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 ...

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, ...