Free knowledge for the trades

6,000+ articles: diagnostic trees, SOPs, estimating and pricing guidance, safety, and the business side of running a shop. Like a real library, it's free; read it, share it, put it to work.

12309 articles

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Wood Stove Overfires Air Leak vs Gasket vs Draft Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Stain Location On The Ceiling Tells The Leak Source: Single-Observable Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Soot Color And Texture Tells Burn Problem Single Observable Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Smoke Spills Only When Bath Fan Runs Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Smoke Spillage Into Room Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Smoke Spillage Only on Windy Days Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Draft Problems

Smoke Enters the Room When Neighbor Runs HVAC: Cross-System Attribution Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Fireplace Odor Only in Summer With AC Running Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Several Defects Found, Which Correct First: Triage Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Recurring Stage 3 Creosote After Cleaning Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Prefab Firebox Refractory Crack: Repair vs Replace Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Pellet Stove Fire Pot Clinker Recurrence Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Pellet Stove Clinkers Only On One Fuel Brand Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Odor Type Tells The Cause: Creosote Vs Animal Vs Mildew Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

New Liner Install With Poor Draft: Sizing Vs Offset Vs Cap Commissioning Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Just Swept and Now Customer Reports Smoke: Post-Service Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Inspection Passed but Customer Still Smells Smoke: Reading In Spec Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Gas Log Soots Glass Only After Conversion Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Gas Log Pilot Lights but Main Burner Does Not Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Gas Insert Soots Glass Only on High Setting Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Flue Tile Spalling: Internal vs Water vs Thermal Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Combustion Safety

CO Detector Alarms After Fireplace Insert Installation: Cross-System Commissioning Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Liner Systems

Flexible Flue Liner Buckles or Collapses on First Use: Commissioning Fault Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Fixed Draft, Now Water Stain Appears: Second Fault Masking Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Draft Problems

Fireplace Insert Smokes Into the Room Only on Cold Startup: Single-Observable Diagnosis

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Drafts Fine With Window Cracked but Not Closed: Bypass vs Normal Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Draft Reverses Only After New Liner Install Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Chimney Draft Reverses Cold vs Warm Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Draft Problems

Fireplace Smells Like Chimney Air Only in Summer When Not in Use: Temperature-Trigger Draft Reversal

Chimney Sweep

Troubleshooting Diagnostics

Chimney Draft Reverses When Furnace Also Runs Decision Tree

Chimney Sweep