Annual Fireplace Maintenance Checklist

Fireplaces are low-maintenance, not no-maintenance. Working through this checklist once a year, ideally before the first cold snap, prevents most service calls and keeps your warranty in good standing.

Gas fireplaces

• Turn off the gas and let the unit cool completely before you start.
• Remove the glass front and clean it with a fireplace glass cleaner, never a household abrasive.
• Vacuum dust and pet hair from the firebox, burner and pilot assembly with a soft brush attachment.
• Check the log placement against the manual; logs that have shifted cause sooting and poor flame patterns.
• Inspect the vent termination outside for nests, leaves and damage.
• Replace remote and receiver batteries.

Wood-burning fireplaces and stoves

• Have the chimney inspected and swept by a certified sweep every year; creosote is the leading cause of chimney fires.
• Check door gaskets by closing the door on a strip of paper; if it slides out easily, replace the gasket.
• Inspect firebricks and baffles for cracks and replace damaged pieces.
• Clean the glass with wood-stove glass cleaner or damp newspaper dipped in ash.
• Check the chimney cap and spark arrestor for rust or blockage.

Electric fireplaces

• Unplug the unit and vacuum the heater intake and outlet grilles.
• Wipe the glass with a soft cloth and glass cleaner.
• Test the heater, flame settings and remote before the season starts.

Every fireplace

Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, keep combustibles well clear of the hearth and store the owner’s manual somewhere you can find it. If you notice soot on the glass, a smell of gas, or flames that lift off the burner, stop using the unit and contact a qualified technician.