Q. We had a chimney cleaning service inspect our chimney and they suggested that we install an insulated flexible aluminum flue liner in our chimney connected directly to our gas water heater vent.

Q: Not long ago you answered a question from a reader about fireplace chimneys. You talked at length about dampers but you did not mention the need for a chimney liner. My house is 1906 vintage, and a ...

Q: Our 1940 home has a brick fireplace and chimney. We had it inspected recently and were told by several people that it has a crack near the roofline and needs to be taken down and rebuilt. The ...

I recently looked at a house that has a brick chimney with mineral deposits on its exterior, apparently the result of moisture condensation inside the chimney. This problem is not uncommon, and may ...

Lee Wallender is a home improvement writer of nearly 20 years and specializes in home remodeling, repair and maintenance. Sami Allen is the managing editor at Forbes Home, with over seven years of ...

Rosanne is an interior design and home improvement writer with 8 years of experience. During that time she has worked with numerous businesses and publications. Rosanne has been with Forbes Home for ...

“That’s too much — no one else even mentioned we’d need an expensive liner — you trying to rip us off here?” Chimneys — you can’t live with them and you can’t live without them — or at least you ...

IF YOUR home has an existing fireplace or chimney, you might assume it’s ready for use with a modern wood burning stove. But that assumption can lead to serious safety risks, poor heating performance, ...