Chimney Leaks, Old House Systems, and a Few Ghost Stories

In this episode of Home in Progress, sponsored by RepcoLite Paints and Benjamin Moore, Dan tackles one of the most common chimney problems—and it has nothing to do with fire. He explains how water finds its way into brick, mortar, and chimney caps, how to spot the signs early, and what homeowners can do to fix and prevent damage.From there, Dan shifts into the “ghost stories” hiding inside older homes: knob-and-tube wiring, cast-iron plumbing, galvanized supply lines, and those enormous gravity furnaces sometimes called “octopus” systems. He breaks down what they are, why they’re still out there, and what you need to know if you’re buying or renovating an older house.A listener question leads to a practical step-by-step fix for painted-over wallpaper glue, including how to safely prep, clean, and prime the wall for a smooth finish.Finally, Dan shares a few personal ghost stories from his own 1900s home—strange noises, odd shadows, and one unforgettable week of unexplained events—and uses them as a segue into the importance of proper inspections and hiring qualified specialists when working with old home systems.Episode Timeline00:00 Welcome to Home in Progress00:14 The Most Common Chimney Problem00:35 House-Related Ghost Stories01:22 Listener’s Wallpaper-Glue Dilemma02:35 Solving the Wallpaper-Paste Problem06:39 Priming for a Perfect Finish10:22 Real Ghost Experiences18:16 Unexplained Events in the Old House18:43 Transition to Practical Home Improvement20:18 Understanding Knob-and-Tube Wiring25:07 Cast-Iron & Galvanized Plumbing29:22 Gravity Furnaces: The “Octopus” in the Basement32:34 Chimney Maintenance & Water Damage38:57 Final Thoughts