I am in a very heated debate over chimney,and how often to clean it.My husband said that we don't need to?

because he burns dry wood. I think that's crap.It doesn't need to be cleaned even though it never has been before. He built the house 17 years ago. The smoke isn't getting up the flue and more and more smoke is coming into the house. I am not well schooled in the matters of chimneys,but yet feel I'm correct in fearing a fire in it. The dry wood he puts in to burn might not clog the chimney up. But I know kerosene and newspaper will. And that's how he starts the fire.. He puts up to 3 ravioli cans filled and several pages of the newspaper on the wood getting it going.. He thinks I am completely wrong, and being right or wrong isn't the issue,safety is. But I need facts. I don't want to fight over this anymore tonight. with him.I am going to look the subject up myself,but if I can get a a person who is intelligent in this type matter,it will save me some time. Thanks. One ore thing. I have been feeling very sick this past week. It isn't a cold or the flu. It's strange, it isn't that I can't breathe, it's more I can't get a satisfying breath.