How much does firewood cost per cord, and how many cords do you burn in a winter?
Black Mountain and Montreat run colder than the raw Asheville numbers suggest, since Swannanoa Valley inversions leave mornings 10 to 15 degrees below the city, so the woodpile works harder here. Figure one to two cords for evening fires and three or more if wood is your primary heat, and price seasoned hardwood by the full cord from local suppliers.
Wooded lots, cool houses, wood on hand
Montreat's heavily wooded lots keep homes shaded, cool, and damp, which lengthens the burning season and, conveniently, means a lot of owners have standing hardwood right on their own property. Felling and splitting your own changes the cost equation entirely, since your only outlay is labor and a chainsaw rather than a delivered cord. If you go that route, cut this winter's wood a full season ahead, because green oak straight off the stump is mostly water and won't heat much of anything until it dries.
Damp air, and the appliance that beats it
That same shade and moisture is hard on masonry chimneys and slows a woodpile's drying, which is a quiet argument for a sealed appliance over an open hearth. An EPA insert or wood stove burns hotter and cleaner, so it tolerates a cord that isn't picture-perfect and cuts your total for the winter. Since Black Mountain is one of our most-served communities and only 15 minutes east of the Emma Road showroom, we can look at your firebox quickly. We pull the Buncombe County permit and meet the inspector. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Black Mountain
We install and service fireplaces throughout Black Mountain and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes east from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- Is heating with wood actually cheaper than gas?
- How much does it cost to heat a home with a wood stove for a whole winter?
- What does a wood-burning fireplace cost per year in upkeep?
- How long does it take a wood stove to pay for itself?
- Does using an open wood-burning fireplace actually increase my heating bill?

