What is a cord of firewood, and how many cords do I need for a winter?
In Brevard, plan on two to four cords if wood is your primary heat and one to two for ambiance — but the number that really matters here is how dry that wood is. A cord is 128 cubic feet, and in a town that sees 80-plus inches of rain a year, poorly seasoned or badly stored wood is the difference between real heat and a smoky, creosote-caking fire.
Rain is the enemy of a good cord
Brevard's 80-plus inches of annual rainfall, heaviest March through June, means wood dries slowly and re-wets easily. Unseasoned wood holds too much moisture to burn clean, robbing you of heat and packing creosote into the flue — so season split hardwood six months to a year at a minimum before you trust it.
Store it right: covered on top but open on the sides for airflow, stacked off wet ground on pallets or rails. The same damp that spalls brick, cracks chimney crowns, and rusts dampers around here will soak an uncovered woodpile straight through, and crawl spaces and chimney chases in these homes are already fighting moisture.
How much, and how to buy it in Transylvania County
For a mountain winter at 2,230 feet, figure two to four cords for primary heat and one to two for evenings and weekends. Buy by the full cord's stacked dimensions — not a 'rick' or a meaningless 'truckload' — and favor dense oak and hickory over soft maple that burns away fast.
A sealed insert or EPA stove burns hotter, cleaner, and drier than an open masonry fireplace, and sips far less wood in the bargain. Our Asheville showroom is about 40 minutes away, and we pull the Transylvania County permit and meet the inspector. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Brevard
We install and service fireplaces throughout Brevard and the rest of Transylvania County — just 40 minutes southwest from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- What's the difference between a face cord (or rick) and a full cord of firewood?
- How much does a cord of firewood cost in Western North Carolina?
- Should I stock up on firewood before winter, and how early should I order it?
- What should I look for when buying firewood?
- How much wood does a wood stove burn per day?