Are you struggling to find kiln dried firewood for sale in Highlands, North Carolina? While many roadside vendors sell fresh firewood, as well as air-dried firewood, you probably won't find any who sell kiln dried firewood. Kiln drying is an advanced wood-processing method that requires the use of a commercial kiln. As a result, it's difficult to find "true" kiln dried firewood for sale from a local vendor.
Even if you live in Highlands, though, you can take advantage of the unique benefits offered by kiln dried firewood. Cutting Edge Firewood is one of the industry's leading sellers of kiln dried firewood. All our kiln dried firewood is processed for 12 times longer than the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) standard. And when you order kiln dried firewood here at Cutting Edge Firewood, we'll deliver it to your Highlands home.
History of Highlands, NC
Highlands is a small incorporated city in North Carolina that's located at the southern base of the Appalachian Mountains. It was founded in the 1870s when two developers, Samuel Kelsey and Clinton Hutchinson, saw the area's potential to become a major East Coast trading hub. The two developers chose the name "Highlands" for the new town because of its high elevation -- about 4,100 feet above sea level.
Over the years, Highlands has become a popular destination for golfers. In the 1930s, American amateur golfer Bobby Jones founded a golfing club in Highlands. Known as the Highlands Country Club, it's one of the town's most well-known golfing clubs.
What Are the Winters Like in Highlands, NC?
You can expect relatively cold winters in Highlands. Records show the average low temperature in January is 23 degrees Fahrenheit, while the average high temperature is 42 degrees Fahrenheit. In February, the average low temperature is 25 degrees Fahrenheit, while the average high temperature is 46 degrees. With its cold winter climate, Highlands residents need to prepare their home accordingly -- something with which kiln dried firewood can help.
Why You Should Choose Kiln Dried Firewood for Your Highlands, NC Home
Unless you've used kiln dried firewood in the past, you may assume that it's no different than traditional air-dried firewood. After all, how much of a difference can the way in which firewood is dried really make? Air-dried firewood is certainly better than fresh or green firewood, but there's no substitution for kiln dried firewood.
As previously stated, kiln dried firewood is processed in a commercial kiln where it's exposed to heat and pressure. The combination of heat and pressure pulls moisture out of the wood, resulting in a superior level of dryness. It's not uncommon for kiln dried firewood to have a moisture content of just 10% to 20%. In comparison, air-dried firewood has a moisture content of about 30%. Therefore, you can expect kiln dried firewood to contain about half the moisture as air-dried firewood.
With its low moisture content, kiln dried firewood offers the following benefits:
- Produces more heat
- Less creosote
- Fewer emissions
- No mold or mildew
- No pests
- Easy to light
- Doesn't rot or decay like other types of firewood
- Higher combustion efficiency
- Less likely to pop and shoot flaming embers
- Better value
- Easy to store (see below)
How to Prepare Your Highlands, NC Home for Winter
To prepare your Highlands home for the cold winter climate, stock up on kiln dried firewood. Assuming your home has a fireplace, burning kiln dried firewood will produce a substantial amount of heat that can offset or even eliminate the need for central heating. Its low moisture properties -- about 10% to 20% moisture content -- allow for a more combustion process. In other words, more of the organic wood matter in kiln dried firewood is converted into heat. Building a small fire with three or four premium kiln dried logs can help you beat Highland's cold winter climate.
Another way to prepare your Highlands home for winter is to have your chimney inspected. If the flue damper is stuck open, warm air will escape your home through the chimney. Alternatively, if the flue is clogged with creosote, your fireplace won't be able to pull in fresh air. Chimney problems such as these should be addressed before the winter season arrives. Creosote buildup is particularly problematic because of its ability to ignite and explode.
If you're still planning to use central heating to warm your home during winter, you may want to replace the air filter. HVAC air filters should be replaced at least once every two to three months. Most homeowners, however, allow their air filter to go unchanged for much longer. If you're guilty of not changing your home's HVAC air filter on a regular basis, you can expect lower cooling power during the summer and lower heating power during the winter.
Where to Store Your Unused Kiln Dried Firewood
You probably won't use all your kiln dried firewood in a single fire -- and that's okay. As long as you store it in the right environment, you can use it to build other fires in the future. But where exactly should you store your unused kiln dried firewood? Because it's pest-free, you don't have to store it outdoors. Rather, it's perfectly fine to store kiln dried firewood inside your Highlands home. Many homeowners actually prefer storing their kiln-dried firewood indoors so that they can easily access it.
Additionally, storing your kiln-dried firewood indoors will keep it dry. You can always store it outside your Highlands home, but you'll keep it covered and off the ground. Storing kiln dried firewood outdoors without any form of coverage will result in getting wet during rainstorms. And if you store it on the ground, it will absorb moisture from the underlying soil. Therefore, you must place your kiln dried firewood under coverage and keep it off the ground if you plan on storing it outdoors. If you plan on storing your kiln dried firewood indoors, on the other hand, you can place it in next to your fireplace, in a closet, the laundry room or pretty much anywhere else you desire.
Choosing the Right Gourmet Cooking Wood
In addition to kiln dried firewood, consider purchasing some gourmet firewood for cooking. Whether you're grilling steaks or smoking a pork shoulder, gourmet cooking wood will enhance the flavor and texture of your food. Gourmet cooking wood is available in several flavorful varieties, some of which include hickory, pecan, oak and cherry. While all are excellent choices, each variety produces a different flavor when burned.
Pecan cooking wood, for example, has a relatively mild hickory-like flavor, whereas cherry cooking wood has a semi-sweet flavor. Oak is an all-around great choice that complements nearly all types of meats as well as veggies. If you enjoy cooking and want to improve your culinary skills, try using gourmet cooking wood. You can even experiment by combining two or more varieties of gourmet cooking wood to achieve unique flavors. Traditional firewood doesn't offer the same flavor-enhancing benefits as gourmet cooking wood. So, for the best-tasting food, use gourmet cooking wood.
Your search for firewood in Highlands, North Carolina is over. Stock up on high-quality kiln dried firewood by visiting our order page now. After placing your order, we'll deliver the kiln dried firewood directly to your Highlands home.
