[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by tkln

As someone who doesn't have a fireplace or woodstove right now, but plan on it when we move, how big/heavy is a cord of wood exactly?? How much does a cord cost? Anything in particular you should look out for when purchasing (ie, old wood vs new wood or anything like that)?

You definitely want your wood to be cut and sitting for a year to make sure it
is dried out. Not only will it burn more efficiently, but fresh cut wood can cause a chimney fire. You want hard wood, not soft wood like pine.. Soft wood can also cause a chimney fire. There are face cords and cords. I believe cords are bigger.

[MRVphotog]

128 cf is hard to visualize so we always defined a cord as a pile of
wood 4x4x8.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

You definitely want your wood to be cut and sitting for a year to make sure it
is dried out. Not only will it burn more efficiently, but fresh cut wood can cause a chimney fire. You want hard wood, not soft wood like pine.. Soft wood can also cause a chimney fire. There are face cords and cords. I believe cords are bigger.

If softwoods are dried they're safe but burn a lot faster so it takes more. In any case, frequent checkups on the chimney during the heating season is important.

[vter]

We bought a cord of wood about a month ago. $200 for green/cut/split/delivered. As noted above, seasoned wood is quite a bit more.

[GregW]

I wonder what anthracite coal is selling for? Hard coal is a very good solid fuel with little ash for the heat delivered. I grew up in a house (sort of) heated with this stuff.

[tkln]

Okay, so if we buy green wood, which is cheaper, let it sit for a season. Thanks! I've seen wood stored outdoors, under a cover of some kind - does it need to be kept completely dry at all times? Or can it be slightly exposed to rain/snow?

[mustmove]

Don't know the numbers but have heard by BTU coal is by far the cheapest option right now. It's got the greenies panties in a wad. They love high energy prices but always seem surprised by the unintended consequences. Me- I'm burning furniture this winter. Better lock your doors cause when I run out of my own furniture to burn I'm coming for other people's

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by tkln

Okay, so if we buy green wood, which is cheaper, let it sit for a season. Thanks! I've seen wood stored outdoors, under a cover of some kind - does it need to be kept completely dry at all times? Or can it be slightly exposed to rain/snow?

No it can be rained on while you are drying it out, what's important is that it dries out from the inside. A tarp on top of stacked wood is always a good idea. Tarp around the pile can actually slow down the drying prcess since it is beneficial to have wind blow in between the logs. When it's time to burn it, you'll want to have it dry, under a tarp or cover though. It will also burn better if the wood isn't freezing, although I often take wood from outside and burn it right away. It's a good idea to have it in your basement for a few days to warm up and dry out.

You will see that woodpiles are often stacked in alternating rows so air can get through. This is a good idea, but I don't do it.

By the way, if you just let wood sit in a huge pike, you may as well put a sign on it that says Squirrel Hotel or Raccoon Hotel or Chipmunk Hotel. For this reason its better off not right next to your house.

[MTK1]

Fuel prices from the September 2008 VT fuel price report from the VT Department of Public Service.

Comparing the Cost of Heating Fuels

Type of Energy, BTU/unit, AdJ Effic, $/unit, $/MMBtu

Fuel Oil, gallon, 138,200, 80%, $4.13, $37.39
Kerosene, gallon, 136,600, 80%, $4.55, $41.65
Propane, gallon, 91,600, 80%, $3.27, $44.67
Natural Gas, therm, 100,000, 80%, $1.71, $21.38
Electricity, kwh 3,412, 100%, $0.14, $41.35
Wood, cord (green), 22,000,000, 60%, $190.00, $14.39
Coal, ton 24,000,000, 60%, $285.00, $19.79
Pellets, ton, 16,400,000, 80%, $257.00, $19.59

http://publicservice.vermont.gov/pub...ort/08sept.pdf

King Coal makes a comeback in Vermont

EAST MONTPELIER — Greg and Rose Pelchuck aren’t selling as much colored stone this year. But coal orders have more than made up for it.

So much so, their company, Black Rock Coal Inc., which also sells 11 different shades of landscaping stone, is about to add two weekly truck runs to Wilkes-Barre, Pa., enabling the Pelchucks to haul 88 tons of coal each week to their 10-acre plot in East Montpelier.

“Right now, we are more than 20 trips behind,” Rose Pelchuck said, gesturing to the depleted anthracite coal bins.

King Coal makes a comeback in Vermont | burlingtonfreepress.com | The Burlington Free Press