Fireplace Tips To Keep Your Home Warm and Safe This Winter

After working in the chimney industry for most of her life, Tracy Zarriello traded the office for the rooftop—and she’s never looked back. Now the owner of Queen Sweep Chimney, Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Heating Services, she has seen firsthand what causes the most common fireplace problems and knows exactly how homeowners can avoid them. Here are her top tips for a safe, warm and worry-free fall and winter.

Know Your Fireplace

The maintenance your fireplace needs depends largely on the type of unit in your home. While you may not always get to choose your fireplace—many homeowners simply inherit the one that came with the house—it pays to know how it works and how to care for it to avoid unnecessary service calls.

Wood-burning fireplaces create an undeniably cozy atmosphere with real flames and soothing crackling, but they’re also the most labor-intensive option. They produce ashes, require regular chimney maintenance, and mean hauling firewood and keeping fireplace tools nearby, including a poker, tongs, broom and ash shovel.

Wood-burning fireplaces bring character—and extra maintenance.

Gas fireplaces offer the convenience of an on-demand fuel supply and don’t produce messy ashes. They carry a much lower risk of chimney fires than woodburning fireplaces and require less care and maintenance overall, but regular inspections are still recommended to ensure the burner and venting system are working properly.

Electric fireplaces have simulated flames and produce no combustion byproducts. They’re primarily decorative, but most models also include a heating element and function as a space heater.

When it comes to heating efficiency, “many homeowners are surprised to learn that a traditional open wood-burning fireplace can actually pull heated air out of the house,” Zarriello says. “If your goal is heating, a gas insert or an EPA‑certified wood stove is usually far more effective than an open masonry fireplace.”

The Hidden Hazard in Your Chimney

If you have a wood-burning fireplace, it’s important to understand creosote.

“Creosote is a highly flammable residue created when wood smoke cools and condenses inside the chimney,” Zarriello says. “Think of it like grease accumulating inside a kitchen exhaust hood.”

Creosote begins as light, flaky soot but can progress into crunchy, tarlike deposits and eventually a hard, shiny glaze. Zarriello says this last stage is the most dangerous because it’s much harder to remove and can ignite with only a spark or hot burst of exhaust.

A chimney fire can exceed 2,000 degrees, Zarriello says, and sound like a roaring freight train. But some of the fires aren’t so dramatic.

“Many homeowners don’t realize they’ve had a chimney fire because some are slow-burning and occur inside the flue,” she says. Yet even an unnoticed chimney fire can cause a cracked flue liner, structural damage and the potential for dangerous levels of carbon monoxide to enter your home.

Simple Habits That Pay Off

Preventing creosote buildup starts with smart burning habits and regular maintenance.

Zarriello recommends burning only seasoned hardwoods such as ash, maple and oak. “Wood should generally be dried for 6 to 12 months or longer and have a moisture content below 20 percent,” she says. Burning wet or green wood produces more smoke and creosote.

Chimney caps keep rain and pests out and help contain sparks.

Make sure the damper is fully open before lighting a fire, and leave it open while the fire burns. “Airflow is everything,” Zarriello says. “A properly drafting chimney pulls smoke upward and out of the home.” That airflow helps create a hotter, more efficient fire.

Use a fireplace screen to contain sparks, and remove excess ash from the firebox only after it has completely cooled. Once a month during burning season, inspect the firebox for cracked bricks or deteriorating mortar joints. Test the damper to make sure it opens and closes properly, then go outside and look at the chimney cap from the ground. A missing or broken cap lets in rainwater and gives animals an opening to nest in your chimney.

“A properly installed chimney cap is one of the best investments a homeowner can make,” Zarriello says.

Don’t Skip Your Annual Inspection

Have your chimney professionally inspected at least once a year. “While homeowners can perform visual checks, they cannot see most of the flue system without specialized equipment,” Zarriello says. A qualified professional can inspect the flue liner and other parts of your chimney; check for creosote buildup, water damage and masonry problems; and confirm proper ventilation.

“A fireplace should provide warmth and enjoyment—not become a hidden fire hazard,” Zarriello says. “A yearly inspection helps protect your home and your family.”

FAQ

Are chimney-cleaning logs worth the hype?

Commonly sold at home centers and online, chimney-cleaning logs (also called creosote-sweeping logs) release chemicals as they burn and are marketed as an easy way to reduce creosote buildup. Simply burn the log like a piece of firewood, then sweep out any loosened debris after the fire goes out.

But Zarriello warns they aren’t a substitute for professional chimney maintenance. As she puts it, “Don’t be fooled by chimney-cleaning logs!”

“While some products may help loosen light deposits, they do not eliminate the hardened creosote that sticks to the inside walls of your chimney,” she says. “The only way to properly remove creosote is through a chimney inspection and a cleaning using the proper equipment.”

Creosote is a serious fire and safety hazard, and relying on a cleaning log alone can create a false sense of security. “Protect your home and your family—don’t rely on a log when your chimney needs a real cleaning.”

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