Selecting the right firewood is crucial for optimal use of your wood stove or fireplace. It's essential that the firewood is dry, ideally with a moisture content below 20%. You can easily measure this using a moisture meter, which is readily available at most hardware stores or online for around $30. These meters have dual probes that need to be inserted into freshly split wood to gauge its internal moisture content accurately.
Be cautious when purchasing firewood, it's typically sold by the cord, defined as 128 cubic feet, often stacked 4 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 8 feet long. However, some sellers may define a cord more loosely, such as whatever fits in the back of a truck, making it challenging for customers to compare prices accurately. Additionally, it's preferable to have firewood split finely. Finely split wood not only catches fire more easily but also burns more cleanly.
While the species of wood can often be a point of focus, in terms of heat output, it's less critical. Regardless of the species, 1 pound of wood with a 20% moisture content yields approximately 7,000 BTUs of heat. However, the species does matter in terms of volume; for example, 1 pound of oak occupies a significantly smaller space than 1 pound of pine.