Things You'll Need:
- A tarp to cover the wood
- Storage space
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Step 1
Estimate your needs. It’s unlikely that you’ll be using your fireplace every day—especially if it turns out to be a mild winter—and you’ll probably be using it for only a few hours at a time. Generally, a decent, den-warming fire will consume five or six medium-sized logs over this span.
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Step 2
Clear out some storage space in a cool, dry area. Firewood is delivered in quantities called “cords,” which are much, much bigger than the average suburban homeowner expects. A full cord is a stack of wood measuring 4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet and can weigh 2 or 3 tons—so you’re better off ordering a quarter-cord at most (you can always order another quarter in the unlikely event you run out). In any event, be prepared to store the wood in your backyard or basement, covered with a tarp and well away from sources of moisture.
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Step 3
When you place your order, be sure to specify “seasoned” wood, meaning wood that has been cut six or twelve months prior to your purchase and so has had a chance to dry out. Using newer, “green” wood in a fireplace can be a frustrating experience, since it’s much harder to start and maintain the fire. Seasoned wood also burns more cleanly (produces less smoke) than green wood.
Comments
framness said
on 8/26/2009 Also, signs of properly seasoned wood is wood that has a gray coloration on cut ends and inspect the ends of the logs, if you see "spider cracking" (cracks created by the drying wood they are very thin cracks) then the wood is probably seasoned. The proof is in the pudding -- if it starts easily and keeps burning it is dry and you can continue to burn it. It is better to store uneasoned wood than attempting to burn it, chalk one up to experience and look for another vendor who deals honestly with you.
framness said
on 8/26/2009 Unkydave is being dramatic in his assessment of wood heating. However, the general notion one may have that wood heat is a cheap way to keep warm needs to be seriously considered prior to diving into it as is well noted, there is a reason we all use natural gas, oil, propate, etc as our primary heating now-a-days.
However, given the right set of circumstances wood heat may be the way to go either 100% or as supplemental heating. It all depends on how cheaply you can obtain the wood and how much time and effort you are willing to spend. There is a table detailing the heat content of various wood species out there.
Take a heating bill find out how much you pay for a BTU and then using that table find out how much wood BTUs cost. Make sure you get some discount on the wood for the extra effort you havfe to put out.
My wife and I can economically heat with wood, our niece and her hus...
unkydave said
on 11/11/2006 I forgot another factor. There's a 'Quality of Life' opportunity here that you won't want to miss! After the truck dumps the wood in your driveway in front of the garage door,[oops!], get all the family together for a 'wood stacking party' complete with hot chocolate, sandwiches, etc. You see, if your young'uns are little they will love bundling up and helping by using the wheelbarrow [or their little red wagon] to transport the wood to the stacking location. If you have plenty of children [or neighbors' children] then you can station some at the pile and some to transport and others to stack. This can make quick work of removing the woodpile to free up the driveway so you can get the car out. Should your offspring be teens or even adults, well then this is a great way to include them in a family task and even to reconnect. Coming back around to the term 'priceless' aren't we? A little more imagination on your part can turn this into a day of togetherness ending in a nice dinner. Or at least ordering in pizzas to reward all of the free labor. So, get on the phone right now and order that cord of wood. Or at least grab your checkbook to buy a pick-up truck, chainsaw, gloves, gas, oil, and find a woodlot to cut the trees yourself. Oh, yes, don't forget to write down the number of a nearby auto glass shop to call after the wood and the chainsaw smash through the rear window of your new pick-up at the first stop sign. Again, Happy Woodburning. Unkydave.
unkydave said
on 11/11/2006 All of the advice is very good except for the amount of wood you'll need. A quarter cord isn't much and there is a delivery charge for each time the truck arrives at your home. I realize that some folks just don't have the room to store a great deal of wood. But getting a full cord at a time saves on delivery costs. Buying small amounts at a time would result in delivery costs that would negate any savings from using wood. Might as well just buy the oil [or gas] and forget the wood. Of course if your use of wood is mainly to add atmosphere or ambiance to a room when entertaining or just unwinding near a comfortable fire with your family, then any amount of cost is worth it. It's actually in the category of 'priceless'. Having said all of this, the best way to save money is to use an airtight wood stove instead of the fireplace because of the increased efficiency; heat output, more controlled burning, and stoves don't suck heated air from the room and put it up the chimney as fireplaces do. Fireplaces are generally considered the most wasteful way to heat with wood. Finally, a modern 'higher end' woodstove, which has self-contolled burning features, can be the least 'hassle' to use because you don't have to be at home every 30 minutes or so to 'babysit' the thing. For what is was worth, that's my input. Happy woodburning!