Chimney Champions: Best Wood to Burn in Fireplace Indoors in Jacksonville

August 18, 2025 | *Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Chimney Champions is a Jacksonville, FL chimney service company staffed by CSIA certified technicians and a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild. Chimney Champions holds IAC2 certification, operates in compliance with NFPA 211, and provides fireplace and chimney services for homeowners in the Jacksonville area. The wood you choose for your indoor fireplace directly affects heat output, smoke production, creosote buildup, and chimney safety. Below, Chimney Champions covers the best and worst types of firewood for indoor use in Jacksonville, along with the reasons each choice matters. What are the best types of firewood to burn in a fireplace indoors? Seasoned, dry hardwood is the best wood to burn in a fireplace indoors. Hardwoods burn longer, produce more heat, and generate less smoke than softwoods or wet wood. Is oak a good wood to burn in an indoor fireplace? Oak is one of the most reliable hardwoods for indoor … Continued

4 Factors to Consider When Hiring a Chimney Professional

April 22, 2020 | Chimney Inspections

Your chimney is an essential part of your roof and the structure of your home. Different components of the chimney work together to keep smoke out of your home and prevent rain and wild animals from getting in. At Chimney Champions, we understand how important regular maintenance and repairs are for your chimney. While choosing a chimney professional to inspect your home may seem rather straightforward, several key factors need to be taken into consideration.

Ropes Training – Raising the Standard of Safety

July 7, 2019 | A Day in the Life

Long time, no updates! We have made it a top priority this year to attend as many hands on training classes as possible to stay at the top of the industry. One of the most important classes we have attended so far this Summer is ropes training and safety. Jim Brewer is a legend in the chimney sweep industry and our team recently made the visit to train with him at the Fire Service & Codes Enforcement Academy in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. The two day class went over basic safety precautions, proper ways to protect a clients roof while using ropes, knots, and most importantly hands on training at the Academy. The reality of our industry is that most sweeps are inspecting a home or performing a repair alone. Using the old style OSHA safety harness, if you fall off a roof alone you have no way to self rescue … Continued

Chimney Swifts

January 21, 2019 | Training and tips

Chimney Swifts – Understanding The Basics If you are looking for a chimney sweep in Jacksonville to help you with chimney swifts or you would just like more information about these curious little birds, you are in the right place. Let us start with the basics. What Are Chimney Swifts? Chimney swifts (Chaetura pelagica) are a medium-sized type of swift, which feed primarily on flying insects, and on spiders. Uniquely, they build their nests almost exclusively on human-built structures – particularly chimneys – hence the name. They are found throughout the entire Eastern United States and are rarely seen west of the Rocky Mountains. Why Do Chimney Swifts Nest In Chimneys? Before European colonists arrived in North America, chimney swifts rarely nested in human-built structures. The birds preferred to nest in hollowed-out trees. When possible, chimney swifts will still build their nests in trees but land development has limited the … Continued

Dampers for masonry fireplaces

January 21, 2019 | Training and tips

Older masonry fireplaces may or may not have been installed with a damper to prevent conditioned air from leaving the home. If your fireplace is one that does not have a damper, several options exist. Below are a few of the options starting with the least expensive. Flue balloon Flue balloons are sold online and come in a variety of sizes to fit the opening (smoke chamber) just above your fireplace. They are a simple design, you inflate them in place inside of the fireplace and deflate and remove the flue balloon when you would like to use the system. This is the least expensive option and it works rather well considering the cost. Be sure to remove the flue balloon before use, it will make a horrible smelly mess if caught on fire. Top mounted damper I will be the first to admit that this is not my favorite … Continued

The top-down burn

January 21, 2019 | Training and tips

My favorite way to start a fire indoors and out is a method called the top-down burn. The interesting thing about this method of starting a fire is that it is the exact opposite of what most people do! To start, put the very largest pieces of wood front to back on the very bottom. The next layer up, use slightly smaller pieces of wood but stack them side to side on top of the largest bottom wood. Continue this process until the firewood has reached fifty percent of the height of the fireplace, and make sure each layer is progressively smaller and switching one layer front to back, one layer side to side. Once you are at the top, this is where you will only have very small wood pieces (as small as shavings) that can be very easily started with little or no effort. The fire will start … Continued

Chimney Champions Explains Fireplace Ash Removal in Jacksonville

January 21, 2019 | Training and tips

Chimney Champions is a Jacksonville, FL chimney service company staffed by CSIA certified technicians and a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild. The company serves homeowners who use wood-burning fireplaces and need guidance on fireplace ash management and seasonal maintenance. How Often Should You Remove Ash From Your Fireplace? Removing fireplace ash after every fire is not recommended during the active burning season. A one-inch layer of ash on the firebox floor actually helps the fire perform better. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), that ash layer works with hot coals to generate more heat and supports a cleaner burn. How Much Ash Is Too Much? Ash that builds beyond roughly one inch can create problems in the firebox. Excess ash can trap hot coals between the fireplace grate and the ash bed, which causes the grate to deteriorate faster than it should. What Should You … Continued

Chimney Champions Explains Chimney Sweep Jacksonville Carbon Monoxide Safety

January 13, 2019 | A Day in the Life

Chimney Champions is a Jacksonville, FL chimney service company with CSIA certified technicians and National Chimney Sweep Guild membership, serving homeowners who use fireplaces, gas appliances, and fuel-burning heating systems. What Is Carbon Monoxide and Why Does It Concern Chimney Owners? Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that is toxic to humans and animals. CO is a natural byproduct of combustion. Fireplaces, gas dryers, and furnaces use venting systems to move CO and other combustion gases out of the living space. When those venting systems are blocked or damaged, CO can accumulate indoors. What Are the Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning? Carbon monoxide poisoning produces symptoms that resemble the flu, which can delay recognition of the danger. Common symptoms include: Dizziness Weakness Headache Upset stomach Vomiting Confusion Chest pain People who are asleep or impaired are at elevated risk because they may not notice symptoms before … Continued

Don’t forget about kickout flashing

January 12, 2019 | A Day in the Life

One common issue I see is where flashing is replaced on a chimney with replacing the kickout flashing. In Florida we have to constantly battle water and considering the amount of water that runs off of a roofline, kickout flashing can divert thousands of gallons of water over time. Here a something that you might find very interesting. During a rain storm that dumps one inch of rain if your have 1,000 square foot of roof, over 600 gallons of water will run off! Jacksonville Florida receives over 50 inches of rain per year so that is over 30,000 gallons of water coming off of your roof per year! Let’s have a look at the long-term impact of forgetting this key element: The first two photos show a chimney chase that had developed large hole following the pathway of travel starting where the kickout flashing is missing. Here is another … Continued

A quick tip for potential homeowners

January 12, 2019 | Training and tips

Sometimes I come across a situation where the sellers have either painted the attic (white most of the time) or try to keep me from inspecting the attic area. The is a instant red flag and once I gain access, typical I find a lot of damage. Just a few instances of severe attic damage from a previous fire and one attempt at hiding the damage by painting the attic. Always make sure the attic is inspected when buying a home, it could potentially cost you thousands of dollars!