What is a cord of firewood, and how many cords do I need for a winter?
Fletcher sits on natural-gas mains, so most homes here don't heat with wood at all — a gas fireplace carries the daily load and wood is for ambiance, which means one to two cords a season. A cord is 128 cubic feet, four by four by eight feet. If you do run wood as your primary heat, plan on two to four.
Gas country changes the question
With natural gas available across Fletcher's 1990s subdivisions and the growing I-26 corridor, the typical builder-grade fireplace is gas, and plenty of homeowners never buy a cord of wood. Where a wood fireplace does exist, it's usually an evening-and-holiday habit at one to two cords a year.
That's a real advantage: flame at the flip of a switch, no hauling, no cold-start smoke, and no woodpile to keep dry through a wet mountain winter. For a lot of Fletcher homes, the cord question is really a 'do I need wood at all' question.
If you're keeping the wood fire in Henderson County
For the homes that still burn wood at 2,150 feet, buy by the true full cord, season hardwood six months to a year, and favor dense oak over soft poplar so each cord lasts. A sealed EPA insert burns far cleaner and less than an open builder-grade box.
Airport-area commercial properties around here more often want gas fireplaces and outdoor features than a woodpile. Whichever way you go, we pull the Henderson County permit and meet the inspector. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Fletcher
We install and service fireplaces throughout Fletcher and the rest of Henderson County — just 20 minutes south 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?