Get matched with top fireplace pros in New Sharon, IA

Wood is classified as either hardwood or softwood. For firewood, hardwoods are generally the best choice as they tend to burn longer, hotter, and produce less smoke than softwoods. Recommended hardwoods include oak, hickory, maple, cherry, ash, beech, birch, elm, and walnut. Oak is a particularly good option as it's widely available, slow-burning, and doesn't produce much smoke or sparks. Some woods, like oak, hickory, and cherry, also emit a pleasant scent. It is best to avoid softwoods such as eucalyptus, poplar, and willow, as they create a lot of smoke and have a high moisture content that makes them difficult to light and burn efficiently.

You can close up a chimney instead of demolishing it. Homeowners often go this route because the cost of removing a chimney, especially a structurally important chimney, can be expensive.

Properly closing up a chimney involves closing and sealing the damper, installing a chimney cap damper, and sealing the fireplace opening with a door or bricks. The cost to seal and cap a chimney is around $500 to $650—significantly less than the average chimney removal cost.

The answer can vary widely based on a home's age and design. As with any type of remodeling project, assume that every structure is load-bearing until confirming otherwise with a structural engineer. Almost all modern homes have chimneys that are fully independent from the rest of the home's framing. As a result, they don't bear any load beyond their own weight. However, many historic homes built prior to the 1900s contain load-bearing chimneys that tie into the surrounding roof and floor joists. If possible, use a home's blueprints or look for chimney connections that indicate load-bearing qualities to get your answer.

Yes, you can have a gas line professionally installed to convert your traditional fireplace to natural gas; just know it’ll be an extra cost to budget for. The cost to run a gas line where you don’t already have one is about $540, though most homeowners pay between $260 and $820. Your total could be significantly higher if you don’t already have a main gas line running to your home.