Firewood Frequently Asked Questions
Why burn Firewood?
Firewood is an efficient heating method, producing more BTU's for the price compared to traditional heating methods. Unlike oil and gas, firewood is a renewable resource that can be continually replenished over time. Burning firewood, otherwise known
as "cord" wood, also releases a comparable amount of gas to trees rotting naturally in a forest and does not harm the environment. Firewood is a safe, clean, environmentally responsible method for heating homes and buildings.
Is Firewood cheaper than other fuels?
Plug your own prices into this third-party
fuel cost comparison calculator and calculate the average annual costs for yourself. If you do not have the average prices on hand, you can use the default settings, select “calculate” and get the average cost per year. We're confident that the costs of firewood are extremely competitive with other fuel sources.
http://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/articles/fuel_cost_comparison_calculator/
When should I order firewood?
The best time of the year to order seasoned firewood is at least 1 month before you plan to burn it. If you're planning to burn firewood from November through February, you should buy your wood in September and October. Firewood can be purchased year-round. The drier the wood and the longer wood has been cut, the better it will burn. Seasoned wood is allowed to dry through the spring and summer and is ready to burn by the fall/winter. Green firewood is newly cut and needs to be dried out before it will burn efficiently
How much firewood do I need?
A supplemental wood stove in a 2-3 bedroom house will typically burn up to 2-3 cords a year. Larger, older houses that depend on firewod as their main source of heat can require 6 or more cords of wood per year. Homeowners need to consider their own individual situations, their stove/fireplace/heating systems, the size of their homes, insulation and climate conditions before making a decision. As a general rule, ordering at least a half a cord more than you think you need will leave you enough of a buffer to get through the burning season. Firewood can be stored in cool, dry places like a basement or storage sheds for long periods of time without problems. If you don't end up burning all the wood this year, you can easily burn it next year.
Where should I keep my firewood?
Firewood should be kept dry, away from the ground and protected from the elements. Covered drying racks outdoors or in basements are excellent storage locations. An occasional soaking from rain is ok but by providing at least some cover and protection you will greatly assist the drying process.
How does wood burn?
As wood burns, water is evaporated and the wood is broken-down and separated into charcoal and gas. As charcoal burns, it becomes carbon monoxide and, at the end of the process, carbon dioxide. One pound of dry wood contains approximately 8,600 BTU (British Thermal Units), the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree. Moisture takes heat away as it evaporates, causing a fire to produce thicker smoke but lose its intensity. For each pound of water evaporated by fire, roughly 1,200 BTU is lost.