First Fireplace Use of Season

[The_Grinder]

I am about to make the first fire of the season, and use my fireplace for the first time as a homeowner. Its a gas fireplace, but I plan to keep the gas off as I know how to build a fire and keep it going.

However, over the past few months I have heard some scurrying up inside the firstplace. I think there may be some birds, but I'm not 100% sure. What's the best way to make sure nothing is up there before I start the first fire? Granted I'm sure anything up there would fly out from the smoke, but on the other hand I don't want 10 dead baby birds falling into my fire either. Any suggestions or at least ways to tell if anything is even up there?

[Timma]

Have a chimney guy come over and take a look.

[Chadd77]

Lots of wood + lots of gas + 1 match = no more birds

[dago]

Be careful that your chimney is cleaned out properly bro, burn your house down quickly. This happened to my family when I was a kid. Have it checked every year before using

[Konitz]

Buy a chimney sweep kit; get up on the roof, and sweep it.

[decadecadeca]

I don't think you're supposed to burn wood in a regular gas fireplace, it's not vented properly for it.

Might want to check first.

[Konitz]

Yeah that seemed strange to me. usually the gas fireplace has ceramic logs in it, and you just burn the gas.

[Mr I]

is your flu really set up to take log/coal fire? if not you might get a smoke filled house. You said it was a gas gas fire place.

Personally I love the smell of logs on a fire

[Bouncer]

no need for a fire place in jersey yet, its been fucken almost 80 degrees and humid in jersey the last 2 days.

[dna9488]

no need for a fire place in jersey yet, its been fucken almost 80 degrees and humid in jersey the last 2 days.

In the mid 70's down here. Love every second of it.

[Scrumhalf]

52 for a high today and been raining nonstop for the last 4 or 5 days.

[hitmansb]

Spend a few bucks and have a chimney guy come over to sweep it and make sure it's safe.