A wood fireplace maintained ‘when we think of it’ costs more than one maintained on a calendar, because the failure chains all run on time. Here’s the year, season by season, tuned to how Texas weather actually schedules things:
Spring (March-May): clear the season’s deposits
Burning season just ended and the flue holds its harvest. The spring sweep removes creosote before summer humidity activates its smell and its mild acidity spends months on your liner. Also spring: damper closed and sealed (AC season approaches), and a post-hail-season glance at cap and crown, from the ground suffices.
Summer (June-August): fix in curing weather
Whatever winter and spring storms revealed, crown cracks, joint erosion, flashing fatigue, summer is masonry season: warm, dry, ideal curing, and every crew’s calendar is open. Waterproofing after repairs belongs here too. The fireplace itself rests; leave the damper shut and the doors sealed against conditioned-air loss.
Early fall (September-October): inspect and stage
Winter (November-February): burn like a pro
In-season maintenance is burn discipline: dry wood only, hot bright fires over smolders, the four habits, plus the rhythm chores: ash kept below the grate (an inch of ash bed actually helps combustion), and embers disposed in metal, outside, never bagged, the January garage-fire classic. Mid-season, glance up past the damper with a flashlight monthly; heavy burners sometimes need a mid-winter sweep.