The Moisture Meter is an essential piece of equipment for anyone using a wood burning stove or open fire, yet most open fire or stove users are unaware of the need to use the gadget.
Firewood may be nicely drying in the summer sun and warm breeze, however looks can be deceptive and it’s still essential to check that the winter’s supply of wood is of a safe and efficient quality to burn in the fireplace or wood burning stove.
Fuel quality is the single most important aspect for making a fire. To burn effectively the moisture content of firewood needs to be less than 20%, regardless of whether you are using an open fire or a stove. Freshly felled timber has a moisture content of 30-60%, depending on the type of wood.
By simply pressing the Moisture Meter prongs 0.5mm into the firewood, you can test whether the wood is fully seasoned and the results are shown on an easy-to-read digital display. Our newest model has built-in colour change technology to clearly indicates the moisture level of the firewood.
Burning wet, unseasoned, freshly felled or green wood can invalidate warranties of expensive stainless steel chimney liners as well as creating;
• Heavy soot and tar build-up in a chimney or liner
• Smokey chimneys
• Lower heat output
• Potentially corrosive acids in the chimney flue
• Increased likelihood of chimney fire
• Difficulty in getting the fire to burn
• Lower draw on chimneys causing smoke to enter the room
• Dirty stove glass with tar and creosote deposits
• Detrimental effects on the environment
Our Moisture Meters are not just an essential tool for testing firewood, but also a handy gadget for use on timber, floors and buildings in order to detect and measure moisture content.