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How to Maintain a Chimney
Chimney maintenance comes down to eight habits. Have it inspected once a year, sweep it when soot reaches 1/8 inch, burn dry wood, give the fire enough air, handle ashes safely, check the outside in spring and fall, keep water out, and test your alarms. Homeowners can do six of the eight themselves.
Call (913) 210-6606Last updated October 3, 2026
What does chimney maintenance involve?
It involves one professional visit a year and a handful of habits in between. The visit covers the parts you cannot see: the inside of the flue, the smoke chamber and the top of the chimney. The habits control how fast soot and creosote build up and how long the masonry lasts.
- Book one inspection a year. NFPA 211, the national standard for chimneys, says chimneys, fireplaces and vents should be inspected at least once a year. Late summer or early fall is the easiest time to get an appointment, and it leaves room for repairs before the first fire.
- Have the flue swept when soot reaches 1/8 inch. The Chimney Safety Institute of America advises sweeping when sooty buildup reaches 1/8 inch, and sooner if any of it is shiny, glazed creosote. A fireplace used a few times a winter may pass inspection without a sweep. One used daily usually will not.
- Burn only dry, seasoned firewood. The EPA says wood burns best below 20 percent moisture and should be split, stacked and covered on top for at least six months. Wet wood makes cooler smoke, and cooler smoke leaves more creosote on the flue walls.
- Open the damper fully and give the fire air. A smoldering fire starved of air makes the most creosote. Open the damper all the way before lighting, build smaller hot fires rather than one large slow one, and never burn trash, cardboard or treated wood.
- Clear the ashes the safe way. Leave about an inch of ash during the season, since it helps the next fire start. Shovel the rest into a metal container with a lid, and keep that container outside and away from the house. Ashes can hold live embers for days.
- Look at the outside twice a year. From the ground, with binoculars if needed, check that the cap is in place, the crown is not cracked, the mortar joints are full and the flashing lies flat against the roof. White staining on the brick means water is moving through it.
- Keep water out. Water does more damage to masonry chimneys than fire does. A cap with a mesh screen, a sound crown and tight flashing are the three defenses. Kansas freeze and thaw cycles turn a small crack into a loose brick within a few winters.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Test alarms monthly and keep a carbon monoxide alarm on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. A blocked or damaged flue is one of the ways carbon monoxide gets into a house.
What can a homeowner do, and what needs a sweep?
Homeowners can handle the fuel, the fire, the ashes and the visual checks. The inspection, the sweeping and any work on the roof belong to a trained sweep.
| Task | Who does it | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection of flue, smoke chamber and cap | Chimney sweep | Once a year |
| Sweeping | Chimney sweep | When soot reaches 1/8 inch |
| Seasoning and storing firewood | Homeowner | Six months or more before burning |
| Ash removal | Homeowner | As needed in season, fully in spring |
| Ground-level look at cap, crown, mortar and flashing | Homeowner | Spring and fall |
| Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm test | Homeowner | Monthly |
| Crown, flashing, liner and masonry repair | Chimney sweep or mason | When the inspection finds a problem |
What does the maintenance year look like?
The work follows the burning season. Here is a simple calendar for the Kansas City area.
| Season | What to do |
|---|---|
| Spring | Clean out the firebox, close the damper, and look for winter damage to the crown and mortar. Split and stack next year’s wood. |
| Summer | Schedule masonry and crown repairs. Mortar and sealants cure best in warm, dry weather. |
| Early fall | Have the chimney inspected and swept if needed. Check the cap and test the damper. |
| Winter | Burn dry wood with the damper open, watch for smoke coming back into the room, and manage ashes. |
What are the warning signs between visits?
Stop using the fireplace and call a sweep if you notice any of these. Each one points to a problem that gets worse with more fires.
- Smoke coming into the room with the damper open
- A strong tar or campfire smell from the fireplace in humid weather
- Black, shiny or flaky deposits visible above the damper
- Pieces of clay tile or mortar in the firebox
- Water stains on the ceiling or wall near the chimney
- White staining or flaking brick faces outside
- A loud cracking or rumbling sound during a fire, which the CSIA lists as a sign of a chimney fire. In that case leave the house and call 911.
Does a gas fireplace need maintenance?
Yes. A gas fireplace makes little soot, but it still has a vent, a burner, a pilot assembly and safety sensors, and NFPA 211 applies its yearly inspection to vents as well as chimneys. See our gas fireplace service page for what that visit covers.
Due for this year’s inspection? Sweeping starts at $119.
Call (913) 210-6606Chimney maintenance FAQ
Can I maintain my chimney myself?
You can do most of the routine care yourself: burning dry wood, removing ashes, checking the outside from the ground and testing alarms. The yearly inspection and the sweeping need a trained sweep, because the flue interior, smoke chamber and chimney top cannot be judged from the living room.
How do I know if my firewood is dry enough?
Dry firewood reads below 20 percent on a wood moisture meter, which is the figure the EPA recommends. Without a meter, look for cracks in the end grain, a lighter weight and a hollow sound when two pieces are knocked together.
What is the best month to schedule chimney maintenance in Kansas?
Late summer through early fall is the best window. Sweeps are less busy than in November, and any repair the inspection finds can be finished before the first cold night.
Should the damper be open or closed when the fireplace is not in use?
Closed. A closed damper keeps heated or cooled air from leaving through the flue. Open it fully before lighting a fire and leave it open until the ashes are cold.
How much ash should I leave in the fireplace?
About an inch during the burning season. A thin ash bed insulates the coals and helps the next fire start. Remove all of it at the end of the season, because ash draws moisture and can corrode the grate and firebox floor.
Sources: Chimney Safety Institute of America, Preventing Chimney Fires (annual inspection, creosote, signs of a chimney fire); U.S. EPA Burn Wise, Best Wood-Burning Practices (firewood moisture below 20 percent, seasoning time); National Fire Protection Association, Safety with heating equipment (yearly cleaning and inspection of heating equipment and chimneys). NFPA 211 is the Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances.
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Call (913) 210-6606