What should I look for when buying firewood?
Look for seasoned hardwood at 20 percent moisture or below — cracked gray ends, light weight, and a sharp knock when two pieces meet. Confirm it's a full cord (4x4x8, 128 cubic feet), ask the species and how long it's been split and stacked, and buy local to avoid moving pests. "Seasoned" in an ad means nothing without proof.
Dry beats everything else
The single most important thing is moisture. Look for the tells of seasoned wood: cracked, checked ends, faded gray color, light weight, and a sharp knock when two pieces meet. If you can, split a piece on the spot — a fresh face should feel and read dry, twenty percent or below on a meter.
'Seasoned' in an ad means whatever the seller wants it to; plenty of wood sold that way is only a few months off the stump and still wet in the middle. Better yet, buy ahead in spring and season it yourself so you control the outcome.
Know what you're actually buying
Confirm the volume before money changes hands. A full cord is 128 cubic feet — 4 by 4 by 8 feet stacked. A face cord or rick is only one row deep, roughly a third of that, so a 'cheap cord' that's really a rick is no bargain.
Ask the species — a load of dense oak and hickory is worth more than soft, fast-burning poplar — and ask when it was cut and split. Find out whether the price includes delivery and stacking, and buy from a local seller.
Red flags to walk away from
A few warnings save you a miserable winter. Freshly split wood sold as 'seasoned,' heavy green pieces that thud instead of ring, an all-softwood load passed off as premium hardwood, and wood trucked in from far away all deserve a hard look.
That last one matters here — hauling firewood across counties spreads pests like the emerald ash borer that's already hit WNC ash. When in doubt, buy local, buy by the full cord, and meter a piece. Call (828) 545-0525 if you're pairing new wood with a stove we can install.
Related questions
- What is a cord of firewood, and how many cords do I need for a winter?
- What's the difference between a face cord (or rick) and a full cord of firewood?
- How can I tell if firewood is dry enough to burn?
- Is it OK to bring firewood in from another county or state?
- What is kiln-dried firewood and is it worth the extra cost?
- How do I know if my house has natural gas or propane?
Still deciding? Talk to a real installer.
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