Ask more than “Is it seasoned?”

Start with the appliance you actually have

This guide concerns purchasing firewood for an appliance designed to burn it. Check the appliance’s operating instructions before ordering fuel, including the permitted fuel and suitable log size. If you do not know the appliance type, establish that with the manufacturer or a qualified professional first.

Keep product labels and manuals together. A listing for “fireplace fuel” does not by itself establish that the product belongs in your particular fireplace, stove or insert. Manufactured logs have their own instructions and compatibility questions; they should not be treated as interchangeable with ordinary split firewood.

Ask about moisture, not just the label

EPA’s archived Burn Wise guidance says wood burns best below 20 percent moisture and recommends a wood moisture meter for checking it. The same guidance advises against burning wet or green wood. A seller’s description is useful information to question, rather than a measurement of the particular delivery.

Before ordering, ask whether moisture is measured, what result the seller is reporting and how it relates to the batch being delivered. Ask what happens if the delivered wood does not meet the agreed description. Record the answer with the order confirmation.

Source: EPA Best Wood-Burning Practices, checked October 25, 2026. EPA identifies this page as a historical program record, with updates ending October 30, 2025.

Use a short order checklist

Write down these questions before comparing suppliers:

• What wood and product is being supplied, and is it suitable for the appliance identified in my manual?
• How is the moisture description established for this delivery?
• What log lengths and quantity are included in the order?
• What is included in delivery, and where will the wood be left?
• What is the process for reporting a delivery that differs from the agreed description?

These questions make the transaction easier to understand. They do not verify a seller’s claims or establish a local market price. Keep the written product description, delivery terms and receipt so you can refer to the same information later.

Plan storage before the truck arrives

EPA’s storage guidance calls for wood to be outdoors and off the ground, with the top covered and the sides open for air circulation. Decide where the delivery will go before accepting it, rather than leaving storage as a problem to solve afterward.

If the available space will not work for the quantity ordered, revise the order or storage plan first. A useful delivery note might say where the load is to be left and whether stacking is included. Ask the supplier to confirm that detail instead of assuming it is part of the quoted delivery.

For moisture-meter use, follow the device manufacturer’s instructions. Do not light a fire as a test of whether questionable wood is ready.

Keep unsuitable materials out of the order

EPA advises against burning household trash, painted or pressure-treated wood and wood products containing glue. Its guidance also excludes wet, rotted, diseased or moldy wood. Keep these exclusions in mind if someone offers leftover building materials as fireplace fuel.

If you cannot establish what a mixed load contains, ask for clarification before accepting it for that purpose. The fact that a material looks like wood does not answer whether it is appropriate fuel.

Dry fuel and chimney maintenance answer different questions

A fuel purchase does not establish the condition of your chimney. Keep the last inspection report and cleaning record separate from the firewood receipt, and raise any unresolved chimney concern with the professional assessing the system.

For planning maintenance, read how often a chimney needs cleaning. If you are comparing an appointment with a store-bought cleaning product, our cleaning logs and sweeping guide explains the scope questions to ask.

For a New York chimney cleaning enquiry, include your ZIP code, appliance type if known and last service date. Ask Brickhaven to confirm the available appointment scope. The next step is based on the system and its service history, not the firewood label.

Your questions, answered.