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You should clean the ashes from your wood stove at least once a week during the heating season to maintain efficiency and safety. Additionally, it's crucial to have a professional clean the chimney and flue annually to remove creosote buildup, which can pose a fire hazard and affect the stove's performance. Regular cleaning ensures optimal operation and reduces the risk of harmful emissions.

Yes, removing a chimney is a difficult and major undertaking. Chimneys often provide structural support to a home, so if it's a load-bearing structure, you'll need to take extra precautions to maintain your home's integrity. A project of this complexity typically requires a structural engineer, a masonry contractor, and a demolition crew. The removal process may involve taking the chimney out brick by brick from inside the walls. The cost for chimney removal can range from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the job's complexity. Due to the difficulty and cost, some homeowners opt to remove the fireplace and seal the chimney at the top and bottom, sometimes also removing the visible exterior portion at the roofline.

Both wood stoves and fireplaces are effective at heating, but wood stoves are more efficient, meaning more of the fuel is converted to heat rather than lost. Wood stoves, depending on the capacity, can also heat larger spaces, while fireplaces are better for heating smaller areas, like an individual room.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says that chimneys and their associated elements like fireplaces, vents, or stoves should be cleaned at least once a year before the start of seasonal use. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, a chimney should be cleaned when there is 1/8 inch of soot buildup. If there’s more than that, creosote—a flammable byproduct of burning wood—can form and increase the risk of a chimney fire.