Indoor air quality generally tends to worsen in winter because we close windows and doors to keep heat in, which limits ventilation. When you add a fireplace to this mix, smoke and contaminants can build up indoors, especially if the fireplace isn’t properly maintained.
Lung health experts warn that using an improperly maintained fireplace can lead to lung irritation and trouble breathing, particularly among young children, older adults, and people with pre-existing conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).