Cooler fall weather can make you look forward to a warm fire in your home. However, it can be dangerous to run headlong into lighting a fire without proper preparation. Before the first fire in your fireplace, it would be a good idea to go through the checklists below to ensure the safety of your household.
TO-DO LIST FOR THE CHIMNEY
Whether you burn wood or use a ‘gas log set’ in your fireplace, you need to check specific safety items regularly. Failure to do so can be dangerous if you attempt to light a fire.
- The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states that wood-burning chimneys for fireplaces, stoves, and inserts should be inspected annually and cleaned if necessary. This is an essential step to attend to during the summer or early fall, before the burning season. Professional chimney technicians will thoroughly inspect and remove any soot, creosote, or debris from your chimney, which will help prevent a chimney fire.
- Professionals will also check the condition of your flue lining. Even a tiny crack in the flue can cause a dangerous situation. It can put your family and property at risk. The purpose of an inspection and cleaning is to make sure your chimney and fireplace are safe and ready to use.
- Chimney structures are high and out of sight from the ground, but they should not be out of mind. If you see loose or missing mortar or maybe damaged and cracked bricks, it’s entirely possible that moisture has infiltrated your chimney system. This moisture can cause issues inside the chimney that will not be noticeable from the ground. Moisture damage will not fix itself. It needs to be evaluated and repaired as quickly as possible.
- If there is no cap on your chimney, have one installed as soon as possible. Chimney caps serve several essential functions. They help keep moisture and critters out and can help to prevent house fires. A mesh screen or spark arrestor installed with a chimney cap will help control errant sparks and embers as they exit the chimney.

Wood fireplace Ambiance
TO-DO LIST FOR THE FIREPLACE
- Experts recommend that fireplaces and wood stoves be inspected annually for any damage or signs of wear. Your professional chimney tech can evaluate your appliance to ensure optimum performance.
- What’s the best wood to burn in your fireplace, stove, or insert? D-R-Y wood. After it’s cut, split, stacked, and covered, leave it for a year before burning it. Seasoned hardwoods will burn longer than softwoods. If you want a shorter fire, maybe just to take the chill out of the house in the morning, then softwoods might be a better choice because they will burn out quickly and won’t leave smoldering wood coals to linger.
- If you’re using a masonry fireplace, place the logs on a metal grate at the back of the fireplace. Never, ever use flammable liquids to start a fire. Always use dry kindling to get a fire started.
- Don’t overfill a masonry fireplace and create a blaze too large to control. The extreme temperatures may cause a chimney fire or damage the flue.
- Close the spark screen or glass doors in the front of your fireplace to prevent embers from popping into the room and causing damage to the carpeting or igniting something on fire.
- If you have a gas log set installed in a wood-burning fireplace, have it inspected by a qualified gas technician before use. They will check for gas leaks, flame impingement, the correct gas pressure, and other items. They will also have materials to enhance the appearance of the glowing embers.
- A blower on the appliance should be cleaned regularly as there is no filtering system to prevent dust from hindering its operation.
Once your checklist is done, you’re all set to safely enjoy your fireplace on a cold, wintry day.

Auburn, ALTop Hat Chimney Sweeps 1280 Financial Ct. Auburn, AL 36830 |  | Visit Store Page |
Elk Grove, CACustom Fireside Shops 9097 Elk Grove Blvd. Elk Grove, CA 95624 |  | Visit Store Page |
Sacramento, CACustom Fireside Shops 5455 Auburn Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95841 |  | Visit Store Page |
Durango, CODurango Outdoor Living 140 Rock Point Drive Durango, CO 81301 |  | Visit Store Page |
Durango, COFour Corner Stoves & Spas 3001 Main Avenue Durango, CO 81301 |  | Visit Store Page |
