People come either with questions about buying their season’s supply of firewood or what they can do after recently purchasing wood they were less than happy with. There are a few things they should know about wood & the laws regarding selling firewood that will help him make the best decision when making firewood purchase.

Selecting a Firewood Dealer

When selecting a firewood dealer they should take several things into consideration.

They Are Licensed or not.

If the dealer is in the firewood business, they shall have a Forest Products Operators License issued by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources - Forest Service. The Maryland Forest Service can provide him with a list of licensed operators in his area. If he has found a potential dealer, he can easily check.

Get References

If one hasn't worked with a particular dealer before, they should be willing to offer him references of customers they have delivered wood to before. If they're not willing to offer him a list of customers, those customers may not be happy ones.

Problems with a Firewood Dealer

Maryland law states that a cord or a fraction of a cord must sell firewood. The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s - Weights & Measures section enforces this. If he has a concern about the volume of wood he has paid for it.
Note: They only handle matters where the volume of wood is in dispute.

Know What He Is Buying

Be smart when he talks with a dealer & know what kind of wood he needs before he makes the call. Some things to consider:

What is a cord?

A cord is a measurement of wood that when neatly stacked & rowed equals 128 cubic feet. This stack measures 4 feet tall by 4 feet wide by 8 feet long or it’s equivalent (which means stack it neatly any way he likes as long as it equals 128 cubic feet).

Not all wood is created equal.

Different woods have different qualities. Oak creates a lasting fire & splits easily. But oak may be expensive & other woods may work just as well. Some woods are less dense & have different splitting & coaling qualities. Here is a short comparative list.

Is the Wood Dry?

The more moisture in his wood, the less heat he will get from it. It takes energy to burn the water out of wood (it may make a hissing sound). This is energy that should be used in warming his house. Generally, the dryer the wood, the more he'll pay for it.

Some indicators of dry wood:

Color - look for grayness
Bark - a sure sign that firewood is dry is bark that is falling off the wood
Checks - as wood dries it will begin to split on the ends
Touch - fresh cut wood may feel wet on the end

What Size Do I Need?

Know what sized wood his woodstove or fireplace can use. Most dealers will cut wood into certain lengths (for example 18"). To get special lengths he may have to special order it early or pay a premium.