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 Timeline 00:00 Welcome to Home in Progress 00:14 The Most Common Chimney Problem 00:35 House-Related Ghost Stories 01:22 Listener’s Wallpaper-Glue Dilemma 02:35 Solving the Wallpaper-Paste Problem 06:39 Priming for a Perfect Finish 10:22 Real Ghost Experiences 18:16 Unexplained Events in the Old House 18:43 Transition to Practical Home Improvement 20:18 Understanding Knob-and-Tube Wiring 25:07 Cast-Iron & Galvanized Plumbing 29:22 Gravity Furnaces: The “Octopus” in the Basement 32:34 Chimney Maintenance & Water Damage 38:57 Final Thoughts