Before you light the first fire: a chimney, fireplace and carbon monoxide checklist

The first cold night of the year is when a lot of fireplaces, wood stoves and furnaces get switched on after months of sitting idle, and it shows in the numbers. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 37,365 home heating equipment fires a year from 2020 to 2024, and 46 percent of them happened between December and February. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that fireplaces and chimneys alone are involved in about 15,400 fires a year. Most of the prevention is a short checklist you can finish in early November.

Get the chimney inspected once a year

The national standard for chimneys, NFPA 211, says chimneys, fireplaces and vents should be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits and correct clearances, with cleaning and repairs done as needed. That applies even if you rarely use the fireplace: birds and animals nest in flues, and mortar and liners wear out on their own. It also applies to gas: the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) notes that a gas furnace or water heater flue can be blocked by nests or debris just like a wood-burning one.

• For a chimney you use the same way every year, ask for a Level 1 inspection plus sweeping as needed.
• If you just bought the home, changed the appliance (for example, added an insert), or had a chimney fire or storm damage, ask about a more thorough Level 2 inspection, which typically includes a video scan of the flue.
• CSIA recommends sweeping a masonry fireplace once sooty buildup reaches about 1/8 inch, and sooner if there is any glazed creosote.
• A real sweeping cleans the flue and smoke chamber, not just the firebox. Ask what is included before you book, and ask for photos.

Before you light a fire

• Open the damper fully and check it with a flashlight before you light anything.
• Burn only dry, well-seasoned wood. No wrapping paper, cardboard, pizza boxes or foam packaging.
• Use a sturdy screen or glass doors so sparks can’t reach the room.
• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet from the fireplace, wood stove, furnace or space heater (NFPA).
• Let ashes cool, then put them in a metal container with a lid, stored outside and away from the house.
• Look at the chimney top from the ground: a missing cap, loose bricks or a leaning chimney are reasons to call a pro before the first fire.

Furnaces, boilers and water heaters

CPSC recommends a professional inspection every year for every fuel-burning system in the home: furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, wood stoves, water heaters, chimneys, flues and vents. Fuel-burning equipment can produce carbon monoxide (CO) if it is installed incorrectly, poorly maintained or its venting is blocked. A fall tune-up is the moment to ask the technician to check the flue connection and venting, not just the burner and filter. After a snowstorm, clear snow away from any furnace, water heater or dryer vents that exit through a side wall.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Clocks fall back on Sunday, November 1, 2026, which makes this weekend an easy reminder to check alarms.

• CO alarms belong on every level of the home and outside each sleeping area. Smoke alarms belong on every level and inside each bedroom (CPSC).
• Choose battery-operated alarms or alarms with battery backup, so they work in a power outage. Interconnected alarms are best: when one sounds, they all sound.
• Test alarms monthly. Replace batteries at least once a year, or use sealed 10-year alarms, and replace alarms on the manufacturer’s schedule.
• If a CO alarm sounds, get everyone outside to fresh air right away, then call for help from outside. Don’t go back in to look for the source.

Space heaters and generators

• Plug electric space heaters directly into a wall outlet, never an extension cord or power strip, and turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Run portable generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away from windows and doors. Never in a garage, basement or shed, even with the door open.

Who to hire

For the chimney, look for a sweep who will describe the inspection level they are doing and show you photos of the flue. CSIA certifies chimney sweeps, so ask whether the company has a certified sweep on staff. For furnaces, boilers and water heaters, use a licensed or registered HVAC or plumbing contractor, depending on your state and city. If a sweep or technician finds a cracked liner, damaged crown or a problem with the furnace’s heat exchanger, get a second written quote with the same scope before paying for a major repair.

Put it on your calendar

Chimney inspection, the furnace tune-up and alarm tests are all on the fall list in our maintenance checklist. A free Estodia account adds them to each home’s plan, sends reminders before they’re due, and lets you request quotes from pros without sharing your phone number or email with them.

• The full home maintenance checklist
• A home maintenance calendar, season by season
• How to prevent frozen pipes
• HVAC maintenance timing by city
• How to compare contractor quotes

Related guides

• Furnace tune-up checklist: what a fall heating check should include
• Dryer vent cleaning: how often and when to hire a pro
• Roof inspection guide