Beacon Dispatch: Wood Burning: an Alternative to High Fuel Costs

by Jack Sine

With fuel oil and natural gas prices significantly higher than last year, many people are turning to firewood as a way to stretch their heating dollar. If you’re thinking of becoming one of them, there are several things you should know.

First, burning wood in your fireplace won’t reduce your fuel bill very much. It may even increase it. That’s because, unless you’re using a newer energy efficient unit, most heat from a fireplace goes right up the chimney. And, because a fireplace draws air from the home, it may be taking already heated air from your home, requiring your furnace to work harder.

The first steps to heating with wood
The best way to save money by burning wood is to get a wood stove. If you already have a chimney you can use, it’s a relatively easy solution. But there are things you have to look out for, such as your homeowner’s policy. Most policies will not increase if you add a wood stove, but a professional must install it and a copy of the approved installation document must be sent to your insurance carrier.

But first you have to buy the stove, and they’re not cheap. A good wood stove can cost in excess of a thousand dollars, including installation. Others can be found for low to mid hundreds. So you must invest money first to save money over time. Look in the Yellow Pages under “Stoves”.

Finding the wood
Actually, it’s easy to find people who sell firewood cut and split. Most tree service companies sell firewood as a natural offshoot of their business and the Pennysaver always has several ads. But with the increased demand caused by high fuel prices many suppliers are running short and it’s not a supply that can be replaced easily because firewood should not be burned “green” or unseasoned.

According to Ed Baisley of Baisley’s Tree Service in Beacon you should only burn hardwood and hardwood must be seasoned for quite a while.

“The real dense woods like oak and hickory have to be seasoned for a year after they’re cut and split,” said Baisley. “You have to get all of the moisture out of the wood. If you don’t, you’re going to create creosote when you burn moist wood and that will build up in your chimney and stovepipe and create a serious fire hazard. Other less dense woods like maple and ash require less seasoning.”

Firewood is sold by the cord, a measurement of stacked wood four feet wide by four feet high by eight feet long. If you can find someone with a supply of aged hardwood, expect to pay $150-$160 per cord in Dutchess County and as much as $200 in Putnam and Westchester.

Cutting your own
Cutting your own wood is difficult and risky. First, you have to find somewhere to cut. Some landowners will allow people to harvest dead trees, but most don’t want the insurance risk. If you find a place to cut, you must have a chain saw and know how to use it. You’ll also need a truck or trailer to haul the wood and a splitting maul to split it. It is estimated that a piece of firewood is handled five times before it is burned, so you’re looking at a lot of time and effort if you want to cut your own.

Clean chimneys
Even with seasoned hardwood there will be some creosote buildup in your chimney so it should be cleaned every year to avoid the risk of fire. There are many chimney cleaning services in the phone book or you can by your own brushes off the internet for $100 to $150.

Wood burning may not be a quick fix for the economic problems caused by high oil prices. But, over time it can save you a significant amount of money on your fuel bill.

Beacon Dispatch

Local correspondents exploring history, politics, commerce, and culture in Beacon, NY

Issue 28: December 2006 / January 2007

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