Fireplaces and wood stoves provide vital warmth and create a cozy ambiance. They also produce loads of ash, which can easily scatter around your home. And creosote buildup, a flammable residue that forms during fires, can turn a chimney from a holiday-card image of smoke gently wafting up to the sky into a towering inferno.
Even if you burn only a few fires during a season, the Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends booking a yearly inspection to check for any structural damage and to determine whether your chimney needs cleaning. If you burn logs often, a yearly deep cleaning of your chimney is essential for removing creosote. That’s a chore best left to your local professional chimney cleaners.
However, some regular upkeep will keep your fire source—and, subsequently, your home—relatively clean. Do not expect perfection, however. It’s nearly impossible to keep a fireplace or wood stove pristine, unless it’s purely decorative.
