What is a cord of firewood, and how many cords do I need for a winter?
Wood heat is genuinely popular in Leicester's rural valleys, so a lot of homes here burn it as primary heat — plan on two to four cords a winter, more if your property runs cold. A cord is 128 cubic feet: four high, four deep, eight long. Cold-air drainage can leave these valleys 5 to 8 degrees below Asheville on clear nights, which nudges the number up.
Where wood is the main heat
Many Leicester properties are large rural lots on propane, and wood is a mainstay rather than an accent. Some remote homes even have limited electrical capacity, which makes non-electric wood heat the practical choice — it works whether or not the power holds.
If wood carries your winter at 2,100 feet, budget toward the high end and stock early. Cold-air drainage down Sandy Mush and Turkey Creek runs these hollows colder than the city, so your season starts sooner and runs later than an Asheville neighbor's would.
Cut, season, and burn efficiently in Buncombe County
With acreage comes the option to cut your own hardwood, but home-cut oak still needs six months to a year of seasoning before it heats clean instead of hissing and smoking. Split it now for next winter, not this one.
A sealed EPA stove or insert commonly runs 70 percent efficient or better and stretches every cord well past an open fireplace. Buy any purchased wood by the true full cord. We're about 15 minutes away and we pull the Buncombe County permit. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Leicester
We install and service fireplaces throughout Leicester and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes west 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?