What is a cord of firewood, and how many cords do I need for a winter?
Out in Mills River, a lot of homes run on propane and sit on wooded acreage, so wood heat is genuinely practical here — figure two to four cords a winter if it's your main heat, one to two for ambiance. A cord is 128 cubic feet of stacked wood: four feet high, four deep, eight long. Big lots mean room to store and season it right.
Rural land is a wood advantage
Many Mills River properties are large enough to fell and cut their own hardwood right off the forest edge, which changes the cost equation entirely. But home-cut oak still needs six months to a year of seasoning before it burns clean and hot — freshly split green wood this fall won't heat well this winter.
At 2,096 feet the valley opens up, and that same open ground is ideal for a proper woodpile: stacked off the dirt on pallets, covered on top, with the sides open to the breeze so it keeps drying between rains.
Propane, wood, and outdoor fire in Henderson County
With propane serving much of the area, plenty of homes pair a propane hearth for daily warmth with a wood stove for the real fire and the outage-proof heat. The open Mills River valley also makes it prime for a gas fire pit or outdoor fireplace once entertaining season rolls around.
Buy purchased wood by the true full cord, not a 'rick,' and favor dense oak and hickory over soft poplar. Our Asheville showroom is about 25 minutes away, and we pull the Henderson County permit. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Mills River
We install and service fireplaces throughout Mills River and the rest of Henderson County — just 25 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?