Before settling in on the couch with a mug of cocoa and watching a fire crackling on the hearth, there are a few things to check so you can have peace of mind as you snuggle.

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Dean Bennett, president of Dean Bennett Design and Construction, Inc. in Castle Rock, Colo., told weather.com that both the chimney and fireplace need to be clean.

Inside the Chimney

If you burn wood in your fireplace during the winter, Bennett advises having a chimney sweep out and clean your chimney. He recommends getting in the habit of doing this regularly and, naturally, the best time to do this is after the winter season or in the fall before you start using it again.

And while they’re working on the chimney, Bennett added, “they can also inspect the cover at the top of the chimney to make sure that hasn’t been damaged.”

Outside the Chimney

"If you have a roof you can get up on safely, check that no birds or anything have tried to nest in the top of the flue because that’ll really block it," Bennett said. In addition to nesting birds, Bennett also recommends looking for any debris.

Fireplace

Wood-burning fireplaces should also be closely inspected for creosote, a sticky, tar-like residue that can build up on the side of your fireplace. If not cleaned regularly, creosote can lead to chimney fires.