Winter 2024 Firewood Shortage: Smart Homeowners Are Securing Their Supply Early to Beat the Crisis
As we approach the 2024-25 heating season, firewood shortages are becoming a growing concern across the United States. Reports from Maine indicate suppliers are already sold out for the season, with people everywhere buying up available inventory. Weather conditions have largely contributed to this year’s shortage, as brutal winters depleted wood piles and anxious homeowners grabbed extra firewood due to volatile fossil fuel prices.
The Perfect Storm Creating Firewood Scarcity
Multiple factors are converging to create unprecedented demand for firewood this winter. The skyrocketing cost of natural gas, home heating oil, and electric heat is driving more households to increase the amount of wood they burn. Meanwhile, wet spring conditions prevented loggers from accessing backwoods areas to harvest more firewood, with crews sitting idle for weeks at a time.
The industry is also dealing with a shrinking pool of loggers due to an aging workforce. Operating a logging business has become increasingly expensive due to hazardous working conditions, crazy insurance costs, and skyrocketing fuel prices.
Why Early Ordering Is Your Best Strategy
Smart homeowners understand that timing is everything when it comes to securing quality firewood. The best time to buy firewood is early spring, allowing it to be ready for winter use by October. However, even ordering in late summer or early fall can help you avoid the worst of the shortage.
Firewood suppliers experience high demand as colder months approach, and buying in advance helps you avoid the rush while ensuring a steady supply when you need it most, as waiting until winter can lead to shortages and higher prices.
The benefits of early ordering include:
- Cost savings through off-season rates and discounts before peak season, helping you avoid premium winter prices
- Convenience by eliminating the need to deal with logistics during winter, avoiding hauling or stacking wood in freezing temperatures
- Time for proper seasoning, as properly seasoned firewood needs at least six months of drying for efficient burning
How Much Firewood Do You Actually Need?
The amount of wood you need depends on climate, heating dependency, and space size, with colder climates requiring 2-3 cords per 1,000 square feet for primary heating, while warmer climates need 1-2 cords per 1,000 square feet. A standard cord measures 4 x 4 x 8 feet (128 cubic feet) and should be enough for winter, though primary heating users may need 3-4 cords.
LI Firewood & Mulch: Your Reliable Long Island Partner
For Long Island residents facing the 2024 firewood shortage, LI Firewood and Mulch is a premier firewood and mulch supplier based in Brookhaven, NY, harvesting and delivering the finest wood. The company serves Nassau and Suffolk Counties as part of B & B Maintenance Services, Inc., established in 2005 with the goal of offering excellent but affordable landscape services.
What sets LI Firewood & Mulch apart is their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. They pride themselves on reliability and a 90 percent customer satisfaction rate, offering rapid and efficient delivery services. The company is committed to sustainability, with all firewood sourced responsibly to ensure minimal environmental impact, allowing customers to support eco-friendly practices.
Their firewood delivery service is designed for convenience and reliability. Customers report receiving wood delivery in less than two hours from their initial call, with polite and timely service. The wood arrives clean and ready to burn, with prompt delivery exactly where customers request.
Quality That Makes a Difference
LI Firewood & Mulch offers firewood available in fully and semi-seasoned, kiln dried, bundles and pallets, along with various mulches and other landscape products. Their wood delivery isn’t filled with useless debris, as they screen the wood before loading to prevent messy cleanup.
Long-term customers appreciate that the wood is actually seasoned, unlike many places that advertise seasoned wood but deliver green timber, with friendly and helpful staff who arrive on time. The owner personally handles any issues and always has the customer’s best interest at heart.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
With experts advising not to wait until September or October to get firewood, but to secure it in May or June, the window for easy procurement is rapidly closing. Many suppliers sell out by Thanksgiving or sooner, making early action crucial.
LI Firewood & Mulch provides courteous service and timely delivery throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties, often delivering the same day, saving customers the hassle of tedious work while leaving properties looking neat and beautiful.
As the 2024 firewood shortage intensifies, proactive homeowners are already securing their winter heating supplies. Don’t let yourself be caught unprepared when temperatures drop. Contact LI Firewood & Mulch today to ensure your family stays warm and comfortable throughout the challenging winter ahead.