Dear Ken: I recently hired a local company to repair the chimney. The cap was falling apart, and the top layer of bricks was loose. The estimate was to relay the bricks.

With either a gas or wood burning fireplace, you must ensure that the flue gases draft properly. If they do not, it could be hazardous and cause harmful flue gases to infiltrate your home.

If you’re cleaning the chimney from the bottom up, the process is basically the same. Although, it’s trickier from the bottom, because you have to bend the rods to get them into the fireplace ...

If you have a chimney, maintenance is important. Learn how to clean a chimney so you can keep yours in tip-top shape.

Key Takeaways Gas fireplace inserts have an average cost of $2,000, with a range from $1,000 to $6,000 or more. Costs can vary based on unit size, venting type and additional requirements like ...

Some years ago, I replaced my old brick fireplace with a firebox insert and metal flue. We burn wood but use gas jets to get the fire started. All was well until a few years ago when the fireplace ...

Get a yearly chimney inspection Make sure the top of the chimney is free and clear Have a chimney cap installed on all of the flues Clear out old ashes Don’t use lighter fluid or charcoal grill ...

I'm oing to call a few people, if I can get it fixed for $100, I'll do, if not, I'll just turn off the gas and not use the fireplace. We rarely ever turned it on anyway.