Ask the remodeler: Maintaining your fireplace during the holiday season

"The most important safety routine is chimney cleaning. This is not something that most - if any homeowner - can do properly, so hire a professional chimney sweep. Over time, all wood-burning fireplaces will leave creosote residues inside the chimney flue. Some woods will leave more than others - for example, pine leaves more than maple hardwood."

"How often you have the chimney swept also depends on how often you use it. If you only have a few fires a season for special occasions, you can go years in between sweeps. If you burn wood regularly, yearly sweeping is recommended. There was a time that we had a chimney and fireplace division as part of Charlie Allen Renovations, and we would advise clients to burn a creosote-burning log just before a chimney sweep. The log would help loosen the buildup inside the flue, making for a better cleaning."

"Many chimneys also have subpar flue liners that can be inspected during cleaning. Chimney sweeps can also inspect and clean the flues that are being used for your heating and hot water. These typically won't have the buildup of a fireplace flue, but they can check on connections, including sealing flue pipe joints in the basement. It's all time well spent since any appliance flue pipe issues could lead to carbon monoxide spilling into the house."

Chimney cleaning by a professional chimney sweep is the most important safety routine for wood-burning fireplaces because creosote residues build up in the flue. Different woods leave different amounts of creosote, with pine producing more than maple hardwood. Sweeping frequency depends on usage: occasional fires can allow years between sweeps, while regular burning warrants annual sweeping. Burning a creosote-burning log before a sweep can loosen buildup for better cleaning. Chimney inspections can reveal subpar flue liners and flue connections for heating or hot-water appliances; sealing flue pipe joints prevents carbon monoxide from spilling into the house. Dampers should be inspected or replaced.

Read at Boston.com