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. 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.

“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 ...

Built of either brick or stone, traditional masonry chimneys include a firebox (where the wood burns) in addition to a flue, which is the air shaft running through the interior of the chimney, from ...

Q: We bought a Queen Anne 10 years ago, but have never used the chimneys because the chimney sweep said pigeons had been pecking at the mortar. There is no chimney liner. I have been up on the roof ...

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 ...

Q. My chimney needs some tender loving care. I had a few contractors come to assess the repairs, but none of them made me feel very comfortable. They all talked about how my chimney top (some called ...

Stacy is a journalist and content creator with six years of experience writing about home improvement topics. Besides Forbes Home she has contributed her work and expertise to publications such as ...