My first winter with a fireplace, I bought firewood from a guy on a delivery truck and paid for a cord of wood that was mostly green, wet, and useless. It hissed, it smoked, and it barely heated the room. I learned more from that mistake than from any guide, so let me save you the tuition.

Know what you are buying

Firewood is sold by the cord, which is a stack four feet high, four feet wide, and eight feet long. That is 128 cubic feet of wood. Anyone selling you a “truckload” without a measurement is asking you to trust a guess.

The bigger issue is moisture. Seasoned firewood has been dried for at least six to twelve months and sits under 20 percent moisture. Green wood is freshly cut and full of sap. It does not burn, it smolders, and it coats your chimney with creosote.

How to check before you pay

• Knock two pieces together. Seasoned wood makes a sharp, hollow clack. Green wood thuds.
• Look at the ends. Seasoned wood has cracks running from the center out.
• Peel a piece of bark. It should come off easily and the wood underneath should feel dry, not damp.
• Weigh a split in your hand. Dry wood is noticeably lighter than it looks.

If you cannot check the load in person, ask for a photo of the stack and the end grain before the truck leaves.

Buy early, stack smart

The cheapest firewood arrives in late winter or spring, when nobody is thinking about fires. Prices jump in October. I now buy in March for the next season and pay about a third less.

Stack the wood off the ground on pallets or rails, in a single row if you can, with the cut ends facing out. Cover the top but leave the sides open so air moves through. A tarp wrapped like a burrito traps moisture and turns your dry wood into a mushroom farm.

What actually matters

You do not need the most expensive hardwood. A mix of oak for long burns and pine or birch for quick heat works great and costs less. Just keep it dry and give it time.