By Orson Dixon
Fireplaces spread a warm glow and provide the perfect setting to curl up with a steaming cup of tea and a good book to read on a chilly evening. However, negligence and poor maintenance would not only up the costs for servicing but also increase the risks of a hazard. It’s absolutely necessary to practice good maintenance procedures to keep your fireplace in the best working condition and keep danger at bay.
Let’s have a look at some easy tips and precautionary measures we could take:
1.Before you light a fire you should place the kindling, draw the screens or curtains in the room apart, and open glass doors. Once you open the damper and window you can start the fire. By lighting a match and swiftly blowing it out you can check whether the smoke is going up the chimney or not.
2. Protect your carpeting by placing a non-flammable rug before the hearth. You can buy one of these at a fireplace supplies store.
3. Water damage can be avoided by using a chimney cap. It also helps to prevent small animals from nesting or debris clogging the shaft. If not taken care of, this could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. A spark arrester also needs to be used to stop sparks from flying out.
4. The firebox should be cleaned at least once every week during the months of active fireplace usage. However, to keep the insulation, let an inch of ash remain at the bottom of the firebox. Heat will be retained and coals will warm up faster. During the months when you don’t use your fireplace keep the firebox absolutely clean.
5. If you have kids in the house make sure that the fire is never left unattended. Don’t allow children to play too close to the fire if you are around.
6. Most importantly, get a professional to inspect and service your fireplace regularly. You can avoid plenty of huge problems by tackling them when they are small issues. For this, a professional inspection should do the trick. Chimney cleaning and repair is essential as professionals use special brushes, rods, vacuum, and hand brushes to thoroughly remove flaky creosote deposits from the smoke chamber, flue, and firebox. Professional inspectors will tell you what you need to do in order to have a safe fireplace in the best working condition. 
