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" Ask the experts: Our expert panel answer questions on DIY, eco design, mortgages, cleaning, architecture, consumer issues and more Question: &amp;#039;This will be our first winter in our new home. There&amp;#039;s a beautiful original Victorian fireplace in the living room \u2013 what steps do we need to take to get it prepared?&amp;#039; DIY expert, Jo Behari, says:\u00A0You need to contact a chimney sweep to help you with your replace \u2013 and you&amp;#039;ll be pleased to hear the industry is still thriving. The National Association of Chimney Sweeps has a database of members and you can search its website to find one that covers your area. A sweep will clear out the chimney and make sure there are no blockages. They will then check that smoke is funnelling through the chimney properly so it&amp;#039;s safe to use. They will also check for cracks that may make lighting a fire unsafe, although most replaces are cast iron and hence are pretty robust. It&amp;#039;s a good idea to get advice from the sweep on how best to build a fire, what&amp;#039;s the safe way to use your fireplace and how often you should have it inspected, as well as what coals/fuels to use as most parts of the UK are in a Smoke Control Zone and only fuels on an authorised list can be burned. It&amp;#039;s imperative to have a chimney swept after prolonged use as there may be blockages that you can&amp;#039;t see that may cause soot fires or even force poisonous gases back into the room instead of up the chimney. From:\u00A0House Beautiful magazine Keep up-to-date with our inspiring ideas, latest looks, real-life homes and expert advice by signing up for our FREE newsletter\u2026  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.housebeautiful.co.uk/renovate/heating/advice/a911/preparing-fireplace-for-winter/>