Don’t Get Burned: Understanding 2024 Long Island Firewood Cord Measurements to Protect Your Purchase

As winter approaches on Long Island, many homeowners are preparing to stock up on firewood for their fireplaces, wood stoves, and fire pits. However, the firewood market can be treacherous territory for unsuspecting consumers. A cord of wood on Long Island will cost you $165 + upwards for seasonal and split. Whereas, during non-season, be ready to fetch over $30 more for each cord of wood. With prices this high, ensuring you get full value from your purchase is more crucial than ever.

What Exactly Is a Cord of Firewood?

Understanding the legal definition of a cord is your first line of defense against firewood fraud. A cord is the amount of wood that, when “racked and well stowed” (arranged so pieces are aligned, parallel, touching, and compact), occupies a volume of 128 cubic feet (3.62 m3). This corresponds to a well-stacked woodpile 4 feet (122 cm) high, 8 feet (244 cm) wide, and 4 feet (122 cm) deep; or any other arrangement of linear measurements that yields the same volume.

It’s important to note that because wood is frequently cut in varying lengths and uneven stacking results in a lot of air space, the amount of wood in a cord might vary from supplier to supplier. This variation is precisely where unscrupulous sellers can take advantage of consumers.

Common Firewood Measurement Scams on Long Island

Long Island residents face several common firewood scams that can leave them significantly short-changed:

The “Face Cord” Confusion: Some merchants give wood a “face cord” rather than a whole cord. A face cord is usually one-third the depth of a full cord. While face cords are legitimate measurements, dishonest sellers may use this term to mislead customers who expect a full cord.

The Pickup Truck Scam: A pickup truck CANNOT hold a cord of firewood. An 8′ truck bed can only hold one-half of a cord, while a 6′ bed can barely hold one-third of a cord. Most consumers get grossly ripped off. This is one of the most common ways consumers are deceived.

Loose Dumping: One of the tricks of a firewood con artist is coming and unloading when you’re at work, and they won’t stack it. Most homeowners won’t go to the trouble of properly stacking up that pile just to measure it.

How to Protect Yourself When Buying Firewood

Smart consumers can protect themselves by following these essential guidelines:

• Be Present for Delivery: Make sure to be home when the season’s supply of firewood is delivered. Ask the supplier to stack the wood in a way that makes it easy to measure. Get your tape measure out and measure your firewood, and don’t let the supplier leave your home until you do.
• Demand Proper Documentation: Consumers should always ask for receipts with both the names and addresses of the seller and buyer, delivery date, quantity delivered, price of wood delivered, what quantity the price was based on and type of firewood delivered.
• Understand Legal Terminology: Sellers cannot use terms such as face cord, rack, pile, truckload or trailerload when placing firewood ads. If you see these terms in advertisements, consider it a red flag.

Quality Matters: Seasoned vs. Green Wood

Beyond measurement issues, wood quality is another area where consumers often get deceived. Anyone run into issues with folks selling “seasoned” firewood, only to find that it is essentially green wood? It’s mid winter so I was willing to pay top dollar ($400 + delivery fee) for a cord of seasoned hardwood… All readings come back between 25-30%. He swears that they have been seasoned for at least a year.

Properly seasoned wood should have a moisture content below 20% for optimal burning. Green wood not only burns poorly but can also damage your chimney and heating equipment.

Choosing a Reputable Long Island Firewood Supplier

When searching for reliable firewood Long Island suppliers, look for established businesses with strong local reputations. Companies like LI Firewood & Mulch have built their success on transparency and customer satisfaction. We are part of B & B Maintenance Services, Inc., a full landscape service company, established in 2005 with the goal of offering excellent but affordable landscape services to this region’s residents. We pride ourselves on reliability and a 90 percent customer satisfaction rate.

The company serves the entirety of Nassau and Suffolk Counties and offers various firewood options including fully and semi-seasoned, kiln dried, bundles and pallets. Their commitment to customer education and transparency sets them apart in an industry plagued by dishonest practices.

Red Flags to Watch For

Be wary of sellers who:

• Refuse to let you measure the wood before payment
• Use non-standard terminology like “truck load” or “pile”
• Demand payment before delivery
• Cannot provide proper receipts or business credentials
• Offer prices that seem too good to be true

Remember, one of the biggest scams this time of year is the firewood scam, and the best way to make sure you don’t get burned is to get out your tape measure. By understanding proper cord measurements, demanding transparency from sellers, and choosing reputable suppliers, Long Island residents can ensure they receive full value for their firewood investment and stay warm throughout the winter season.

Taking the time to educate yourself about proper firewood measurements isn’t just about getting your money’s worth—it’s about ensuring your family has adequate heating fuel for the entire season. Don’t let firewood scammers leave you out in the cold.