Most fireplaces and wood‑burning stoves should have the chimney inspected and usually cleaned at least once a year, typically before or after the main heating season. Many households that burn wood heavily need sweeping more often, such as twice a year or roughly every few cords of wood burned, to keep creosote from building to dangerous levels.

General frequency

For a typical home fireplace or wood stove used each winter, an annual professional inspection and cleaning is the standard recommendation to reduce chimney fire risk and keep the system drawing properly. Safety organizations also advise cleaning whenever creosote or soot deposits reach about 1/8 inch thick inside the flue, even if that happens before the one‑year mark.

When to clean more often

Heavier use and “dirtier” fuels increase the needed cleaning frequency. Burning a lot of unseasoned (wet) wood, softwood, or coal, or using the chimney as a primary heat source, can justify sweeping twice a year or after every few cords of fuel burned. If you notice strong soot odor, visible glaze in the flue, reduced draft, or smoke spilling into the room, those are signs to schedule cleaning regardless of the calendar.