Tips For Buying Firewood For Fuel

A wood burning fireplace can create an air of ambiance in the home. Wood burning stoves and fireplaces offer economical sources of heat. However, buying firewood is often an overwhelming experience, as many sales are informal affairs.

When firewood is harvested, it is green and contains a significant amount of water. Such wood provides a poor fuel source. It should be seasoned or dried before it becomes useful for heating. Some species of trees have more water than others when green. Others can be difficult to dry. Oak is an excellent fuel when dry, but dries very slowly. Ash dries easily and requires little time to season. Cutting to length as soon as possible after harvesting and splitting the wood can speed the seasoning process.

Any species of trees will provide heat if it is dry. However, heavier woods, including hickory, maple and oak are often desired due to the fact they provide more heat value per piece. A fire of oak or hickory lasts longer and produces more heat than a pine fire. Mixing the lighter and heavier woods can be useful in starting a fire. When buying wood, it is important to understand the mix being sold.

While wood may be offered in various quantities, such as face cords, truckloads, ricks, racks or other measures, the officially accepted measure is the cord. This measure is a tightly stacked pile measuring 4x4x8 for a total of 128 cubic feet. In general, a full sized pickup will hold 64 cubic feet of stacked firewood.

In some locations, the loose thrown cord forms a legal measure. This measure allows the producer to dump the product into a large truck instead of stacking neatly. The volume of the loose thrown cord will vary with the length of the pieces, with 16 inch pieces filling 180 cubic feet.

Ecologically, wood offers an environmentally friendly and economical fuel. Collection of firewood encourages landowners to cull unhealthy trees from forests and improves the health of the remaining trees. However buyers should be aware of the mix they are buying, volume of the load, and amount of seasoning that has taken place before making a purchase.

In areas where firewood is less accessible, ventless gas logs offer a great option. The units are designed to provide the look of a real wood fire, but with much less mess. These devices are easily installed in homes without a traditional fireplace or flue.