Fireplace maintenance is important even if you don’t light many fires. As long as you have a fireplace in your home, it’s worth learning the best maintenance practices and signs to pay attention to. By following a few simple steps, you’ll ensure your fireplace is safe for the whole family to enjoy.

Woodall Heating & Cooling in Enterprise, AL, tells their customers to consider these key points when calling for service:

• Soot Buildup: Experts recommend calling a chimney sweep when your wood-burning fireplace or flue develops at least 1/8 of an inch of soot, as this amount is enough to cause a dangerous chimney fire.

• Glazing: Whether or not soot buildup has reached the above threshold, clean your fireplace as soon as it starts forming a glaze—also known as creosote. This substance accumulates particularly quickly when you use fast-burning wood and is extremely flammable.

• Animal Nests: Do treetops touch your roof and provide easy access for animals? Call a chimney sweep before burning any fires, as nesting materials could be blocking the flue.

• Season: If you want to beat the crowds, the best times to schedule a fireplace cleaning include spring, summer, and early fall, since you typically won’t be using the fireplace during these times.

• Yearly Inspections: You may not need frequent chimney cleanings, but you’ll still need at least a yearly inspection—that’s what the National Fire Protection Association recommends. A professional will be able to spot damage, nests, and soot deposits where you might have missed during your informal inspections.

Different types of fireplaces require different maintenance, but the above information is relevant in many cases. Woodall Heating & Cooling serves customers throughout Ozark and Enterprise, AL. You can reach the Enterprise branch at (334) 347-1243 and the Ozark branch at (334) 774-2934 to request a quote. More information about their fireplace services and heating installations is available online.