Butler County Auditor gives tips on buying firewood | News

HAMILTON, OH (FOX19) - With a cold, snowy start to the new year, many are making additional firewood purchases to help offset heating costs for the rest of the winter. So, it’s important to know all the facts when it comes to buying firewood.

The most common legal method of selling firewood is by the cord or fraction of a cord. A “cord” is 128 cubic feet of tightly stacked wood, which equates to a stack that measures 4 feet x 4 feet x 8 feet, or 2 feet x 4 feet x 16 feet. Currently, a cord sells for approximately $100 to $150 locally, depending on the type of wood, and whether it is picked up or delivered. Cords can also be sold in fractional amounts. However, a seller may not legitimately use terms such as “truckload,” “face cord,” “pile,” or “stack” because these terms are not legally defined measurements.

“If you are buying firewood, understand what you’re buying and your rights as a buyer,” saidButler County Auditor Roger Reynolds. The Auditor also suggests that a buyer purchase thefirewood from a reputable dealer.In Ohio, the seller must provide the purchaser with a sales invoice which states:

• The name and address of the seller and purchaser
• Deliver date
• Cord or weight price
• Amount delivered and total price

Auditor Reynolds advises consumers to contact the Auditor’s Weights and Measures Department if they have any doubts about a wood purchase. “All consumers should know that they are getting what they pay for,” says Reynolds. “The consumer needs to be protected, and there are clear laws regarding firewood sales.” For more county information or to report issues with firewood sales, contact the Butler County Weights & Measures Department at (513) 785-6318.