Q: My house was built in 1954. So was my neighbor’s. My neighbor has always kept his fireplace damper closed to conserve heat; I have left mine open, first because it was stuck, then because I had ...

Q: After my roof was redone, the roofer suggested covering the chimney flues with a chimney cap. How can I tell how many flues I have, and how can they be covered with a cap? A: It's a matter of ...

There are best practices when it comes to chimney caps or crowns. Unfortunately, most roofers, masons and chimney sweeps are either unaware of them or don’t use them. I estimate that fewer than 1 in ...

Chimney caps are the workhorse of the rooftop: They help exhaust smoke and prevent downdrafts; they keep water at bay; they protect the chimney's brickwork and they ward off critters like birds, ...