Gas fireplaces:

Have your fireplace inspected before its initial use and continue to have it serviced on a regular basis.

Carefully read the manufacturer's instructions before operating the fireplace for the first time.

Keep children and combustibles away from hot surfaces during operation.

Keep fans and air-circulating passageways clean and clear.

Install a carbon-monoxide detector near your fireplace.

Be alert for unusual odors or flames, which can be indications that your fireplace isn't working properly.

Wood fireplaces:

Never leave a fire unattended.

Have the chimney inspected annually and cleaned as necessary by a professional chimney sweep.

Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.

Always use the fire screen when in use.

Clean out ashes from the previous fire.

Never burn garbage, newspapers, charcoal or plastic.

Make sure the fire is completely out before going to bed or leaving the house.

n A fireplace with a window on the other side, to take in the great view from your home.

n A fireplace small enough to fit in a bookcase, an entryway, a dining room, a bedroom or master bath.

n A fireplace fronted entirely by glass, with no ugly black vents on the periphery -- the look of a wood hearth with the cleanliness of gas or electricity.

n A fireplace so efficient, it's rated like a furnace and connected to thermostats.

n A fireplace that can heat an outdoor area to extend your use of the patio or deck.

How can you tell if a fireplace or woodstove in a house you'd like to buy is safe to use? "You really can't," says Carrie Swan, co-owner of Black Swan, a fireplace and stove shop in Newtown, Conn. "A dank creosote smell or water damage on the ceiling near the chimney may let you know something is wrong," she points out, "but nothing short of inspection by a professional chimney sweep will let you know if a fireplace or woodstove is safe to light." Swan advises buyers to hire a chimney sweep as an independent part of the home inspection process: Doing so may save big bucks in costly repairs. To locate a sweep near you, check out the National Chimney Sweep Guild's Web site at ncsg.org.

n Firebox: The firebox encapsulates all the components that make up the fireplace; it's the frame and everything inside. For gas fireplaces, code allows the firebox to be either raised from, or flush with, the floor.

n Grills: Decorative grills are the esthetic treatments on the firebox. Often on gas fireplaces, these grills are the brass vents above and below the glass. They can be changed easily, and a variety of options are available.

n Hearth: Raised hearths are typically reminiscent of wood fireplaces, where a raised hearth was required to meet code. Though not required for today's gas fireplaces, a raised hearth remains a stylistic choice that can be selected when designing a fireplace.

n Insert: A gas insert is a complete unit that can fit into an existing wood-burning fireplace. It is important to have your wood fireplace thoroughly inspected and your insert installed by a certified fireplace consultant.

n Keystone: A decorative focal point centred above the firebox.

n Log sets: Gas fireplaces come with a variety of log pattern options. Patterns vary based on the type of wood emulated, and the number of logs that make up the set.

n Refractory liner: A brick outline refracting liner can be used inside a gas firebox to give the illusion of brick surrounding the flame.