Q. I wonder why I can’t seem to get a fire to burn properly in my chimney. All I get is smoke in the room. I’ve had the flue checked and know that the damper is working correctly . . . more

Q. This winter I want to be more prepared than I was two years ago. I was stranded in my house for days. Since I can’t do the work myself . . . more

Q. I’m trying to figure out a new place in my addition for a furnace. We want to have a door from the shed on the side of our house so we don’t have to go to the furnace from inside. more

Q. I read your column about fireplaces, and wonder why I can’t get a fire to burn properly in my chimney. All I get is smoke in the room. I’ve had the flue checked and know that the damper is working correctly . . . more

Every year, hundreds of Long Island homes suffer fires that leave the lives of their occupants in shambles. more

Despite all of the activities that divert our attention during the holiday season, we need to make sure our homes are safe. more

Q. We have a turn-of-the-(last)-century front-porch colonial. It needs substantial modernization, and I've found that problems that seem unrelated in fact do contribute to one another, leading to bigger costs than expected. For example, we need a new boiler, new wiring, a rebuilt chimney and insulation in the walls. Further, the house has a lead water main and a sewer line that has been penetrated by tree roots. The boiler connects to the chimney, which has never been lined and doesn’t have a rain cap. To replace the boiler, we have to line the chimney with a liner that fits the new boiler, and we have to rebuild at least part of the chimney above the roof. more