Don't Get Burned: Tips on How to Buy Firewood

Few things are as comforting as a fire in the fireplace on a cold December night. Unfortunately, this romantic vision and an unfamiliarity with firewood has led some consumers to overpay or pay for a poor-quality product. How to buy firewood need not be a knotty problem, though; just follow this checklist.

Look for Well-Seasoned Wood
What you want is wood that was cut and split six to 12 months earlier and has had time to dry down. This wood will appear gray and feel surprisingly light in the hand. Good firewood will have moisture content of 20% or less.