It is not uncommon to hear of many firewood enthusiasts running out of firewood in the heat of the season. So how much firewood do you need to ensure your home is toasty and warm all season long? The Firewood Company investigates how you can determine how much firewood you’ll need with some top tips to save money.
When winter comes calling, it’s no surprise the firewood stack starts to deplete quickly. Leaving many scrambling for additional supplies during peak season.
So how can you ensure you have enough firewood to last you all winter?
Stack Early
Stacking your woodshed early is one of the best ways to keep the costs down and ensure you have enough wood. Some firewood suppliers will have summer deals, and having a monthly budget for your firewood all year long will help you keep ahead during the winter. Getting prepared in the off-season and ordering your wood during the warmer months will not only take the stress off your wallet come winter but will also allow you to carefully and correctly stack your woodshed.
Choose your wood wisely
Hardwoods may be more costly than softer woods such as pine. However, they burn hotter and longer than their firewood cousins. A good mix of soft and hard woods will help your firewood last longer. Smarter burning is excellent for your budget and how much heat you’ll produce during the chilly months.
Keep Tabs
It’s a good idea to keep tabs on exactly how much firewood you use each season and what types of wood you tend to utilise. Standard-sized homes tend to use up to eight cubic metres of firewood each season. However, this can drastically change depending on a few factors. This includes how often you use your fireplace and if it is the only source of heating you use for your home. Plus, how cold it gets in your location and what types of wood you prefer to burn. Keeping tabs on your previous seasons can ensure you order the exact amount and are correctly prepared.
Stack Wisely – The Woodshed
Investing in a good quality woodshed is also vital. It will not only keep and season your wood correctly, but it will also cut down on wastage. In addition, a well-organised woodshed is a great tool for assessing how much wood you need and when you need a top-up. Keep your wood off the ground, if possible (old pallets work wonderfully for this), and ensure it has adequate coverage but good airflow. Keep kindling in one section, hardwoods in another, and stack your softwoods away from any possible weather.
Know Your Burn
How much firewood you need will depend on how much you burn and use your fireplace. In New Zealand, the average amounts can vary. For a standard-size house that uses its fireplace daily during winter, expect to need approximately 12 cubic metres. For a standard house only utilising their fireplace once or twice per week, this could be as low as three cubic metres per season. Getting a good clear picture of how you use your fireplace, can allow a much better understanding of exactly how much wood you will need.
If you doubt how much firewood you’ll require during the season, chat with your local firewood supplier. Local providers know precisely the weather requirements for your area and are experts at determining approximately how much wood you can expect to use over the season.
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