The wood should be split to ensure faster drying [16,9]. Splitting of wood is more important for large pieces of round wood as drying rates decrease with both increasing diameter and length of the firewood [9,17].
It is however of little importance how the wood is stacked as cross-stacking does not increase drying rates [16], although it is recommended that the bark is facing downward in the bottom of the stack and upward in the top [18]. When firing it is recommended that the stove is not filled entirely and to ensure adequate air supply for the combustion [8].