Good chimney maintenance comes down to burning dry wood, watching for warning signs, and booking one professional inspection a year. The CSIA recommends an annual inspection regardless of fuel type, with sweeping as buildup requires. Here’s a season-by-season routine you can follow at home, plus the few jobs that should always go to a pro.
What you can do yourself
A surprising amount of chimney safety is in your hands. The single biggest factor is fuel: burn only seasoned hardwood dried for at least six months to around 20% moisture. Wet or green wood smolders, throws off more smoke, and coats your flue with creosote — the fuel for chimney fires. Keep the hearth area clear, use a screen or glass doors, and let ashes cool fully before disposal in a metal container.
Season by season
Late summer / early fall
Book your annual sweep and inspection before the rush. This is the ideal time, because any repairs can be done before you need the fireplace. Confirm the damper opens and closes freely and check that firewood is dry and stored off the ground.
Winter
Burn smart: smaller, hotter fires produce less creosote than large, smoldering ones. Watch for warning signs — a burnt smell, smoke spilling into the room, or a weak draft — and stop using the fireplace if they appear. Make sure CO alarms are working.
Spring
After the heating season, note anything you observed over winter and have lingering issues checked. Spring is a good time for repairs to the crown, cap, or masonry, with mild weather for the work.
Summer
Keep the damper closed when not in use to block drafts and animals, and keep an eye out for signs of water intrusion after storms.
Leave these to a professional
The annual inspection, sweeping the flue, any work on the liner, crown, or masonry, and anything involving gas should be done by a pro. These require getting inside the flue or onto the roof safely and knowing what you’re looking at. For the full list of signs that mean call now, see our symptoms guide.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I sweep my chimney?
Have it inspected every year, and swept whenever creosote buildup calls for it. Homes that burn wood often may need a yearly sweep; occasional users may go longer. The inspection tells you when a sweep is actually due.
What kind of wood should I burn?
Seasoned hardwood dried for at least six months to around 20% moisture. Dry wood burns hot and clean; wet or green wood smolders and coats your flue with creosote, which is the main fuel for chimney fires.
Can I clean my own chimney?
You can handle fuel choice, keeping the area clear, and watching for warning signs, but sweeping the flue and inspecting the liner should go to a pro. It requires safe access to the roof or flue and the ability to judge what you find inside.
How do I keep creosote from building up?
Burn dry, seasoned wood in smaller, hotter fires rather than large smoldering ones, make sure the fireplace gets enough combustion air, and have the chimney swept on schedule. Hot, efficient fires leave far less creosote behind.
Should I keep my damper open or closed?
Open it fully whenever you have a fire, and close it when the fireplace is cold and not in use to stop drafts and keep animals out. A damper that sticks should be repaired, since a partly closed damper during a fire pushes smoke into the room.
When is the best time to service my chimney?
Late summer or early fall, before the heating season. Booking early means any repairs can be finished before you need the fireplace, and you avoid the fall rush when sweeps are busiest.
Do gas fireplaces need maintenance too?
Yes. Gas fireplaces need a yearly inspection and cleaning of the glass, logs, burner, and venting, plus checks of the igniter and gas controls. See our gas fireplace service page.
What maintenance prevents water damage?
Keep a sound cap and crown and intact flashing where the chimney meets the roof, and address spalling brick early. Most serious chimney damage starts with water getting into the masonry, so keeping water out is the best prevention.
Let us handle the annual inspection
You do the easy parts; we’ll handle the sweep and inspection safely. Book before the heating season, 7 days a week.
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Published November 10, 2026 · Written and reviewed by Joseph Ino, Founder & Master Chimney Technician, Chimney Sweep Squad