Combustion appliances and fixtures such as fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, and furnaces must vent their smoke and other toxic combustion gasses through a flue or chimney. Chimneys are designed to capture and carry smoke and hot gasses up and away; they usually vent out the roof.

Conventional chimneys have traditionallly been built of brick and mortar, lined with fireproof flue tiles, and capped with mortar to seal the top against the weather. But today, newer, easier-to-install types of chimneys are made of metal and sold as prefabricated kits. These are much easier to build and, in the event of an earthquake or other disaster, less likely to fall.

Most chimneys handle their important job admirably, but a chimney that is in disrepair or is ill-maintained not only wastes energy but can also be a safety hazard. The articles listed below show you how you can keep your home’s chimney in tip-top shape.