Prices on wood fuel and woodstoves are lower; products more available

With warmer weather upon us, it's hard to think about the coming winter's wood supply. Yet this is the best time to buy firewood or wood pellets for the next year's heating season.

Both firewood and wood pellets are more available now, the prices are better, and green firewood will have time to dry for burning this winter.

As prices for home heating oil approached $5 per gallon last summer, homeowners turned to local wood as an alternative fuel source. The resulting panic buying caused shortages and high prices in both the wood-pellet and firewood markets.

Increased production, lower oil prices = better deals on firewood
To meet this new demand, many firewood producers and pellet manufacturers increased production. And now that home heating oil prices have settled down, interest in wood has waned.

Both wood dealers and wood stove shop operators experienced a decrease in business as soon as fuel oil prices dropped below $3.00 per gallon.

The result: a larger supply of wood, pellets, and the stoves that burn them. If you're in the market, now's the time to buy!

By Sarah Smith, UNH Cooperative Extension forest industry specialist

Learn more
Buying and Storing Firewood