firewood kiln dried

If you live where the air turns crisp and cool in fall, chances are you know the joys of gathering around a wood-burning fireplace or bonfire with friends and family. Chances are you also know that sometimes getting firewood when you need it can be a chore.

We’re here to help. Here’s a quick overview of what to look for when buying firewood and five ways to stock up, with options to fit any budget or schedule.

What To Know About Buying Firewood

There are three main considerations when buying firewood: quality, quantity and cost.

Quality

First of all, it helps to know what kinds of wood burn most efficiently. For our purposes, it mostly comes down to whether the wood is dry, or has had excessive exposure to the elements and insects. If it’s the latter, better to pass it up.

Dry wood is what you want — it’s lighter, burns easily and produces less smoke. Wood dries two ways. “Seasoned” wood has been air dried for six months to a year; “kiln dried” wood is dried in a large oven. Kiln drying also kills insects and mildew on the wood. Green wood is one type of firewood not to burn, since it’s difficult to light and produces a lot of smoke.MORE FROM FAMILY HANDYMAN – ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

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Quantity

Quantity is more complicated. The standards for firewood measurement vary by state. Search for the specifics for where you live. But generally, bulk firewood is measured by the cord or face cord.

A “cord” of wood is 128 cubic feet — usually eight feet long, four feet high and four feet deep. That’s a lot of wood, and many homeowners don’t want to buy that much.

A “face cord” is eight feet long and four feet wide, but only one log deep. Because there’s no exact agreement on how big a log is, a face cord’s size can vary. If the logs are 16 inches long, that face cord would be one-third of a cord.

You may also see firewood sold by the truckload, especially with less formal sellers. That’s a flat fee for how much firewood you can fit in the back of your pickup.

Cost

Season and location determines cost, which varies significantly. As of this writing, a supplier in Maine charges $295, one in Wisconsin $487, and one in Oregon $540.

Where to Buy Firewood

There are a number of places to find fuel for your fire:

Grocery stores and gas stations

These bundles of firewood tend to be nicely seasoned and easy to move. Often wrapped in sturdy plastic with a handle on top, you’ll pay for the convenience of these bundles. But if you’re just looking for a few logs to throw on the fire pit that night, they’re a great option. To find one near you, keep an eye out as you pass gas stations and grocery stores in your area.

Special note: Firewood can spread insect or mildew infections if moved to a new area. Any transported firewood should be kiln-dried, and many state and national parks do not allow outside firewood to be brought in at all. Go to Dontmovefirewood.org to find a list of restrictions where you live.