Before starting a fire, open the fireplace damper so smoke can properly exit through the chimney. Use kiln-dried firewood for the cleanest burn and least chimney build-up. Kindling lights quickly ...

If noises from your chimney have you wondering what's going on in there, you could have unwelcome animals that need to be evicted.

Start at the bottom, by cleaning all the ash out of the fireplace and removing any andirons or grates. You’ll need to look up the flue, so put on goggles and a dust mask. Flip your damper open ...

After a chimney sweep or home inspector deems your fireplace safe, ask to be shown how to open the flue. If it’s closed, it will be blocked by a little door called the damper, which is hidden ...

Q–With the recent chilly weather, my husband has been using our fireplace what seems to be nonstop. While our living room is nice and toasty, I remember reading something about fireplaces being ...

In the country, most houses need a powerful source of heat in the depths of winter to boost or counter the cost of having the central heating on all day. However, the role of fire isn’t just about ...