Installing a lock-top chimney damper is a common project among do-it-yourself homeowners. As fireplaces and chimneys age they tend to deteriorate from use, foundation shifting, and weather. This ...

Q. I've got a chimney question that is somewhat similar, although not exactly, to one you answered in your column a few months ago. This has to do with smoke coming down the chimney. I have two ...

Q: For several years, we have not been able to enjoy a cheery fire on a cold day. About eight years ago, we enclosed our back porch and made it into a TV room. What used to be the outside of the ...

Learn More › A fireplace should create warmth and ambiance, not fill your living room with smoke. When smoke enters the home instead of venting up the chimney, it’s usually a sign of a problem with ...

When the mercury drops, sitting in front of a roaring fire is a relaxing and comforting way to spend an evening. If you have a wood burning fireplace in your home, you likely enjoy the experience as ...

Q. We live in a historic home (over a hundred years old), but the chimney is estimated to have been built in the 1920's. It is on an exterior (north) wall and is about 40 feet tall. When we bought the ...

Before the temperature starts to fall, there are several things you can do to make sure your wood-burning fireplace is safe ...

Q: We own an older house in Los Gatos. It was built in 1930s. The fireplace was built without a damper. There is also a glass-door fire screen that can be closed. We get an odor of ashes even when the ...