pricing. ### Sources - [US EPA Burn Wise: Best Wood Burning Practices](https://www.epa.gov/burnwise/best-wood-burning-practices) (read October 17, 2026) - [US EPA Burn Wise: Build Firewood Storage](https://www.epa.gov/burnwise/build-firewood-storage) (read October 17, 2026) - [University of Nevada, Reno Extension: Living With Fire (SP-23-07)](https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=5522) (read October 17, 2026) ### Talk to the office [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243) | Monday to Friday | 8:30 am - 5:00 pm | |---|---| | Saturday and Sunday | Office closed, phones answered | Phones answered seven days a week. 24-hour emergency service. [Free estimate](#quote) ### Keep reading - [How big is a cord of wood?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/how-big-is-a-cord-of-wood/) - [Best firewood species in the Sierra and Great Basin](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/best-firewood-sierra-great-basin/) - [Washoe County burn codes explained](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/washoe-county-burn-codes/) - [What is defensible space? Zones 0, 1 and 2](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/what-is-defensible-space/) - [Firewood and wood chips](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/firewood-wood-chips/) - [Firewood and wood chips questions](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/firewood-and-wood-chips/) ## More from the blog Pruning and care October 17, 2026 5 min read ### What should you do with your trees in October in Carson City and Reno? In October, finish watering while the ground is open, look over your trees for dead or hanging limbs, and clear leaves and needles away from the house. Save most live-wood pruning for the dormant seas Pruning and care October 17, 2026 6 min read ### Young trees in new subdivisions: the first ten years A young tree in a new subdivision needs very little pruning in its first two or three years, then steady structural pruning to build one strong central trunk and well-spaced branches. The ISA says tre Removal and equipment October 17, 2026 6 min read ### Where tree debris and green waste go in Reno and Carson City Green waste has a few legitimate homes in our area: the landfill or transfer station if the load is only wood and green waste, a fire district drop-off day or curbside chipping program if you qualify, [All posts](https://battleborntreeservice.com/blog/) ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243). Phones are answered seven days a week. ### How long does firewood need to dry? The EPA says to season wood for at least six months for softwood and 12 months for hardwood. ### What moisture level is right? Below 20 percent, checked with a moisture meter, per the EPA. ### Should I cover the whole stack with a tarp? No. Cover the top only. Covering the sides holds in moisture. ### How close to the house can I stack wood? Not within the first 5 feet. University of Nevada, Reno Extension's Zone 0 guidance says to clear woodpiles from that strip, and your fire district may ask for more.