How Do Drying Kilns for Firewood Work?

If you’ve ever wondered why kiln dried logs burn so much better than a heap of freshly cut wood, the answer lies in the drying kilns for firewood. These chambers pull the moisture out of timber, allowing it to light easier, burn hotter, and produce far less smoke.

In this guide we’ll explain the how a firewood drying kiln works, why it’s better than seasoning outdoors, and what that means when you buy your next load of logs.

Why Firewood Needs Drying

Freshly cut wood (sometimes called “green wood”) can contain up to 50% water. Try to burn that in your stove, and you’ll create a smoky, inefficient fire that wastes most of the heat on boiling off water instead of warming your room.

That’s why we must dry wood before use. Traditionally, people “seasoned” wood by stacking logs outside and allowing the wind and sun to do the work over 12–18 months. The problem? UK weather isn’t exactly reliable. Seasoned logs can still carry too much moisture, especially if someone does not store them correctly.

By comparison, logs dried in a wood drying kiln reach the perfect level (below 20% moisture) every time. That’s why all our kiln dried logs are Woodsure Ready to Burn certified – meaning they meet strict standards for efficiency and air quality (see DEFRA’s Ready to Burn scheme).

What is Kilning?

You might hear the process called “kilning” – simply put, it’s the use of a controlled heated chamber to dry wood quickly and evenly.

A kiln for drying firewood is like a large oven. Stack the logs inside, circulate warm air with fans, and gradually remove moisture. Unlike seasoning, which depends on the weather, a kiln gives complete control over temperature, airflow, and humidity.

There are a few types of wood drying kiln used in the UK:

• Conventional heat – powered by oil, gas, or biomass boilers.
• Dehumidifier – use lower temperatures and extract water from the air.
• Biomass-heated – often fuelled by waste wood from tree surgery or sawmills, making them more sustainable.

How Do Drying Kilns for Firewood Work?

Here’s the step-by-step process of firewood kiln drying:

1. Splitting and loading – Logs are cut to size, split for airflow, and loaded into the kiln.
2. Heat applied – The system pumps warm air in, usually between 60–80°C.
3. Airflow circulated – Fans move the hot air around the stacks so all the wood dries evenly.
4. Moisture evaporates – Both surface and internal water escape, lowering the log’s moisture content.
5. Monitoring – Moisture meters check progress until the logs reach under 20%.
6. Unloading – The wood comes out clean, dry, and ready to burn.

In just 7 – 14 days, a firewood drying kiln can achieve what outdoor seasoning might take two years to manage.

Why Kiln Dry Firewood is Better

When you buy kiln dry firewood, you’re guaranteed consistent quality. The benefits are easy to see:

• Hotter, longer burns – more usable heat, less wasted energy.
• Cleaner chimneys – less tar build-up, lower risk of chimney fires.
• Easier to light – no frustration or wasted matches.
• Reliable year-round supply – not dependent on the weather like seasoned logs.

This is why we only stock kiln dried hardwood logs. It means every bag, crate, or bulk delivery we send is consistent, safe, and ready to burn.

Different Hardwoods, Different Results

Not every hardwood behaves the same in a fire – which is why our kiln treats each species with care.

• Ash – a classic choice, steady and long-lasting, perfect for stoves.
• Silver Birch – lights quickly, bright lively flame, great for fire pits.
• Beech – dense, hot-burning, excellent for pizza ovens and cooking.
• Hornbeam – heavy and slow-burning, perfect for overnight heat.

You can explore our full range here.

Kiln Dried Log Delivery

We keep delivery straightforward:

• Local (within 17 miles of the Ribble Valley): we bring your order ourselves, right to your door, often within a couple of days.
• Nationwide: for the rest of the UK, we ship kiln dried logs on pallets, wrapped and strapped so they arrive dry and ready to burn.

Whether you need a crate, bulk bag, or a smaller order, your kiln dried log delivery will always arrive clean and ready for the fire.

So, how do drying kilns for firewood work? In short: by combining heat, air circulation, and time to create logs that burn hotter, cleaner, and with far less smoke. Compared to seasoning, it’s faster, more reliable, and much better for your stove and chimney.

If you’re ready to stock up on clean, easy-to-light logs, take a look at our kiln dried firewood — delivered locally here in the Ribble Valley or across the UK.