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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.

It’s possible to clean your chimney by accessing it from the opening above your fireplace, but be aware that this method is messier because you will be pulling loose buildup of soot, ash, and creosote into your fireplace instead of up, out, and onto the roof. While the bottom-up method can cause more of a mess, it’s a good option if you’re not comfortable getting on the roof.

The cost to install a pre-fabricated gas fireplace ranges from $2,000 to $7,500. The final price is influenced by several factors, including the specific model and size of the unit, the complexity of the venting, labor rates, and whether any structural modifications are required.

A chimney liner is held in place by a top plate and attached top clamp, both of which should be included in most chimney liner kits. The top plate seals to the top of the chimney flue and attaches directly to the liner. This not only holds the liner in place but supports its weight in the chimney.