The winter months are a popular time to curl up in front of your fireplace. So make sure that your fireplace is in the proper condition for this winter.

Wood burning fireplaces are generally considered to be extremely inefficient heat sources, but that doesn’t deter many homeowners from wanting them in their homes. There are two basic types of wood burning fireplaces: masonry and metal insert. A masonry fireplace is made of brick or mortar, and a metal insert fireplace is a prefab unit with masonry surrounding it. The chimney is the most important part of the fireplace system and should be cleaned yearly by a qualified chimney sweep to ensure it is in good working order and free of debris.

Chimneys have to be lined to provide a smooth, unbroken passage for the smoke to rise and leave the house. This keeps the flames and gases from entering the home and causing sickness, death or fire.

As part of an inspection, a National Property Inspections professional will check the fireplace for any major cracks in the masonry, operate the damper to ensure the flue is working properly and verify that the flue has a liner. A NPI inspector will also observe the general condition of the chimney; note the materials of its construction, the height of the chimney and any unsafe conditions.

For more information or to find an inspector in your area, go to www.npiweb.com.