That new high-efficiency furnace you’re installing might come at a high price: a buildup of carbon monoxide around the water heater or condensation in the chimney. The source of the problem is what ...

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.

Q: The repairman says I need a new gas furnace. He recommends a super-efficient one because my chimney also needs repairs. What are my options for the best comfort and why is the chimney a factor? — ...

I'm going to guess that you have a newer furnace. If that's true, you're probably getting condensation in the flue. Older furnaces didn't have that issue. The hot flue gas they produced literally shot ...

Q. We have had a persistent leak in the ceiling by our fireplace. I read in your column that a saddle or a cricket behind the chimney would help this. We had a new saddle installed but have found that ...