What is a cord of firewood, and how many cords do I need for a winter?
Waynesville sits near 2,650 feet and runs 10 to 15 degrees colder than lower WNC towns, so if wood is your main heat, plan on three to four full cords — a cord being 128 cubic feet stacked four feet high, four deep, and eight long. Burn for ambiance only, and one to two cords covers the season.
Why the heating season eats more wood up here
Waynesville's heating season runs about three weeks longer than Asheville's — you're lighting fires in October and still burning in April, and every extra cold week is more wood off the pile. Older Hazelwood housing leans on drafty open fireplaces that give back little of what they burn.
An open firebox can run a net heat loss, so a home heating primarily with one may burn four cords chasing warmth that a sealed stove would deliver on two and a half. At this elevation, an inefficient hearth isn't just a cost — it's a lot of extra hauling and stacking through a long winter.
Stretch every cord in Haywood County
A sealed EPA wood stove or insert commonly runs 70 percent efficient or better; the Regency Cascades F1500 heats up to 1,500 square feet on far less wood than an open hearth wastes reaching for the same room. Upgrading that drafty box is the single biggest lever on your cord count.
Season your wood a full year and keep it covered on top and off the ground — at 2,650 feet you can't afford wet wood that hisses instead of heats. Order early, before the first cold snaps and the good hardwood is spoken for. We pull the Haywood County permit; call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Waynesville
We install and service fireplaces throughout Waynesville and the rest of Haywood County — just 35 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?