MYFIRE.PLACE

Firewood Selection & Prep

Chimney sweep wearing a safety harness examines a brick chimney on a house roof, lifting the metal cap and shining a flashlight into the flue, with rust streaks and cracked crown visible.
Schedule annual professional inspections before burning season begins, typically in late summer or early fall. A certified chimney sweep will identify creosote buildup, structural damage, and blockages that compromise both safety and efficiency. Check your flue damper monthly during active use to ensure it opens and closes completely. A stuck or warped damper wastes energy ... Read more
Eye-level close-up of a neatly stacked firewood pile on pallets with a metal top cover and open sides; a gloved hand holds a moisture meter against the split face of a log in warm evening light, with a blurred farmhouse and trees behind.
Plan your firewood purchases 6-18 months before you need them, depending on species—dense hardwoods like oak require a full year or more, while softer woods like pine can be ready in just six months. Stack your split wood in a sunny, wind-exposed location with the top covered but sides open, allowing air circulation to drop ... Read more
Concept of Splitting Wood with a Wedge
Welcome to our handy guide on how to split wood with a wedge. You might think splitting is time-consuming, but it’s a breeze with the right tools, like a splitting wedge or a second wedge, and proven techniques. It’s more than just swinging a hammer’s handle. We typically split along the existing crack, using a ... Read more
Concept of Splitting Wedge vs Maul Comparison
Welcome to the art of splitting wood! If you’ve ever wanted to turn a wood log into useful pieces, this guide is for you. You’ll learn about different splitting tools, like the axe, maul, and wedge. Each has a unique role in wood splitting. A splitting axe handle has a sharp blade for cutting wood. ... Read more
Concept of Splitting Axe vs Splitting Maul
If you’re new to splitting wood or still wondering about the best way, you’ve often thought about using either a splitting maul or a splitting axe. More quality tools have been available in past decades, making cutting wood much easier. But if you still need to chop wood, you have two options. You can either ... Read more