Firewood in Washoe Valley, NV

Washoe Valley is a small, mostly owner-occupied valley between Reno and Carson City at about 5,100 feet. Homes here are older and sit on larger lots than in the cities on either side, and a good number of them have a stove.

At a glance

• About 4.1% of Washoe Valley households heat mainly with wood
• About 93% of homes owner-occupied
• Yard about 25 minutes away without traffic
• Availability and pricing by phone

Why the wood-heat share is higher

The Census Bureau counts about 53 of 1,300 households in the Washoe Valley area, 4.1%, that heat mainly with wood, and about 63 in ZIP 89704, 3.4% (ACS 2020-2024; small-place figures with wide margins). That is many times Reno's 0.3%. About 93% of homes are owner-occupied and about 53% were built before 1980. Houses that have been there a while are more likely to have a stove or insert.

What that means when you buy

Households that rely on wood tend to think in seasons, not evenings. The office is the place to ask what is available, how it is sold, whether it is ready to burn and what it costs. We do not publish those details. If you need a larger supply, say so up front.

A short drive from the yard

The yard is 15 miles and about 25 minutes from Washoe Valley without traffic (a free-flow estimate). Call 775.232.8243 before you drive so the office can tell you what is on hand.

How long does firewood take to dry before the first cold night?

Penn State Extension says wood generally needs 6 to 12 months to dry to about 20% moisture, and that a stack should sit off the ground with only the top covered. If you rely on wood for heat, ask the office whether what you are buying is ready to burn so you can plan your stacks. Penn State notes that dry wood burns cleaner and heats better.

Questions a wood-stove household should ask

If a stove is your main heat, plan for the whole winter in two parts: what you burn this year and what you stack to dry for next year. Ask the office how much it can supply, when, and whether you should expect to dry some of it yourself. Ask also whether wood chips from tree work might help for mulch or paths, since chips are sold alongside firewood.

The valley is also fire country, and a woodpile is fuel. Keep stacks away from the house wall, decks and dry grass, and ask the office about our defensible space work if you want a second set of eyes on your property.