Plain chimney guidance from our Philadelphia desk on what builds up in a flue, how leaks really start, and how to hire without getting burned.
What every Philadelphia homeowner should know about who to call for gas fireplace repair, explained without the sales pitch.
Read more →The River Wards' workers' rowhomes carry chimneys built for a different century and a different fuel. Here is what those old coal-era flues are hiding and how to keep them safe.
Read more →New River Wards construction vents differently from the old rowhomes. Here is what a framed chimney chase is, how it fails, and why an airtight new home can still have draft problems.
Read more →Swapping a boiler or water heater can leave your old flue the wrong size for what it now vents. Here is why flue sizing matters and what to check after an appliance change.
Read more →A flue can look clear from the firebox and be cracked, corroded, or oversized out of sight. Here is what a camera inspection actually reveals in an old River Wards chimney.
Read more →An end-of-row chimney takes the full weather on one face, and it weathers faster for it. Here is how water and freeze attack an exposed stack and how to protect one.
Read more →Draft problems show up differently in a century-old rowhome than in an airtight new build. Here is how draft works, why each kind of River Wards home struggles with it, and how to fix it.
Read more →Need a chimney looked at? Our Philadelphia crew inspects the chimney, documents it with photos, with no surprises at the end.