14. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, have the chimney cleaned and inspected regularly, and burn only fullydried hardwoods to produce the most heat output.

15. Check the seal on the damper by closing it off and holding a piece of tissue paper inside the firebox. If drafts blow the tissue around, repair or replace the damper.

16. When using the fireplace, turn down the furnace to 55 degrees. If you don't, all the warm air from the furnace will go right up the chimney, wasting energy and money.

17. Add fire-proof caulking where the chimney meets the wall,
inside and outside.

18. When the fireplace is not in use, make sure fireplace dampers are sealed tight, and keep the glass doors closed. If you never use your fireplace, plug the chimney with fiberglass insulation and seal the doors with silicone caulk.