firewood prices!! (how much, buying, live)

[karen_in_nh_2012]

Well, I am thinking of getting a firewood insert for the wood-burning fireplace that I moved into a few months ago ... but I am seeing prices of $300+ for one cord of wood!

Is anyone else shocked by the prices? Have they been pretty high for awhile and I just didn't notice because I wasn't using wood?!

I'm in southwestern New Hampshire ... maybe prices are lower elsewhere in the state?

[Ken E]

We picked up 3 cord in the spring to supplement the pellet stove. We paid $175 a cord then.

[karen_in_nh_2012]

Ken E., has it been your experience that prices usually vary that much from spring to fall? I've never used wood but in the past would occasionally check prices ... I don't remember seeing anything above the low-$200 mark, so prices right now are a bit of a shock.

I may not have the insert installed 'til next spring, as I'm not sure how much I'd be saving over oil prices!

[Ken E]

The closer you get to heating season it seems the prices go up. We usually buy green wood in the spring for cheaper money than seasoned and by the fall its ready to use. I think firewood is a little more expensive down your way. A awful lot of people cut wood up this way. If i had to pay $300 per cord for wood, i would probablly burn oil.

[399083453]

Originally Posted by karen_in_nh_2012

but I am seeing prices of $300+ for one cord of wood!

Heating oil and gas prices are at a 52 week high. Everything costs more. Gas is needed to cut the wood, move the wood, and deliver the wood. Expenses are up, therefore prices are up. Wood is still way cheaper than oil.

[Mac_Muz]

There is a big difference between buying dry wood which sat around a while and green wood which might have been cut last week and will take a year to dry.

There is more costs in kiln dried wood for heating above air dried.

Buying in late Sept for this coming winter means you want air dry or kiln dried.

Buying green wood now won't due.

[Mac_Muz]

Originally Posted by 399083453

Heating oil and gas prices are at a 52 week high. Everything costs more. Gas is needed to cut the wood, move the wood, and deliver the wood. Expenses are up, therefore prices are up. Wood is still way cheaper than oil.

Nothing costs more the dollar is just getting weaker and weaker...

1 gallon of gas is about the same price it was when I was a teen in the mid 60's. It was about 27 cents then.

With silver at 30 bucks an ounce it makes a old US 25 cent piece worth about the same as a gallon of gas today if you bother to figure it out.

I did a few years ago when gas was $3.38 and silver was in the mid 20 dollars a ounce and gas and silver were the same. That US coin was the exact same at the pumps. other than no one would take the coin.

The one thing I can't get figured out is exactly what a dollar is worth.... If i knew that then maybe i could see items have gone up.

[chris410]

I suggest you look a little harder, I think you should still be able to find a cord of "seasoned" wood for around 250$. with that said, buying wood is always a crap-shoot. Some people will cut the wood let it sit in log form for 6 months, split it and sell it the next day and call it seasoned. Depending on the species of wood it needs to be cut and split for a minimum of 1 year and ideally 2+ years for oak.

The prices definitely go up in the fall an drop off in the spring. The true advantage to burning wood is the ability to get wood for free. another option is to get a log length delivered and cut and spit it yourself. this can be had for under 150$ per cord. but requires a little more work.

buying cut split and "well" seasoned wood will cost more money to the point where its almost not worth it.

[NHForester]

It is a bit late for buying green for this winter, but if you can find a supplier who. An make it all white ash, you can burn that green pretty easily. Buy early next year and you will not need any seasoned wood as long as you gt it stacked early.

[Mac_Muz]

White Ash the Kings wood!