Owning a wood burning fireplace is a nice decorative piece for any home and can also provide some much-needed warmth during the winter months. Owning a fireplace is a responsibility however and should be treated with care. A fireplace that receives no care can be a hazard but there are things you can do you to help prevent issues:

Build the Fire Correctly

If you build a fire, make sure it’s a hot fire. A large fire that smolders causes buildup of creosote that can cause performance issues in the chimney. Building a fire that that is the correct fuel and air flow can help reduce excess smoking. Also, making sure to clean out your ash pit when necessary is important as well as a too much air will cause a decrease in air flow.

Burning the Right firewood

Making sure you are burning nothing but seasoned wood is the best way to keep your fireplace working effectively. You can use newspaper or kindling to start a fire but anything other than that is not recommended. Also, making sure the wood not treated or painted can prevent fumes coming into your home. For wood to be properly seasoned it should be dried for at least 6 months.

Scheduling an annual inspection and cleaning

With a wood burning fireplace, buildup of creosote is going to happen. It is recommended that buildup of creosote more than a 1/8^th of an inch should be cleaned. While there are logs and tools you can use to home service your fireplace. Having your fireplace cleaned and inspected is still going to give you the most effective cleaning and make sure your fireplace is not damaged or needing any maintenance. Having your fireplace cleaned and inspected during the summer is quicker since sweeps are not as busy and allows work to be corrected during the off season and allowing you to safely use your fireplace during the winter.