Your chimney looks fine from the yard — but inspectors know better.

Chimney caps are the workhorse of the rooftop: They help exhaust smoke and prevent downdrafts; they keep water at bay; they protect the chimney's brickwork and they ward off critters like birds, ...

A few weeks ago, at about 6:45 in the morning, I was at home, waiting to talk live on the air with Morning Edition host Michel Martin about a story I'd done, when I suddenly heard a loud metallic ...

This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today. A few weeks ago, at about 6:45 in the ...