What is a cord of firewood, and how many cords do I need for a winter?
Swannanoa homeowners who lived through the storm outages know the value of heat that doesn't need power, so here a season's worth of wood — two to four cords for primary heat, one to two for ambiance — is as much backup plan as it is comfort. A cord is 128 cubic feet, stacked four feet high, four deep, and eight long.
Backup heat after the storm
Many Grovemont-area homes are 1940s-to-'60s builds with original masonry fireplaces, and the recent storm recovery has homeowners rebuilding and adding wood stoves and sealed inserts specifically so the house stays warm when the grid goes down.
Wood is heat you own outright — no electricity, no line to lose — so keeping two to four cords on hand is a reasonable insurance policy at 2,150 feet. Stock it early in the fall, before demand climbs and the first cold nights arrive, and you're covered whatever the winter does.
Damp valley air, and buying smart in Buncombe County
River-valley fog and cold-air pooling here are hard on masonry chimneys and soak an unprotected woodpile. Season split hardwood six months to a year, cover the top, and keep it off the ground so it's ready when a storm cuts the power.
If your old firebox is inefficient, a sealed insert running 70 percent or better both heats better and burns far less wood. We're about 15 minutes away, we pull the Buncombe County permit, and we meet the inspector. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Swannanoa
We install and service fireplaces throughout Swannanoa and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes east 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?