A dirty chimney can be a fire hazard and health. To maintain the minimum accumulation in the chimney regularly swept the ashes and burn the right fuel. In overall, the wood burns more cleanly than wood and soft wood prefabricated burns much more cleanly than wood. This will also minimize the buildup of creosote (tar deposited on the walls of the chimney smoke from the wood), which causes fire in the fireplace. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, the chimney should be inspected annually when sound and clean, so recommend cleaning when soot is 1/8 inch (3.1 mm) thick.

Instructions

1. Wait 24 hours after using your fireplace for review. This will allow the remains of the last fire taking hold.
2. Open fire screen and look inside with a flashlight. Look how black soot there along the walls of the combustion chamber.
3. Use your finger or the fireplace tools, such as poker, to determine how thick soot on the walls. If soot is at least 1/8 inch (3.1 mm) thick, the chimney must be cleaned.

Tips and Warnings

Your chimney may need cleaning even if not used frequently or if you cannot see much soot. Animals and birds can build nests and other debris can block it, doing dangerous to use the fireplace.