Heating a home with firewood has always been a great alternative to standard fuel sources. As New Englanders, burning firewood is part of our culture; after all we’ve done it for over 350 years!
In the past year, New England homeowners have benefited from the drop in price for heating oil and gas, however the market price for fossil fuels can be as unpredictable as the weather. Firewood, on the other hand, remains an all-natural, renewable resource for heat which keeps the price competitive and affordable.
When choosing a supplier for your oil or gas the most decisive factor is price, since quality is typically the same (the fuel burns consistently). When choosing a supplier for firewood, quality (then price) should be the most important factor. You should take into account wood cleanliness, cut length, and most importantly moisture content, all of which can severely affect the burning experience.
With so many factors affecting firewood quality, whom should you trust as your firewood supplier? Is it the company waiving the delivery charge or saving you $50 on a cord of wood?
New England is currently experiencing a shortage of seasoned firewood. Last winter’s frigid temperatures resulted in many companies selling out of seasoned firewood. To keep up with customer demands, some companies began selling wood that was set aside for the 2015/2016 burning season thus leaving them with minimal seasoned wood for this year. Reputable companies may cap the number of cords that you can buy in an effort to manage the supply to satisfy other customer orders. They will also let you know when they are out of seasoned wood.
It’s rather unfortunate that when demand exceeds supply, consumers are sometimes taken advantage of. Unreputable suppliers who sold their seasoned wood in the spring have a history of selling semi-seasoned firewood as “seasoned” in the fall. This “seasoned” wood is hard to light and tends to sizzle and smoke.
A reputable firewood supplier keeps their stored wood away from dirt and mud to limit surface contaminates. All pieces should be to a uniform length for a consistent, even burn in your stove. Companies that deliver should be insured and the drivers D.O.T. compliant. Your supplier should also be able to let you know the moisture content of their inventory, which should be 20% or lower for seasoned wood (semi-seasoned wood’s moisture content is between 30-40%, which is too damp for burning).
Quality seasoned firewood is more than just a price point; it’s about the overall buying and burning experience. Being able to heat your home effortlessly is priceless and doing so at a reasonable price is what ArborTech’s goal is. We’re proud of the firewood that we sell to our clients. When a load leaves our yard, we’re confident that you are getting quality wood at a reasonable price with the best customer service in the area. The firewood that we burn in our homes comes from the same piles that we sell to our customers. There’s no private stock here at ArborTech; just quality, truly seasoned firewood that will keep you and your family warm this winter. Happy burning!