Chimney Maintenance

A top-down fire lights faster, smokes less and leaves fewer deposits in the flue. A New Lenox guide to building one and warming a cold chimney.

Glass fireplace doors hold in heat and stop sparks when they fit and are used right. A Mokena guide to cleaning, cracks, gaskets and replacement.

Cardboard, leaves, treated lumber and charcoal all cause trouble in a fireplace. What Lemont homeowners should keep out of the firebox, and why.

Soot smears and creosote burns. How Lockport homeowners can tell the black deposits in a chimney apart, and what each one means for safety.

A top-sealing damper closes the flue at the top with a gasket instead of metal on metal. What that changes for a Willow Springs home this winter.

Fireplace, furnace flue, dryer vent and air ducts all run on different service intervals. A Plainfield homeowner guide to what is due when, and why.

Mortar dust and loose brick on a Joliet chimney point to two very different repairs. Here is how to tell repointing from a rebuild before you pay.

Scratching, dripping, ticking or a deep roar? Here is what each chimney noise means for Crestwood homeowners and which ones need attention before winter.

Cold air pouring out of your Oak Forest fireplace usually means the damper stopped sealing. How to tell which type you have and what actually fixes it.

Why an Orland Hills wood stove needs sweeping more often than a fireplace, how pellet venting differs, and the stove parts that wear out unseen.