Check the flue damper The flue damper on your fireplace should have seals around it to prevent heat loss through the chimney. Take a look at those seals and make sure they’re tight.

The placement of the logs in the fireplace is also of great importance. There's a phenomenon known as "flame impingement" that can have an influence on soot formation in gas log fireplaces.

If your firebox is really dirty, you can’t see if you have big cracks." Chimney fires not only can damage the chimney, but they also create enough sparks to set a roof or lawn ablaze.

If it's 1/8-in. thick, schedule a fireplace cleaning soon. If you have 1/4-in. of creosote or more, do not use the fireplace again until it is cleaned—a chimney fire could occur at any time.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, heating was the second leading cause of house fires, behind cooking. If the fireplace (gas or wood) and chimney haven’t been touched in […] ...

Some years ago, I replaced my old brick fireplace with a firebox insert and metal flue. We burn wood but use gas jets to get the fire started. All was well until a few years ago when the fireplace ...

Check the flue for obstructions like birds' nests, and trim any overhanging branches or large trees near the chimney. -Always use a fireplace screen. -Never overload the fireplace with too many logs.

Don't throw trash into the fireplace, El-Hagen said, because it causes a thicker smoke, which lowers the temperature in the chimney. "The hotter the fire, the better the burn," she said.

With temperatures dropping, Kansas City-area firefighters are warning homeowners and renters about the conditions of their fireplaces.Firefighters said dirty fireplaces pose a hazard and have ...

Fortunately, the roaring, burning flue gradually cooled; the sparks and flying embers it spewed outdoors over a dry, wood lot didn’t ignite the neighborhood. A lesson was learned.

Q: What would happen if someone used house paint on the inside of a dirty fireplace? The one at our house is really ugly. My wife wants it fixed, but I can’t afford a wood stove or insert.&#8… ...