I have a basement fireplace that is on an outside north wall. Cold air leaks from the edges of the brick mantle and all along the basement wall adjacent to the fireplace. Directly above in the main floor cold air blows in through the baseboards where the chimney is run directly behind the wall and all along the entire length of the wall's baseboards. It blows enough to move a match flame when held in front of the baseboards directly where the chimney is running behind the wall and less further away so it's like there is air blowing around the flue and down and blowing into the house via baseboards and poorly insulated walls. Also the walls in front of a chimney normally get very warm when there is a fire blazing. On this wall, there is no increase in wall temperature whatsoever even though there is very hot air going up the chimney. Our electric company suggested some sort of chimney kit that would seal the area around the outside of the flue and the chimney space. A chimney builder and repairman I consulted said to take the outside siding off of the chimney and insulate and recommended replacing the outside with brick instead of siding. He didn't have much to say about the "kit" suggested by the electric company. Any other suggestions or comments on which of these 2 suggestions would be best?

A chimney used for a wood-burning fireplace without even a clay tile liner is an increased risk if it is single brick thickness - even if it's in good condition. The concern with an open fire isn't so much chimney fire danger (compared w/ wood stove producing ample creosote) but rather a loss of appropriate draft allowing a spark to escape through any deteriorated mortar joint or crack. In my home, would I use it? Probably (but then I'd likely burn coal which won't produce sparks). In your house-it's your call, it's not an instant house fire, but, there is some level of increased risk. As far as older homes in France, they likely (typically) have thicker stacks than one wythe of brick, if yours does, only then would I say there's no discernible risk.

I've got two large chimneys. They're each about 62" x 26". I had a chimney sweep over not long ago to remove a dead squirrel from one of them. That chimney has a slate cap stacked on top of two bricks on each corner. The chimney sweep suggested replacing the one cap and mounting a new copper cap on both chimneys. My concerns are that the house is near the ocean, where it often gets a strong NE wind. Should I go with a stainless cap instead of the copper since it's sturdier? Copper was suggested for aesthetics (patina) since our roof is copper and slate. Will the copper flex and/or eventually break or fly off? Also, the sweep says that only a 41" x 17" cap is needed for the 62" x 26" since the chimney's only got one flue that doesn't span to the edges. The estimate for one cap and install is $515. Thoughts? Any help appreciated. Thanks, Paul

Sounds like you're flue gases are getting too cool, especially if it's an old, tall chimney. Get rid of that Magic Heat, it is taking too much heat from the flue gases and making the problem worse. The condensation will destroy a masonry chimney but should,'t do too much damage to a stainless steel chimney liner. Also, it'd be best to make sure the flue is in good shape, get rid of the sags and leaks, and that the system is operating properly and is not overfired.