Buying Firewood Logs

When buying firewood logs, be familiar with the sizes of firewood, types of wood, methods of delivery and prices to a good deal. Fireplaces and wood burning stoves use different sizes of wood. Hard woods burn longer, so know your types of wood. Cords, half cords, rick, rank, pile and pickup load are all terms to be familiar with.  

Types of Wood

Hardwoods burn longer than softwoods. Consumers should buy cherry, maple and oak and avoid pine, poplar and aspen because they burn quickly and will leave a layer of creosote on the chimney.  Firewood should be seasoned for at least six months. This means the wood should be stacked so air can circulate around it and left outside to dry. Newly felled wood is wet and won't burn, or if it does burn, it may create too much smoke in the house. Seasoned wood should be cracked on the ends, and have a greyish color. When buying bundles of wood that come wrapped in plastic at the store, allow the wood to dry for a few weeks before using it. 

Units of Measure

Wood is measured and sold according to different units of measure, but mostly by the cord, half cord or quarter cord. A cord of wood is 128 cubic feet, usually stacked 4 feet high and 8 feet long by 4 feet deep. A face cord is different -- it is 4 feet high and 8 feet long, but the depth is based on the length of the logs. The length of logs in a face cord could be 16 inches, 20 inches or even 24 inches. Buyers should beware of any wood sold in terms such as kitchen cord, rick, rack, pickup load, pile or other term. These terms are not uniform and you won't know what you're actually getting.

Stacking The Wood

Firewood should be stacked outside, on a pallet, away from the home in a sunny spot. It should be stacked in a way that air can get between the logs. A plastic tarp on top will keep the wood relatively dry.