In many cases, you can clean the chimney yourself and save a few hundred dollars. Removing ordinary chimney soot is pretty simple. But if you have heavy creosote buildup, youll have to call in a pro.

Her latest book is ‘The Dinner Table’, a collection of food writing If you will forgive the Victoriana kitsch opening: spare a thought for the humble chimney sweep. Not only frozen in the ...

If you have 1/4-in. of creosote or more, do not use the fireplace again until it is cleaned—a chimney fire could occur at any ...