Creosote creates a sour, sickly odor. Slow smoldering fires or the use of unseasoned wood can create “cool” smoke and a weak ...

Fireplaces are indisputably cozy. They evoke fresh snow and hot cocoa, winter weekends spent holed up in rustic cabins, favorite stews simmering on the stove. While installing a real, wood-burning one ...

Before starting a fire, open the fireplace damper so smoke can properly exit through the chimney. Use kiln-dried firewood for the cleanest burn and least chimney build-up. Kindling lights quickly, but ...

correctionAn earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the National Fire Protection Association as the National Fire Protection Agency. The article has been corrected. It’s that time of ...

Fireplace weather is fast approaching. A fire in the hearth is a good way to add cozy warmth to your home, but if starting a fire in the fireplace seems like such a hassle that you only do it once a ...

I was recently asked to build a custom fireplace mantel to cover up a painted brick fireplace with a wood top shelf. The existing fireplace brick was corbelled out to create a 6-in. shelf, and the ...

Before the temperature starts to fall, there are several things you can do to make sure your wood-burning fireplace is safe ...

Every winter, I get quite a few emails from readers who suffer from smoky fireplaces. Just a month ago, one of my amateur radio friends reached out to me with the same problem. After asking him some ...