Provided by the Bucks County Department of Consumer Protection:
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Q. This winter I plan on using my fireplace more to try to heat my home. What do I need to know about purchasing firewood? – S.M., Levittown
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A. This is the time of year when lots of folks call The Bucks County Weights and Measures Office about firewood. If consumers intend to use the wood to burn this season, make sure the purchase is seasoned firewood. If you plan on using the wood for the following winter you can buy green wood and cut and split it and allow it dry out.
In addition, there are some basic requirements the firewood seller must adhere to. An invoice, with the following information, must accompany all firewood sales; the name, address and phone number of the business, amount and type of wood purchased, and the price. All firewood sales in Pennsylvania must be sold by the cord or fraction of a cord. A cord is the legal description of amount of wood purchased. A cord is measured by stacking the wood 4 feet high by 4 feet wide by 8 feet in length or a total of 128 cubic feet. If you get a delivery that is not stacked, stack the delivery within 48 hours of delivery, and if there is a discrepancy with the amount call the business immediately. If they do not address the problem call The Bucks County Weights and Measures Department at 215-348-7442. For a free brochure on Weights and Measures please visit our web page at http://www.buckscounty.org/government/departments/CommunityServices/ConsumerProtection/WeightsandMeasures.aspx and click on “tips and Hints”.
