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If the rot has only partially affected the log, it should be suitable to use in a campfire. If you notice any of these signs, then your wood is probably rotten. The wood will begin to crumble if you try to break it with your hands.A musky smell will indicate that the wood is rotting.The wood is covered in bugs or insect larvae, which means that the inside of the log will be infested as well.You hear hollow sounds when tapping on it with another piece of firewood.The bark looks like it’s curling away from the log or has fallen off entirely.There are spongy areas, darkening in colour and lightening around the outside.Here are some of the most common ways you can tell that your wood is rotten: Sometimes it will be obvious when your firewood is rotting, and other times it will be more subtle.
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Creosote build-up is what causes chimney fires, so it’s best not to mix rotten firewood with your fireplace. You also have to consider that burning rotten wood can lead to creosote build-up in your chimney, which is a hazardous by-product of incomplete combustion that causes black soot and other dangerous pollutants to form. This is because the wood won’t burn as hot, which means that more moisture will be released into the house, alongside any microorganisms that are breaking down the wood. It’s better to use rotten wood in an outdoor fire as opposed to an indoor fireplace. Make sure that the wood is solid enough to be placed in your fire without crumbling apart to ensure that there will be enough energy in the log for it to burn. Rotten wood will burn fine as long as it isn’t completely disintegrated or too moist. However, if you’ve ever split firewood, then you know that even wet or partially-rotting logs can be burned for heat, though they won’t burn as hot and cleanly as well-seasoned wood does.
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When wood is properly seasoned, it’s dry on the inside with no moisture.
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