Wood heat is one of the few home comforts that still feels elemental–but it rewards discipline. Treat chimney cleaning and stove maintenance as a yearly ritual as opposed to a reaction to a problem, ...

We can't wait to light the first fire of the season, crawl under a blanket, and sip some hot cocoa. But hold on a second—when is the last time you had your chimney cleaned? If you haven't had your ...

Jim Smart owns Smart Sweep Chimney Service. He and his son Jesse are certified professional chimney sweeps. Together, this father/son team inspect, clean and repair fireplace chimneys in the ...