Firewood and wood pellets become a hot commodity

As stock indices worldwide declined this fall, prices for firewood and wood pellets climbed. So too is the number of reported incidents of stolen wood in central Maine. In 2008, according to the Kennebec Journal, there have been seven reported thefts of wood, up from two in 2006. The thieves take trees awaiting shipment to mills and cut it into firewood for eventual sale to consumers.

Throughout the Northeast, skyrocketing fuel costs have lit a fire under the firewood business. The demand is sparking severe shortages ahead of the home-heating season, says Sarah Smith, forest-industry specialist at the University of New Hampshire cooperative extension. "If I called up 10 folks in the firewood business and asked them for a cord of dry wood, they'd all laugh," she says.

The firewood shortage started this summer, when soaring oil prices motivated more people to consider heating their homes—€”or supplementing their oil, natural-gas, electric, or propane heat—€”with wood. "The loggers and firewood producers who were predicting and processing wood based on their usual demand couldn't accommodate all these people, many of whom hadn't burned wood in the past," says Smith.

Dwindling supplies have led to higher prices. Customers are paying up to $250 for a cord of green wood, material that hasn't been sufficiently dried for burning. Two years ago, the same cords were going for as little as $100. Those lucky enough to find seasoned dry wood can expect to pay at least $350 for a cord, says Smith.

A similar trend is affecting the cost of wood pellets used in pellet-burning stoves. "Prices are definitely higher," says Leslie Wheeler, director of communications for the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association. Although actual costs vary by region, she says the average is $250 to $260 per ton of pellets. An October 1 article in the Bangor News put the average price per ton at $300. Two years ago, the United States Department of Energy listed the average price as $190.

There are ways to try to save on wood and pellets. Buy wood pellets in bulk, for instance. For cordwood, Smith advises checking the local papers and sites like Craigslist for deals. But, remember, the short supply of firewood provides an opportunity for shifty suppliers. To keep yourself from getting burned, follow these tips:

• Request the right wood. Maple, oak, cherry, and other hardwoods burn longer and cleaner than softwoods like pine, aspen, and poplar. Softwoods tend to create more creosote in the chimney; if you don't eliminate the creosote regularly, it can become a fire hazard. The Wood Heat Organization's Web site includes a list of the best-burning species and helpful tips for building and maintaining wood fires. Tip: Don't get ripped off by a scamming chimney sweep.

• Get what you pay for. A full cord measures 128 cubic feet, or a stack roughly 4 feet high x 8 feet long x 4 feet deep. A face cord is 4 feet high x 8 feet long and as deep as the individual logs—typically 16, 20, or 24 inches, depending on the dimensions of the fireplace or stove. Be home when the wood is delivered and have the vendor identify in writing the type of wood you're getting. Wood species can be difficult to identify. Hardwoods tend to be denser than softwoods, so a simple heft test can provide a helpful clue. Also, many softwoods have a telltale piney scent. Well-cured wood is grayish on the end, with radial cracks.

• Have the vendor stack the logs. You'll pay more for the service, but you will be able verify how much wood got delivered before the delivery guy drives away. Be on the lookout for loose stacking, which is a trick crooked vendors use to short-change unsuspecting customers. If you've ordered a face cord, check that the logs have been cut to the specified length. To prevent termites and other insects from invading your home, stack firewood away from the structure, preferably in a sunny, exposed spot; you can use a plastic tarp to keep the top layer dry.

• Obtain a receipt. The bill of sale should include the vendor's contact information, the sale date, the type and quantity of wood, and the purchase price. A reputable vendor won't object to the request.—”Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Before you light a fire or turn up the thermostat, read these tips for locking in the heat.

New consumer-protection site targets shady contractors

In late September, a crooked home-improvement contractor in upstate New York was arrested for reportedly having swindled more than $80,000 from of an 88-year-old widow.

Hoping to prevent other Empire State residents from falling victim to dishonest contractors, the New York State Office of the Attorney General has launched the Know Your Contractor Web site. The site covers most geographical areas of the state, including upstate regions, where there are no licensing requirements for contractors.

Many people vet contractors by running a background check with the Better Business Bureau, and that advice still stands, says John Milgrim, a spokesman for the attorney general's office. But the New York State site aims to provide several compelling features by:

• listing the name of the principle as well as the name of the company. "In the past, if a contractor got into trouble, he could change the name of his company and start doing business in the next town over," says Milgrim.

• reporting only substantiated claims against contractors, thereby protecting reputable contractors, who make up the majority of the pros out there.

• including consumer complaints and court judgments, so you can find out what your prospective contractor actually did or didn't do,

• and offering helpful hints for homeowners looking to hire a pro. The tips are consistent with our own advice on choosing a contractor.

"This [site] is a simple solution to a systemic problem, and the Attorney General's Web site is an essential first stop for anyone in the market for a home improvement or repair," said Chuck Bell, director of programs for Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, who attended the launch event for the site with several New Yorkers victimized by scamming contractors.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Once you hire the right contractor for your project, find the best products and appliances using our exclusive interactive Home Improvement Guide.

Scam Alert: Avoid “dirty” duct cleaners

The scenario: You get a flyer in the mail from a company offering to clean the air ducts at your home for only $99. Intrigued by the low price, you contact the company and set up an appointment.

When the company arrives at your house, the rep tries to sell you on a bunch of other services, including carpet cleaning or mold remediation, to improve the air quality inside your home. If you don’t bite at these invoice-increasing items, he gives your ducts a cursory cleaning before moving on to the next mark somewhere in your area.

