Tomorrow is November 1st and the weatherman is predicting possible snow in New England. Around here, it is the time of year when we start to use the fireplace. A crackling fire is the picture of a cozy home but it can also be a home hazard. Keeping an eye on a few key items inside and out will make sure your wood-burning fireplace is safe and ready to go for the burning season. 
Here is a checklist of things to look for on the outside of your fireplace:
- A chimney cap; this keeps out rain, animals away and helps prevents hot embers from landing on the roof.
- Tree limbs that hang above or near the chimney.
- Crumbling and/or missing mortar and bricks.
- A chimney that rises at least 2 feet above where it exits the roof.
- A flue liner that is visible above the chimney crown.
- The chimney is plumb and not leaning to one side or the other.
- Roof flashing that is tight against the chimney.
Here is a checklist for the inside of your fireplace:
- A flue damper that opens, closes, and seals properly.
- Daylight can be seen through the flue, no combustible material such as animal nests or other foreign objects in the flue.
- There are no cracked bricks or missing mortar in the fireplace surround, hearth, and firebox.
- No moisture can be seen inside the firebox, which could mean a faulty cap.
Always make sure that you close the doors to the fireplace or put a screen in front of the fireplace when you leave the room. Also, make sure that you keep small children awy from the fire.
If you spot any problems always call a licensed chimney professional or mason to remedy the problem.
As for cleaning the chimney, there is no hard and fast rule on how often to clean it but if you burn on a fairly regular basis you should have it cleaned yearly. I always burn one of those creosote loosening logs the first time I have a fire and burn one very month to keep the creosote from building up. If the creosote buildup is 1/8 of an inch, or more you should schedule a cleaning.
By following these tips you can safely enjoy that crackling fire all winter long.
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