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Schedule a chimney cleaning for spring, after the burning season, says long-time chimney sweep Dale Wallace of Providence Bay, Ont. Why? Sweeps aren’t as busy then as in fall, and you can repair deficiencies over the summer. Here, Wallace shares more tips for woodstove heating. Cover up I see this problem a lot: an insulated metal chimney that isn’t enclosed behind a wall after passing through a floor and entering a second-storey living space. Even if the insulated chimney is in a hallway or an out-of-the-way space, it still needs to be covered to protect against mechanical damage. It’s not...

Woodstoves are in the same category as stove-top percolators and charcoal barbecues—they take a little work to use and maintain, but their old-school appeal is well worth the effort. If you’ve just installed a wood stove, here are the things you need to know.