The Pros of Kiln-Dried Logs

Armed with the knowledge on kiln drying and how it handles itself against seasoning, let us add to that the positives that come from using the logs produced through kiln drying. When kiln-dried wood is put side by side with the usually seasoned wood, it seems way more superior. If you remain sceptical of the fact, below is a list of pluses from certainly wood about using kiln-dried logs:

Benefits of of Kiln-Dried Logs

1. It Burns Cleaner

A common complaint among the many, from using the usually seasoned wood, is the fact that it leaves creosote and soot. Creosote, if you don’t familiarize yourself with it, is a sticky substance that is usually deposited by burning wood. After the fire cools down the substance is left stuck inside the fireplace or even your woodstove. When you light your fireplace again when it is there, it can catch fire resulting in a safety hazard. Moreover, creosote has been considered to be a poisonous substance that may cause several health issues when inhaled. It can cause serious effects, especially to those that have respiratory problems.

Kiln-dried logs, compared to seasoned wood, are a safer option as they do not produce creosote during combustion. This is a better investment since it burns cleaner and also because, in the case of families with children or seniors, they are safe from the effects of the creosote substance.

2. It’s Easily Ignited

Consider occasions like camping when it is usually grizzly, cold, and wet, kiln-dried wood can relieve you of this discomfort. You know that to fully enjoy a camping trip, you need wood not only to cook but to also keep you warm.

Kiln-dried wood saves your time, and effort when lighting a fire because it ignites quickly from just a spark. Kiln-dried wood can be a camper’s way to keep everyone in the camp warm because the fire from this wood is quite long-lasting.

3. It Burns For Longer

Typically firewood is not very costly, but using a lot of firewood for only a short while can be. kiln-dried wood can save you money since it will be more economical compared to seasoned wood.

By only lighting a few of these logs they can keep you warm for the rest of the night. This way, the moments spent chatting with your family or even reading a book will not be interrupted by the need to add a few logs to the fireplace. Not only are you able to save money through this but you also play a positive active role in reducing the amount of wood consumed hence the environment is protected.

4. It Does Not Produce Smoke

Imagine those scenarios in movies where stars or heroes put out their campfires to avoid being spotted by the bad guys. Well with kiln-dried logs this would not be necessary. This is because they burn clean, meaning that they do not produce smoke. Other options of wood like seasoned or greenwood do produce smoke.

Greenwood is especially known that when burned can result in pitch-black smoke, which can be very stinging to the eyes, nose, and lungs. Even when seasoned wood does not produce as much or stinging smoke as greenwood, it still produces a degree of it. Kiln-dried wood is still a better and cleaner option compared to the two.

5. It Smells Great

Regardless of whether you enjoy camping or not, the smell that is left behind cannot be ignored. This terrible smell can linger on you for days, on your clothes or hair even after attempts of getting rid of it. This smell usually comes from the wood used to light your campfire.

As noted earlier, seasoned wood and greenwood produce smoke, in which the scent from it can be smelt on clothes, or the food cooked using this wood can have a burnt taste. So why go through all this, when you could use a way better option? Kiln-dried wood does not mess with the food’s taste or even leave an awful smell on your clothes.

6. It Can Be Easily Stored

Traditionally, firewood is stored in an outside shed. This is because the wood can contain pests, as well as bug eggs hence storing it in your house, is not a good option, since it can add to developing an infestation that can be hard to get rid of.

On the flip side, kiln-dried logs are perfectly safe to be stored inside your house. Arrange them in a raised place, keep them on a platform to avoid the logs touching the floor or getting moisture in them.

5 Common Soil Contaminants in Urban Areas

Soil is a very important part of the preservation and continuation of life. Healthy soil is essential for growing healthy crops and plants for human and animal nutrition. Soil is usually uncontaminated, but due to human activities, toxic substances get into the soil, harming plants and animals.

Many people live in urban areas; hence more human activities affect the soil in these urban areas. Soil can get contaminated through illegal waste disposal, wastewater discharge, and acid rain, among others.

Here are some of the common contaminants that are present in contaminated soils in urban areas.

Common Soil Contaminants in Urban Areas

1. Pesticides

Pesticides are among the top soil contaminants in urban areas. When people try to control pests using chemical pesticides, most of the pesticide ends up in the soil. Contaminated soils can be harmful to animals that live underground. When it rains, the rainwater can be contaminated with the toxic pesticide and reach the groundwater, making it unfit for consumption.

2. Petroleum Products

Petroleum products such as oil and gas are among urban areas’ most common soil contaminants. Oil or gasoline can leak from cars and other moving machines and reach the soil. Contaminated soils usually contain harmful chemicals such as lead, which is present in some oil and gasoline products.

disposal of contaminated soil

3. Radon

Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that is harmful to human beings. Radon gas can cause lung cancer if you breathe it for an extended period. Most industries opt to build underground ventilation systems to prevent radon from escaping contaminated soils and reaching the surface.

4. Creosote

Another contaminated present in urban contaminated soils is Creosote, a chemical derived from Tar and is used for wood preservations. Creosote usually contaminates the soil when poles preserved by creosote are placed into the soil.

Even though Creosote is important in preventing termites and other pests from damaging timber, it can also cause harm to human beings and other animals.

5. Asbestos

Asbestos is a harmful substance that was used in the insulation of houses before it was phased out in the 1980s due to its potential danger to human life. Asbestos usually finds its way to the soil through poor demolition of houses and illegal dumping.

Call experts immediately if you suspect you are living close to asbestos-contaminated soil.

Protect the Soil from Contamination

Soil plays an important role in providing nutrition to humans and other animals and cleaning water. If the soil gets contaminated, the toxins can kill plants and animals and make groundwater unfit for consumption.