What To Look For When Buying Firewood

If you have a wood burning stove or fireplace in your home, then you will obviously need to buy firewood to burn inside of it. Many tree removal companies and private sellers offer wood for sale, but you should never agree to purchase wood before looking at it first. Here's what you should look for when inspecting firewood for potential purchase.

Is the wood seasoned?

You can't just chop down a tree and then burn the wood the next day. Well, you could — but it would take you forever to start the fire, and it would produce so much smoke and creosote that you might get smoked out of your own home! Wood needs to age, or be seasoned, for at least a year before you burn it. If the wood was harvested during a really wet spring when the tree was taking up a lot of water, it may need to be aged for 18 months or 2 years. 

So, how do you tell if wood is seasoned? First of all, it should look grayish brown without any hint of green. The bark should be peeling away at the edges. It should also feel dry to the touch and make a hollow sound when you tap on it.

Is the wood free of any insects?

Wood that is infested with termites or carpenter ants will burn just fine. However, you really don't want to bring these pests into your home or yard. Look over the logs, and if you see any gnaw marks or live insects, pass on the wood; you can find better.

Is the wood cut to a size that fits into your wood stove?

Measure your wood stove, or look in its manual to see what size logs it can accommodate. Then, when you arrive to look at the wood, measure a few logs and make sure they're small enough to fit in your stove. This is most important if you have a smaller stove. If your stove is on the smaller side, you may want to call the wood supplier ahead of time and ask if they sell short-cut wood so you don't waste a trip out to pick up wood that won't fit.

Once you find a supplier that offers nicely seasoned firewood that fits in your oven and is also pest-free, stick with them. If you become a regular customer, they may even start giving you your pick of the best logs.