Is your firewood ready to burn? Vermont libraries can help you find out

Maleeha Syed
Burlington Free Press

Don't just stop at books the next time you browse your library's selection: You might as well snag a firewood moisture meter while you're at it. 

The state's Firewood Moisture Meter Loan Program gives Vermonters the opportunity to check out the item in 48 of Vermont's public libraries, according to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.

These devices help people properly test firewood, which should be burned at a moisture content of 20% or less, according to the department. Using firewood that doesn't hit the moisture standard can make heating your abode more costly and put you at increased risk of exposure to air pollutants. 

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“Making sure that your firewood is sufficiently dry protects you and your family’s health and cuts down on the amount of money you’ll spend on firewood," Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Peter Walke said in the news release. "Checking the moisture content in your wood is an important step in making sure firewood is cut, stored and aged properly. Seasoned wood burns hotter and reduces fuel consumption.” 

You can check the department's website to see the locations in on the deal, including the Waterbury Public Library. Director Almy Landauer initially wondered what public interest would look like when she heard about the program.

"We've been adding non-traditional items to the library's collection for the past couple of years, but I wanted to know if it would get used,” she said in the news release. “I put the question out on Front Porch Forum and was delighted to receive about 25 replies from people who said they would really like to use it. It's now in our collection with a long wait list.”

Contact Maleeha Syed at mzsyed@freepressmedia.com or 802-495-6595. Follow her on Twitter @MaleehaSyed89

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