Should I stock up on firewood before winter, and how early should I order it?
Yes, and in Fairview wood heat comes naturally — the wooded lots out Cane Creek and Garren Creek make it the obvious fuel, and many homes here run propane and wood over a gas main. Order green in spring so it seasons all summer, because around here dry wood is the line between clean heat and a creosote-packed chimney.
Wooded country, wood heat
Fairview's large, wooded rural lots make wood the natural choice, and stove and insert demand stays steady out here for exactly that reason — plenty of homes run propane and wood rather than sit on a gas main. Wood may be all around you, but freshly cut or bought green, it still needs a full season to dry. Order in spring, get it split and stacked, and let the summer bring it down to a clean-burning moisture level.
Creosote is the local hazard
Around Fairview, creosote buildup is the leading cause of chimney fires, and it's driven by two things: burning wet or green wood, and skipping the fall sweep. Seasoned, dry wood burns hot and leaves far less of the tarry buildup behind; wet wood smolders and lines the flue with it. Buying early and seasoning properly is your first defense, and a chimney sweep and inspection before burning season is the second — book it for late summer or early fall.
How much, and how to store it
Plan by the cord — a stacked pile about four by four by eight feet — and buy on the generous side if you heat hard with wood. Keep it off the ground with split faces open to the sun and wind, top covered and sides open so air moves through. Damp, badly stored wood causes more smoky, won't-light fires than anything else. Call (828) 545-0525 to schedule a pre-season sweep and inspection.
Fireplace help in Fairview
We install and service fireplaces throughout Fairview and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes east from our Asheville-area showroom.