Grand Junction, COStove Depot and Chimney Works 330 North Ave. Grand Junction, CO 81501 |  | Visit Store Page |
New London, CTFamily Hearth and Patio LLC 571 Broad Street New London, CT 06320 |  | Visit Store Page |
Ridgefield, CTYankee Doodle, Inc. 71 Ethan Allen Highway Ridgefield, CT 06877 |  | Visit Store Page |
Dover, DEByler's Stove Shoppe Inc. 1368b Rose Valley School Rd. Dover, DE 19904 |  | Visit Store Page |
Destin, FLDoodlebuggers Service Network 36054 Emerald Coast Parkway Destin, FL 32541 | | |
Bettendorf, IAFireplaces Plus, Inc. 1745 State Street Bettendorf, IA 52722 |  | Visit Store Page |
Post Falls, IDQuality Stoves & Home Furnishings 569 N Syringa St Post Falls, ID 83854 | | |
Rockford, ILAdvanced Chimney Systems, Inc. 3486 Lonergan Drive Rockford, IL 61109 |  | Visit Store Page |
Wauconda, ILGrass Roots Energy, Inc. 28751 N Route 12 Wauconda, IL 60084 |  | Visit Store Page |
Evansville, INFiremaster, Inc. 5300 E Morgan Avenue Evansville, IN 47715 | | |
Jeffersonville, INOlde Towne Chimney & Fireplace Sales 915 Nachand Ln Jeffersonville, IN 47130 |  | Visit Store Page |
Overland Park, KSKansas City Fireplace Center 10470 Metcalf Avenue Overland Park, KS 66212 |  | Visit Store Page |
Erlanger, KYTateBuilder's Supply, LLC 3511 Dixie Highway Erlanger, KY 41018 |  | Visit Store Page |
Littleton, MAWoodstove, Fireplace and Patio Shop, Inc. 60 White Street Littleton, MA 01460 |  | Visit Store Page |
Seekonk, MAThe Fireplace Showcase 775 Fall River Ave Seekonk, MA 02771 |  | Visit Store Page |
Sudbury, MAWoodstove, Fireplace and Patio Shop, Inc. 348 Boston Post Road Sudbury, MA 01776 |  | Visit Store Page |
Duluth, MNDuluth Stove & Fireplace 2431 W Superior Street Duluth, MN 55806 |  | Visit Store Page |
Minneapolis, MNWoodland Stoves & Fireplaces 2901 Franklin Ave. South Minneapolis, MN 55406 | | |
Oakdale, MNEnergy Savers of Minnesota 6298 Highway 36 Blvd N Oakdale, MN 55128 |  | Visit Store Page |
Rochester, MNBrekke Fireplace Shoppe 1904 S. Broadway Rochester, MN 55904 |  | Visit Store Page |
Walker, MNWilkening Fireplace Company 9608 State 371 NW Walker, MN 56484 |  | Visit Store Page |
Fargo, NDHome Heating, Plumbing & A/C Inc. 701 28th Street South Fargo, ND 58103 | | |
Omaha, NEFireplace By Design 13913 R Plaza Omaha, NE 68137 | | |
Epping, NHThe Stove Shoppe 285, Calef Highway Rte. 125 Epping, NH 03042 | | |
Windham, NHThe Stove Shoppe 25 Indian Rock Road Windham, NH 03087 | | |
Hamilton, NJBowden's Fireside - Hearth & Home 1731 Nottingham Way Hamilton, NJ 08619 |  | Visit Store Page |
Voorhees, NJRettinger Fireplace Systems, Inc. 476 Centennial Blvd Voorhees, NJ 08043 |  | Visit Store Page |
St. Henry, OHBuschur's Refrigeration, Inc. 541 N Eastern Avenue St. Henry, OH 45883 |  | Visit Store Page |
Media, PAChimney Cricket 101 State Road Media, PA 19063 |  | Visit Store Page |
Rapid City, SDHebron Brick Company 1543 Deadwood Ave Rapid City, SD 57709 |  | Visit Store Page |
Sioux Falls, SDHebron Brick Company 2211 W. 50th Street Sioux Falls, SD 57105-6525 |  | Visit Store Page |
Vermillion, SDKalin's Indoor Comfort Inc. 710 Cottage Avenue Vermillion, SD 57069 |  | Visit Store Page |
Manassas, VAWinston's Chimney Service 11301 Industrial Road Manassas, VA 20109 |  | Visit Store Page |
Barre, VTChimney Sweep Fireplace Shop 1284 US Rte, 302 Ste 10 Barre, VT 05641-2317 |  | Visit Store Page |
Bennington, VTFriends of The Sun 126 Hicks Avenue Bennington, VT 05201 |  | Visit Store Page |
Manchester, VTFriends of The Sun 159 Depot Street Manchester, VT 05255 |  | Visit Store Page |
Shelburne, VTChimney Sweep Fireplace Shop 3113 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT 05482 |  | Visit Store Page |
White River Jnct, VTHome Comfort of New England 1255 VA Cut Off Road White River Jnct, VT 05001 |  | Visit Store Page |
Burlington, WIBurlington Fireplace & Heating LLC 857 Milwaukee Ave. Burlington, WI 53105 |  | Visit Store Page |
Madison, WITop Hat 5117 Verona Rd Madison, WI 53711 |  | Visit Store Page |
Morgantown, WVRustic By Design 709 Beechurst Ave. Suite 15 Morgantown, WV 26505 | | |
Laramie, WYHigh Country Stoves & Fireplaces 860 N. 3rd Street Laramie, WY 82072 | | |
4 Responses