How to Save Money when Buying Firewood

Once you have chosen the best firewood rack for your needs you then of course have to purchase the firewood to store in it. Reducing your traditional heating costs by using your fireplace more often helps save money but there is no reason that you cannot look for ways to save money on the cost of actual firewood itself. Here are a few tips:

Location – The prices of firewood vary greatly from area to area. Often there can be a huge difference in price if you are willing to travel just a few miles away to buy your logs. When you are sizing up firewood suppliers search within a 25-50 mile radius of your home, you may be surprised by just how much money you can save by going just a little farther afield to stock up your firewood storage racks.

Timing – Buy your bulk firewood in the warmer months, when the demand is lower. For many people buying firewood tends to be a little like buying snow tires – they don’t remember to do it until the snow is falling on the ground. By stocking up your firewood in the summer you will save money and won’t be caught in the cold if a sudden snowstorm hits.

Delivery – Firewood suppliers are almost always happy to deliver the firewood you order but for a price. Save yourself a little cash by picking it up yourself whenever possible.

Usage – Different species of firewood carry differing price tags. Generally the tree that is found in the greatest abundance in your local area will be the cheapest. If you are only going to be using the wood stored in your firewood storage rack for heating purposes then any wood that produces a decent burn should be fine.  If you intend to cook with wood you may have to be a little fussier and be prepared to pay a little more to get the very best cooking firewood.

Freebies – You can of course go looking for free firewood such as fallen branches, a neighbor clearing his yard, a tree on your property that has seen better days, etc. This will however be what is known as green firewood, unsuitable for burning because it still contains too much moisture to produce a good flame. You can season this wood however by  cross stacking it in a firewood rack or log holder after it has been cut and leaving it to sit for several months to dry out.