What is a cord of firewood, and how many cords do I need for a winter?
In Weaverville, how many cords you need depends heavily on which Weaverville you live in. A cord is 128 cubic feet — four by four by eight feet. A new Reems Creek build with a sealed appliance burns one to two cords for ambiance; an older downtown home leaning on an original open masonry firebox for heat can run through three to four.
New construction versus the old fireboxes
Reems Creek's rapid new construction tends toward sealed, efficient units that sip fuel and light at the flip of a switch. Older downtown Weaverville homes still carry inefficient original masonry fireboxes that lose more heat up the chimney than they ever deliver to the room.
If you're heating with one of those open hearths, a sealed EPA insert with a properly sized liner commonly runs 70 percent efficient or better and can roughly halve your cord count — same fire you like, half the woodpile. That's the difference between a two-cord winter and a four-cord one on the same house.
Seasoning, and getting the timing right
Weaverville's north-facing valley warms slowly in spring, so your heating tail runs late and your wood needs to be ready early. Season split hardwood six months to a year, and order before fall demand and the first cold nights drive everyone to the same suppliers.
Buy the full cord by its stacked dimensions and lean on dense oak or hickory over soft poplar so each cord lasts. Natural gas is available across much of town if you'd rather not haul wood at all. We're about 15 minutes away and we pull the Buncombe County permit. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Weaverville
We install and service fireplaces throughout Weaverville and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes north 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?