Wood selection for burning

[KRoberts]

We moved and there are a few large stacks of maple that has been sitting out uncovered for a few years. Will burning 'older/dry' wood cause any issues with taste, etc.

Thanks!

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

It should not alter the taste of the syrup at all.

[buckeye gold]

If it's dry and solid your in business. The trouble with maple is it gets doty pretty quick if it hasn't been protected. If it's doty then it is probably moisture laden and not a good heat producer . Split a few pieces and see if it is solid.

[maple flats]

As long the wood is dry, split to proper size it does not matter what kind it is, any species is fine. If it's an evergreen of any type, even the smallest ones you burn should be split at least once, their bark is a fire barrier, something nature did to protect the tree in a forest fire. I burn even some punky wood but only if it's dry. However, if it's real punky, I put it back in the woods to finish rotting. A pound of wood contains 8600 BTU's, the available BTU's are 8600 less that lost because of moisture. 20% moisture wood yields about 7100 net BTU's regardless of species, a pound is a pound.

[Sinzibuckwud]

Top of the pile might be ok to burn, stuff on or near the ground and in the center is probably saturated beyond use.

[WhistlePig]

What is the definition of "split to proper size"?

[Maplewalnut]

What is the definition of "split to proper size"?

Wrist size or slightly larger although pine and hemlock I leave a littld bigger to get a little longer burn

[Maplewalnut]

If it's dry and solid your in business. The trouble with maple is it gets doty pretty quick if it hasn't been protected. If it's doty then it is probably moisture laden and not a good heat producer . Split a few pieces and see if it is solid.

Agree ....dont over think it, if its dry burn it