Log Dogs owner Tim DiDomizio says customers began asking about winter wood in April.
CHESHIRE, CT — Demand for firewood at Log Dogs in Cheshire is as high as it has ever been, owner Tim DiDomizio told WFSB in a report published Tuesday, Sept. 29. The first requests for this winter's wood came in April, and a cord sells for $300.
Cheshire Firewood Dealer Sees Record Demand
DiDomizio told the station that the business has always been busy with wood but that this year's orders run well above past years, as customers look for a cheaper way to heat their homes. He called it an "Astronomical difference compared to the last couple years."
A cord can hold about 600 logs, WFSB reported, and a typical household burns three to six cords over a winter. At $300 a cord, that range comes to $900 to $1,800 for the season.
Log Dogs Can Deliver Roughly 25 Cords a Week
Log Dogs is delivering about 25 cords a week, DiDomizio told WFSB, and a customer who orders now should have wood by Thanksgiving.
The station's report also looked beyond firewood. It spoke with a homeowner who chose propane over oil and visited Dean's Stove and Spa, where owner Dean Michanczyk said customers can weigh wood, pellet, gas, and propane options. Michanczyk advised against rushing the decision and said the right product should fit the customer.
Connecticut Forecast Points to Higher Heating Oil Bills
A separate WFSB report published Tuesday said the National Energy Assistance Directors Association expects heating oil customers to pay more than 30% more this year, about $500 more for the season. The station put Connecticut's average heating oil price at $5.61 a gallon.
Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection says it does not set or regulate oil and gas prices. In a Sept. 22 consumer alert, the department said residents are not required to pre-buy heating oil, and it recommended that anyone choosing a prepaid contract negotiate and sign it by Oct. 31.
Read Oil Contracts Before Signing
The department's alert describes three kinds of plans. A fixed-price plan locks in a rate per gallon. A cap-price plan sets a ceiling on the price but can come down if the market drops. Under a pay-as-you-go plan, the customer calls for each delivery and pays whatever the market charges that day.
Before signing, the department advises residents to know their tank's capacity and how much oil they use in a year, to check how prepaid money is protected, and to look for exit fees or automatic renewals. It also suggests asking whether deliveries arrive automatically or must be requested, and whether weekend, emergency, or other surcharges apply.
A customer with prepaid fuel left undelivered should confirm in writing that the credit will be refunded, and the department says that refund must be made within 30 days after the contract expires. The alert also recommends a furnace cleaning each fall, since a dirty furnace or boiler can waste oil.
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