With Thanksgiving come and gone, so do the last vestiges of fall.
From then on, we pull our hats down and brave the blustery cold until spring comes round again.
Many of us use a fireplace to keep warm much of the time during those short days of primarily indoor living.
Even as a supplemental source of heat, a fireplace also provides that appealing crackle of burning wood, the hypnotic dance of flames, and a warm surround for family and friends.
But as winter approaches, it becomes ever more important to prepare your fireplace for another burning season.
Most fireplaces sit all summer while residue from last winter continually hardens.
Such tarry deposits, known as creosote, are highly flammable and inhibit air flow, resulting in a poorly working fireplace and contaminated indoor air.
A fireplace has two main sections: the firebox, where the fire actually burns, and the flue or chimney, which allows smoke and gasses to escape and creates an updraft that feeds the fire.
The firebox is easy enough to clean on your own.
When all ashes possible are swept or shoveled out of the pit, you can use a shop-vacuum to handle what loose ashes are left.
To clean the firebox, use a stiff brush and gently scrub off any residue or buildup.
There will typically be very little of this because the fire burns too hot to allow much deposition.
Note that brick tends to crumble easily and metal linings can be bent.
Be careful not to damage the interior too much as fire could get into the walls.
Never use abrasive cleaners anywhere in the fireplace because they leave a flammable residue behind.
The chimney is the hard part.
It is usually recommended that a professional handle this part, especially if the fireplace has not been cleaned for some time.
However, for the determined homeowner, this will require cordoning off the fireplace hearth.
That is, seal it with plastic and duct tape to prevent dust and debris from coating the interior.
Then, from up on the roof, use a chimney brush to scrape any creosote or other debris of the inside of the flue.
This will likely require extensions to reach all the way down.
Again, a professional contractor is recommended.
This can be a difficult and dirty job, and one that must be done correctly and completely.
Aside from a good cleaning and inspection, your fireplace should be ready to go.
A fireplace should be inspected for creosote buildup at least once a year.
Either now, prior to the heaviest cold of winter, or in the spring, at the end of the burning season, is the best time.