Chimneys & Fireplaces / They Contribute to the Health Comfort and Happiness of the Farm Family - How to Build Them

A practical guide explains proper design, construction, and maintenance of chimneys and fireplaces for rural homes, focusing on achieving safe, efficient draft and preventing fire hazards. It describes how flue size, shape, lining, height, and tightness affect draft and heating performance, and lists common construction faults such as unsuitable materials, poor masonry, inadequate support, leaky flues, and improper connections. Detailed discussion covers fireplace elements — throat, damper, smoke shelf, hearth, jambs, and offsets — plus insulation, roof and smoke‑pipe connections, cleanouts, smoke‑tightness tests, cleaning, and repairs to improve safety and fuel economy.