Don't Get Cheated!

Watch on YouTube: What is a Cord of Firewood?

Buying firewood can be trickier than you think! Here's a few things to look for:

• • *Get What You Pay For! - A "Cord" of wood is a measure of volume totaling 128 cubic feet when stacked (typically 4'x4'x8'). Many firewood sellers will tell you that they're selling a cord when it's really a "Face Cord" which is 1/3 of the size of a Cord (sometimes called a True Cord). Selling by the Face Cord, truckload, or "Rick" is illegal in the state of Ohio. To sell by the volume, firewood must be sold by the cord or fractions of a cord. 

• • *Buy Hardwoods - Ask what kind of wood you're getting! Hardwoods not only provide more heat, they burn longer. Also, some softwoods like pines contain pitch that, when not fully burned, can coat the inside of your fireplace and eventually catch fire. All firewood contains creosote but you're much more likely to build up creosote on the walls of your chimney with pines.

• • *Make Sure It's Dry Enough to Burn - The obvious goal is to get seasoned firewood. In 2021, we started receiving firewood in May to ensure it is fully seasoned when you need it. We have over 300 cords on the ground as of June 30th and expect to have approximately 450 cords by the end of July. We started to record the moisture of the firewood for your review in late June. Keep in mind that firewood is considered seasoned at 50% or less, but we think that is a bad standard to burn. From our 25 plus year history, we feel the firewood burns like you would expect it at with a moisture content of 25% or below. With that being said, it can burn at about 35% or less but that is not our optimal goal. When we purchase our firewood from the processor, it comes in at around 45%. That is why we bring so much firewood in the spring so it can season through the summer so it is ready to burn for you in the fall in winter. To see the current and historical readings, please see our Firewood Moisture Log.

• • "Seasoned Firewood" - Unfortunately, there's no well established definition for "seasoned firewood". Even length of seasoning time can be misleading, depending on if the wood was already split when it was seasoned, how long the tree was dead before it was chopped down, and what kind of wood it is (some woods hold moisture longer than others). Anyone can tell you that their firewood has been seasoned but the best firewood sellers check their firewood with a moisture meter which checks the moisture content of the wood by running a current into the wood and checking its resistance. More resistance means less moisture. By law in Ohio, firewood must be sold below 50% moisture content. We try to sell our firewood when it's 25% moisture content or below. This is the recommendation of the Franklin County Department of Weights and Measures. If the supplier doesn't know what the moisture content of their wood is as a percentage, you can't be sure that you're getting firewood that will burn like it should.
    

Watch on YouTube: What is Seasoned Firewood?

• *Know Who You're Buying From -Buy from a company that has a reputation for selling firewood and that can be reached if something isn't right. If you get shorted, the wood isn't seasoned, or you find that you've been sold softwoods like pine that can be dangerous to burn, you want to be able to find that company so that they or the Department of Weights and Measures can make it right.

If you check on these few points, you can avoid getting cheated by someone trying to make a quick buck.

NBC4 and the Franklin County Department of Weights and Measures have used Mr. Mulch to shoot videos on our property for years to give consumers these tips. Don't take our word for it. Hear it straight from them!

The best seasoned firewood comes from Mr. Mulch! We have a variety of hardwood firewood, including oak, maple, cherry, apple and hickory. The firewood is 16-22" in length with a quarter split.