What sits quietly on top of a chimney yet carries a big job in keeping a home safe, dry, and comfortable? A small metal guard called a chimney cap works harder than it looks. When that little ...

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 ...

Our house has an unusual chimney made with irregular stones. The existing cap is in poor shape and I’m worried about damage. Each contractor I talk with has a different solution and none of them are ...

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, ...

A cozy fire may be the last thing on your mind on a sweltering hot day, but any season of the year is a good time to care for ...