How to Buy, Store and Season Firewood for Winter

A good wood stove or fireplace can only do so much with poor fuel. Wet or badly stored firewood hisses, smokes, leaves creosote in the chimney and gives off far less heat. Good wood lights easily and burns steadily.

The basics are the same for daily heating or weekend fires. Buy the right amount of the right wood, store it so it stays dry and give it enough time to season.

Know What You Are Actually Buying

Firewood terms can be confusing, and sellers do not always use them the same way. A little knowledge helps you compare prices fairly.

The cord. A full cord is a neatly stacked pile measuring 4 feet high, 4 feet deep and 8 feet long, or 128 cubic feet. This is the standard unit in most of North America.

The face cord. Also called a rick, this is a stack 4 feet high and 8 feet long, but only one row deep. Since logs are often cut around 16 inches, a face cord is usually about a third of a full cord. Always ask how deep the stack is.

Fractions. Many sellers offer quarter and half cords for people who burn less or have limited storage space.

When you call around, ask these questions:

• What species is it, and is it all one kind or a mix?
• How long has it been split and drying, or has it been kiln dried?
• How long are the pieces?
• Is delivery included, and will it be stacked or dumped?

Pick the Right Wood for How You Burn

Different woods suit different jobs. Dense hardwoods hold more heat per piece and burn longer, which makes them a good choice for overnight heat or daily use. Lighter woods catch quickly and work well for kindling or short fires.

A mix often works well: lighter wood to start, hardwood once you have coals.

Buying Seasoned or Kiln-Dried Wood

If you do not have the space or time to dry your own wood, buying it ready to burn is the simplest route. "Seasoned" wood has been split and air dried, usually for many months. Kiln-dried wood has been dried in a heated chamber, which brings the moisture down much faster and in a more controlled way.

Delivery options matter too. Stacking wood by hand takes longer than most people expect, so some buyers are happy to pay for it. In the Washington, DC area, for example, Sherman Outdoor Services delivers oak, cherry and a kiln-dried hardwood blend in quarter, half and full cords across Northern Virginia, parts of Maryland and Northwest DC, with the option to have it stacked or dropped in the driveway. Wherever you buy, ask your supplier how the wood was dried and when it was cut.

When a load arrives, do a quick check:

• Knock two pieces together. Dry wood makes a sharp crack, while wet wood sounds dull.
• Look at the ends. Seasoned wood often shows cracks and looks grayer.
• Feel the weight. Wet wood is noticeably heavier than dry wood of the same size.
• If you have a moisture meter, split a piece and test the fresh face. A reading of around 20 percent or lower is the common target.

Store It So It Stays Dry

Even well-dried wood can soak up moisture again if it sits on the ground or in the rain. Good storage is simple, but it does need some thought.

• Get it off the ground. Use pallets, a firewood rack or a row of scrap lumber. Ground contact pulls in moisture and invites insects.
• Cover the top, not the sides. A roof, tarp or lean-to over the top keeps rain and snow off, while open sides let air move through.
• Leave space between rows. A few inches between stacks helps the wood keep drying.
• Keep it away from the house. Stacking wood against a wall can trap moisture and give pests an easy path inside. Keep your main pile a short walk away.
• Bring in only what you need. A day or two of wood indoors is plenty. Larger amounts inside can bring bugs with them.

Seasoning Wood You Cut Yourself

If you cut your own trees or buy green wood to save money, you will need to season it before burning. Fresh wood holds a lot of water, and burning it wastes heat on boiling that water off.

To season wood well:

• Split it soon after cutting. Split wood dries much faster than whole rounds.
• Stack it in a sunny, breezy spot with the bark side up on top rows.
• Give it time. Softer woods may be ready within a season, while dense hardwoods like oak often need longer. Many people stay a year ahead, burning last year's wood while this year's dries.

Once your wood is ready, make sure the stove or fireplace is too. Have the chimney inspected and cleaned before the season, and use an appliance that is installed correctly. The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association represents the hearth industry and supports training and certification for hearth professionals through its National Fireplace Institute, which can help when you are looking for a qualified installer or service technician.

Plan Ahead for Next Winter

The best time to buy firewood is well before you need it. Buying in spring or summer gives you more choice and more time to dry and stack. Track how much you burn this winter, so next year you can order close to the right amount.

With dry wood, a sensible storage setup and a clean chimney, you will spend less time fighting a smoky fire and more time enjoying the warmth.