That lowball offer should have been a red flag to avoid that firm. A reputable company will charge $400 to $1,000 to clean the ducts in a typical 2,000-square-foot house, says the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). A quality job should take two pros, who’ll use specialized tools, about 4 to 6 hours to complete.

Even more important to know is that there’s no proof that cleaning ducts prevents health problems, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Nor do studies conclusively show that dirty ducts increase levels of airborne particulates in a home. Still, there are times when you should get your ducts cleaned:
• Have the ductwork cleaned if it contains visible mold buildup or has debris coming out of supply registers, or if the ducts are infested with vermin. Check for problems by removing the registers and shining a flashlight into the ductwork.
• Consider having your ductwork professionally inspected if someone in your home is suffering from unexplained allergies or illness. Before you do that, however, a doctor should rule out other causes.

To find a reputable duct cleaner, get referrals from the company that services your furnace. You’ll also find NADCA member contractors in your area on the association’s Web site. Before you sign a contract, ask for evidence of contamination, including a lab report if mold is a concern. And be sure the company cleans the entire HVAC system, including the ducts, heat exchanger, and air handler.

After the work has been completed, insist on a thorough visual inspection—all components of the HVAC system should be free of visible dust and debris. A top-shelf pro might even use remote photography to show you the clean ducts.

Essential information: Read “Filtering the Claims” for information on air purifiers.

Tools for hiring a handyman

If Mae West were around today and in need of some help at her home, it's entirely likely the legendary quotation attributed to her would now read, "A good handyman is hard to find" And she'd be right.

Consumers have never had more or easier ways to find a handyman for projects small and big. Sites like Craig's List offer a digital-age version of the classified ads for metropolitan areas coast to coast, while online sources like Insider Pages, Judy's Book, and Angie's List allow you to read comments and user ratings about handymen and ask questions about someone you're considering hiring. And then there are the big-money franchise operations and handyman-referral companies that promise a roster of prescreened, qualified professionals who would put the "This Old House" gang to shame.

But even with this proliferation of Web resources, hiring the right professional isn't a snap. "Handymen are advertising all over the place," says Sheila Adkins, director of public affairs for the Council of Better Business Bureaus. "They're on the Internet, in the yellow pages. You don't know who's reliable. The best thing to do is use caution."

Even when people hire someone in whom they have faith, the results often belie their expectations. Stories abound of shoddy or incomplete work, pay disputes, messy workers, and more. Home improvement topped the list of most reported consumer complaints in a 2005 report by the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators and the Consumer Federation of America, and it has consistently ranked among the top three complaints found by the survey  in recent years.

We're not sure whether Mae West ever found the man she was looking for, but there are several steps you can take to ensure that you find and hire a handyman who'll do right by you.

Click on each step below to find the keys to successful hiring—and high-quality work. If you've ever experienced any nightmarish projects with handymen, tell us about them.

Step 1: Create a project list.
Step 2: Start your search.
Step 3: Dig deep.
Step 4: Sign off.                                 

Don't roll the dice with contractors

Following up on our posting yesterday about a 72-year-old homeowner getting scammed by a bogus handyman, here are some more tips to keep in mind as con artists emerge from their winter hibernation. The advice comes from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, a remodeling-industry trade association.

1. Watch out for scammers driving vehicles with out-of-state license plates. Sometimes these operators also set up temporary offices in an area; that way, once the authorities start looking for them, they make for the hills.
2. Before you write a check or make any payment:
• Find out the name and address of the company the person allegedly represents.
• Determine how long the company has been in business and call organizations with which the contractor is affiliated, such as NARI or other trade associations, to determine the firm's legitimacy.
• Get all details of the offer in writing and carefully review it. Understand everything in the contract and be sure that any verbal promises made to you are part of he contract.
• Ask for references and contact them.
3. Don’t fall victim to high-pressure tactics—“This is the only chance you have," or "By tomorrow the extra materials will be gone." A legit company will allow you the time to do your homework.
4. Avoid a contractor who . . .
• Comes to your home unsolicited.
• Uses high-pressure sales tactics.
• Requests full payment before finishing the job.
• Gives a P.O. box without a street address or phone number.
• Promises to begin and complete the work more quickly and cheaply than any other company.
• Claims it just finished work on a neighbor’s house and has just enough materials to do repair work on yours. The contractor might say he can give you a better bargain if you let him do the work right away since he has the supplies on hand.

Essential information: To request a free copy of NARI’s “How to Select a Remodeling Professional,” call 800-611-6274 or go to www.remodeltoday.com and click on the homeowner’s guide.

Don’t get hammered by a handyman

I heard a hard-luck story driving to work this morning. A 72-year-old man in the city of Yonkers, N.Y., where Consumer Reports is headquartered, was scammed by a couple of con artists posing as handymen, said the reporter on one of the all-news radio stations in the New York City.

As one of the perps kept the homeowner busy discussing an unsolicited repair job on his backyard fence, an accomplice smashed in the front door of the house and stole $2,000 in cash, jewelry, electronic gear, and other items, according to the The Journal News, a daily that covers the New York City suburbs.

This story of scamming handymen is nothing new, though usually the rip-off centers on a cheat performing shoddy work—driveway sealcoating, furnace fix-ups, window or roof repairs (common after a hurricane)—and getting away with a quick buck before you can spot the slapdash job.

If you’ll need contractors for projects at your home, follow the advice in “Tools for hiring a handyman.” As the story details, you’ve got plenty of work to do to find reliable, capable pros, but in the end you’ll be happy you didn’t take the easy way out.—Steven H. Saltzman