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A fireplace's lifespan varies significantly depending on its type, the quality of construction, the materials used, and how well it is maintained. On average, you can expect a fireplace to last between 10 and 30 years, with many homeowners experiencing major issues after about 20 years.

Here's a breakdown by type:

• Gas Inserts: Typically last 10 to 25 years with proper maintenance.

• Electric Fireplaces: Have a lifespan of up to 20 years.

• Traditional Brick Fireplaces: Can last for centuries, but require ongoing maintenance and repairs, such as tuckpointing.

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.

Creosote logs can help to reduce new creosote build-up by about 60%, however they don’t replace regular cleaning. While creosote logs can help to prevent build-up of creosote in your chimney, they won’t remove build-up that’s already there. Creosote logs can be used as a preventative measure in conjunction with regular cleaning, but you will still need to clean your chimney about once per year.

Most homeowners put a layer of compact sand or gravel at the bottom of their firepit, but you can also choose more decorative options like fire-resistant paving stones, bricks, or fire pit glass. Dirt by itself can even work, but other materials do a better job of spreading the heat around.