Wisco Shepherd
Minister of Fire
If you have a hitch on that thing look around on Marketplace for a wagon increases your carrying capacity a ton.
How many years are you ahead in storing firewood?
- Thread starter Itslay90
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
I'm very happy if i have 2 years worth stacked by the start of each burning season. Most of the wood that is plentiful here is good and dry by October if split and stacked by April.
I don't have a lot of trees left to drop, so I'll probably just order a truckload of firewood logs, probably spring 2026 when I run out of what i already have. One truck load is probably not quite 2 years of wood for me. So if I also drop a tree or two I should have plenty for the 26-27 and 27-28 seasons.
I don't have a lot of trees left to drop, so I'll probably just order a truckload of firewood logs, probably spring 2026 when I run out of what i already have. One truck load is probably not quite 2 years of wood for me. So if I also drop a tree or two I should have plenty for the 26-27 and 27-28 seasons.
I have thought about that, I do have a 6'x4' trailer I use around the property, but I'm out of standing dead down here and am venturing up the mountain a bit more for standing dead. I could muscle a trailer up, but I'm sure I would roast the vintage quads brakes on the way down. I'd like to take the dog in a UTV as well.
More toys...
I like to keep 3 years worth. By the time it's ready to burn, here in NM with it's very low humidity an high elevation, the wood is grey, severely end-cracked and has a moisture content close to zero. Creosote build-up is as low as it gets.
3 years in 3 cords each sheds and 6 more full cords stacked outside for a total of 15 cords so 5 years ahead . Downsized to a house that we only burn 3 cords a winter . Only source of heat is wood . Backup is electric baseboards if we go away overnight .
This only our second year burning, so we have maybe just enough to get through this season, but that's better than where we were last year at this time 🤪
This year I hope to put the pedal to the metal and get quite a bit ahead, may not get to three years put like a lot of you more experienced guys, but maybe two.
This year I hope to put the pedal to the metal and get quite a bit ahead, may not get to three years put like a lot of you more experienced guys, but maybe two.
mpaul
Feeling the Heat
Everybody has to start somewhere. A lot of up front work pays dividends in the end.
I'm anticipating a bigger haul in of wood for next season. I'm making some improvements on my wood furnace's efficiency and projecting I'll have a bunch of splits left over from this season's harvest. There's also a few cord of rounds I haven't split yet.
If this winter turns bitter cold It'll put a beating on my pile of splits though. Burning conservatively as much as possible.
If this winter turns bitter cold It'll put a beating on my pile of splits though. Burning conservatively as much as possible.
That’s a good start. I’m on my 3rd season with my stove. First year was a bear getting 4 cords all stacked. Luckily I had 1 1/3 cord of seasoned cherry that I grabbed before my folks sold their house. Got me by the first season. Now I only buy a cord each year to stay 3 years ahead. I have just over 4 cords stacked. Last season was mild so only burned about a cord. I get my wood late March. Cool weather is nice for stacking and gets a jump on seasoning during the spring and summer months.
mpaul
Feeling the Heat
This is my 5th burning season. My first year was a huge learning curve not only using the stove but determining how much wood I’d consume each year. The stove is my primary heating source (keep the propane boiler completely turned off). I average about 5 cords a year. My 2nd and 3rd year burning I bought 5 cords each year from a local firewood company. Then learned a lot on this forum, found a local tree service company, bought the chainsaw and splitter and was off to the races. Now sitting 3 years ahead with 15 cords on hand.
I'm fortunate to live in a place where the most abundant woods (doug fir and alder) and climate (very dry June-Sept most years) means if one cut down live trees in Feb/March, and if CSS by March/April it's ready to burn by November.
Wife and I built a 6 cord shed. I usually burn ~3 cords a year. Which means if I wind up with wood that needs an extra year I just put in the stack that will get that extra year.
I can get truck loads of logs for a reasonable-ish price. IIRC $750 delivered. They say it's a guaranteed minimum of 6 cords (usually 6.5-7, up to 8), but a gal that runs a firewood side business says it's usually a little short of 6 cords. But, if I got a load of that every 2 years I'd be in good shape.
I think I'm about 10 years ahead. For the first time since 2013, I'm not processing any firewood this year. I simply have no place to store it.
Pics to follow.
Pics to follow.
Good deal. If it was my primary heating source and used many cords I would invest in a better saw and buy a splitter. The stove is a supplement to our main heat which is force hot water by NG which is not expensive. We also have a mini split system which is very efficient in the shoulder season. The wood stove has cut our heating cost by 50%. We mainly wanted it for security and off grid capability. I grew up with stoves in the 70’s. My folks had a wood burner in one part of the house and a coal stove in the other part. We had oil heat and our stoves became our primary heat source. I pay $250- $325 for a cord delivered so not worth it for me to invest in equipment etc.
Wood1Dennis
Burning Hunk
I'm about 3 1\2 years ahead. Been heating my own place with firewood for 8 years now, my stash accumulates a bit more every year! With retirement looming next year, I expect to get even further ahead, so I can sell some on the side.
