We bought new construction last year. House has wood burning fireplace with gas starter. Last year burned a cord of wood. Ended season with a chimney sweep log and a few small fires as instructed on the log. What do we need to do before starting our wood burning season this year? Have the chimney/fireplace inspected? Cleaned? Cleaned only if inspection says it needs to be cleaned? Thank you.

I would like to install a gas fireplace insert into a currently wood burning chimney in a home built in the 40's. I am looking at a direct vented model that vents out through the flue, using two 3" co-linear liners and produces from 20,000 to 32,000 BTUs / hour. I will also need to install gas and electric. The fireplace has an ash door with the removal door in the basement. Could both the gas and the electric be run through that opening? I am interested in doing as much of the work as possible myself. I have some experience having plumbed and wired a remodeled kitchen, two baths and a garage with attached porch that I built. Is it realistic to consider doing the installation myself if I hire someone to check everything prior to actually tapping into the gas line to make sure it is done correctly, and to make the final hookups? Also, one unit I am considering is rated: Steady State Efficiency: 80 – 88%, while the other one has a 75 - 87% rating. How much of a difference does this rating make and what does it mean? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks much!