When you have a fireplace or wood burning stove in your home for the first time, you want to be sure you understand how to use it properly and how to maintain it. While it is true that fireplaces and wood burning stoves are very easy to care for, there is still some things to keep in mind with regards to caring for them. Here are some of the things you want to know about fireplaces and wood burning stoves:

Watch what you burn

You want to make sure you only burn seasoned wood and never use your fireplace or wood burning stove as a place to burn some of your trash or anything else. Things burnt that aren't wood can put off toxins into the air that will be bad for everyone in your home to breath in. Also, the residue from these things can stay in the fireplace.

Leave a little bit of ash in the bottom

It may seem like a good idea to sweep all of the ash out of your fireplace or wood burning stove when you clean them out. However, leaving just a little bit of ash to line the bottom will help a fire to get started faster the next time you go to start one.

Don't put furniture close

When you are moving your furniture in a house with a fireplace or wood burning stove, you want to make sure you keep all of your furniture far enough away that the heat won't get to them. This can cause damage and will increase the chance of the furniture catching on fire. Remember that sparks can make their way out if you don't have a glass door and they can come out even when you open the glass door.

Have hard flooring in front of the unit

If your home is carpeted, you should be sure you have hard flooring such as brick or tile installed a few feet out from the fireplace or wood burning stove. This way those little ashes won't be as much of a risk to your flooring. You can purchase slabs that look like hard wood flooring, but that lie on top of the carpet.

Have the chimney cleaned

You want to have the chimney inspected at the start of the winter season. It should be done before you even use the fireplace for the first time.

Have the chimney relined

If your chimney isn't currently lined, it should be lined with a stainless-steel liner which will make it safer. If there is any damage to the liner that is caught during the inspection, then it is important for you to have it properly relined.

Contact a service, like Walsh Chimney Contractors, LLC, for more help.