1. Book your professional clean early
Late summer through early autumn is the quietest time for sweeps and the easiest time to get the date you want. Once winter approaches the calendar fills quickly — booking ahead means your heater is ready when the temperature drops.
2. Sort and season your firewood
Firewood needs at least 12 months of drying to burn cleanly in Tasmania. Stack it off the ground, under cover, with airflow on all sides. Wet wood is the number one cause of smoky, lazy fires and accelerated creosote build-up.
3. Inspect the obvious bits
- Check the door rope/seal — replace if compressed or frayed.
- Look up the flue (with a torch) for nests or debris.
- Sweep ash from the firebox; leave a thin bed of ash for insulation.
- Check the cowl from outside — it should be intact and clear.
4. Run a small “break-in” fire
Once your professional clean is done, light a small fire on a mild day to check the draught and bed everything in. Open a nearby window briefly to help the flue establish a strong upward flow on a cold start.
5. Test smoke alarms
While you're thinking about it: press the test button on every smoke alarm and replace batteries that haven't been changed in 12 months. It's the easiest five-minute job in the home.
Leave the safety items to a professional
Internal flue inspections, cracked baffles, perished seals, and creosote-stage assessment all need the right tools and experience. A short visit covers it all in one go — and gives you a clear written summary.
A note on safety: chimney and flue issues can become serious quickly. When in doubt, leave the heater unlit and call a qualified sweep — a short visit beats guessing.