Plain chimney guidance from our Lancaster desk, understanding creosote, handling leaks, reading the signs, and choosing a sweep.
What every Lancaster homeowner should know about what is tuckpointing a chimney, explained without the sales pitch.
Read more →A wood stove insert is an efficient way to heat a Lancaster home, but it changes how the chimney behind it has to be lined and maintained. Here is what an insert needs that an open fireplace does not.
Read more →A fireplace that pushes smoke back into the room has a draft problem, and the cause is rarely just a dirty flue. Here is what drives poor draft in Lancaster homes and how to track down the real reason.
Read more →Not every chimney fire is the loud, dramatic kind, and a quiet one can crack a liner without you knowing. Here is how to recognize a chimney fire, what to do during one, and why the aftermath needs a scan.
Read more →The biggest factor in a clean, hot fire is how dry your wood is. Here is a practical guide to seasoning, identifying, and storing firewood for a Lancaster winter, and why wet wood costs you twice.
Read more →The crown is the masonry surface across the top of the chimney, and when it cracks it lets water into everything below. Here is what the crown does, why it fails first, and how to keep it sound.
Read more →Lancaster's older brick homes carry chimneys that need a deliberate pre-winter check. Here is a practical walk through what to look at, in what order, before the burning season starts in earnest.
Read more →One call reaches a real Lancaster chimney crew that inspects the chimney, documents it with photos, and never sells you work you do not need.