How Often Should You Clean Your Fireplace? A Homeowner’s Guide

Aside from helping your wood burner perform better, fireplace cleaning also reduces the risk of chimney fires and protects your home from smoke damage and air quality issues. Wondering how often you need to clean? As a general rule, you should schedule an inspection and cleaning at both the start and end of the burning season, but you may need to clean it more than twice a year if you use your fireplace often.

 

Autumn is the best time to get ahead of the buildup before daily use kicks in. Schedule your seasonal cleaning with The Fireplace Technician now so your wood-burning can run safely and efficiently all winter.

 

What’s included in a fireplace cleaning service?

When our team visits your home for a fireplace cleaning, we:

·     Inspect the chimney and flue to ensure proper airflow and remove any blockages

·     Clean out the firebox and grate to prevent ash buildup

·     Check the door seal and gasket for signs of wear or air leaks

·     Test the damper to make sure it’s regulating airflow correctly

 

We also check your firewood.

Part of keeping your fireplace safe and efficient is using the right wood. Our team can test your firewood with a Protimeter to measure the moisture content. Wet or unseasoned wood burns poorly and creates creosote — a flammable, tar-like substance that builds up in the chimney. Creosote can ignite without warning, so it’s important to catch the problem early.

Book a chimney sweep while you’re at it.

Fireplace cleaning is also a great opportunity to book our chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote buildup, helping your fireplace run efficiently while improving airflow and reducing smoke issues.

At The Fireplace Technician, we’ve serviced chimneys across South Auckland for over three decades. With more than 50 years of combined industry experience, we’re proud to offer trusted, high-quality service. We also handle flue cleaning and general repairs to keep your fireplace in top condition.

Time for a clean? We’re here to help.

Let the professionals at The Fireplace Technician take care of your fireplace and chimney. Call 0800 024 324 for a free quote on fireplace cleaning. We’ll make sure everything runs safely and smoothly so you can enjoy a warm, worry-free winter season.