2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Chimney Sweeping and Cleaning’ Category

What Is Creosote?

Friday, February 20th, 2015

Combustion heat always creates byproducts – some of them toxic – whether the combustion is in a simple fire pit in your backyard or a fireplace insert in your living room. Combustion byproducts can be gases, vapors, fumes, ash and soot, but there is one byproduct that can lead directly to chimney fires: creosote.

What Is It?

Creosote is a sticky, corrosive and highly flammable substance that is created when the noxious gases and vapors from combustion cool below 250 degrees. When the gases cool to this temperature level, they liquefy, combine with soot and ash, and become the substance known as creosote. The sticky nature of creosote allows it to cling to the inside of your chimney, creating a highly flammable, dangerous build-up that can ignite.

Stages of Creosote

When a professional chimney cleaner assesses the level of creosote build-up in your fireplace, he/she will refer to the build-up as being Stage One, Stage Two or Stage Three:

  • Stage One – Stage One creosote is the easiest and least problematic as it is mostly comprised of soot; this means it is also the easiest to remove.
  • Stage Two – Stage Two creosote is black and flaky, and this is because the tar in the creosote has hardened. This level of creosote build-up can cause air restriction and pose the risk of a chimney fire.
  • Stage Three – a Stage Three creosote level is a very serious situation. This level of creosote looks and acts like a layer of tar and is very hard to remove; it is also extremely flammable and likely to cause a chimney fire. It may be necessary to replace the lining in a chimney that has Stage Three creosote.

Schedule Annual Chimney Cleaning

Preventing chimney fires is one of the most important reasons to schedule an annual chimney cleaning in in Carver County. If it’s been more than 12 months since your last chimney cleaning and you are having problems with drafting, soot and ash, call the experts at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc.

Call Us Today! 612.922.9600 or 1-888-PIXLEYS

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Why You Need Furnace Flue Cleaning

Monday, September 22nd, 2014

Even if your home doesn’t have a fireplace, it will need a flue for the furnace to release exhaust. In a gas furnace, the heat from the combustion gas transfers to the air through a heat exchanger, and afterwards the cooled down combustion gas is vented through a flue that safely removes the fumes to the outside of the house. To keep your furnace working at top efficiency and to prevent safety issues from fires or carbon monoxide, you should have annual flue cleaning as part of maintaining the heating system.

The best people to call for furnace flue cleaning are technicians experienced with chimney cleaning. The fully-certified team at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. has many decades of work with chimneys and flues of all kind, and our services include everything from cleaning and sweeping to masonry reconstruction. Call us today for cleaning for your chimney flue in Edina, MN.

The necessity of furnace flue cleaning

Any venting system, such as a furnace flue, will start to gather build-up from the exhaust that move through it. With chimneys, the exhaust build-up from creosote can be quite large. The accumulation is less in a furnace flue, but because the venting cannot be perfect, the flue will eventually require cleaning to remove particle build-up known as “scale.” Not all heating contractors provide this service when maintaining a furnace; you will need to call specialists in chimney cleaning to take care of the job.

Neglecting regular furnace flue cleaning can lead to serious issues. The major one is the flue will become blocked, leading to the exhaust backing up and entering your home. This presents dangers from fire and toxic carbon monoxide exposure.

But even if the flue isn’t blocked, poor venting from scale will create other dangers in the furnace. The reaction of the combustion gas with the heat exchanger will result in corrosion across the metal of the exchanger, a situation that makes it prone to develop cracks that will allow carbon monoxide to escape. The poor venting will also make it difficult for the furnace to work efficiently. Special high-efficiency furnaces depend on clean venting to achieve their energy-saving levels of performance.

Along with regular furnace flue cleaning, you should have the flue cleaned whenever you change your heating system. In some cases, you may need to have a completely new flue constructed to accommodate a higher efficiency furnace. Always check with professionals regarding your heater’s venting when you make a change to the heating system.

Contact us for furnace flue cleaning

Keeping your home safe is our number one priority at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. We have helped homes stay safe and warm with our services for chimneys and flue for many years.

When you need cleaning to take care of your furnace or chimney flue in Edina, MN, make the call to the team at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc.

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How to Prepare for Chimney Sweeping in Minneapolis, MN

Tuesday, August 12th, 2014

Your fireplace chimney should have annual sweeping service from certified chimney sweeps (certification is from the Chimney Safety Institute of America) to keep it clean and safely venting exhaust fumes out of your home. Your chimney sweeps will also check for any safety issues from damaged components, such as a faulty chimney damper.

When you receive chimney sweeping in Minneapolis, MN from the certified team at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc., you will receive a Level 1 chimney inspection along with the cleaning. This visual inspection will make sure that you do not have potential trouble from creosote, debris, or flue damage. We are a full service company for fireplaces and chimneys, and you will have a hard time finding more experienced technicians for caring for your home’s hearth.

When you schedule a chimney sweep visit, there are some ways you can prepare that will make the cleaning process easier and faster:

  • First, clear away the area around the fireplace, in particular the mantle. You don’t want to have any valuable decoration you have on the mantle to receive any damage.
  • Second, clean out the fireplace itself of any unburnt wood or fuel that is still in it. Remove excess ashes as well. It is advisable that you do not use the fireplace for 24 hours before the sweeping appointment.
  • Third, to protect your furnishings that are near to the fireplace (sweeping can produce a large amount of soot) you should either cover them or remove them from the area. The chimney sweeps will take care of laying down floor coverings that will protect your carpet, rugs, floorboards, etc. from damage.
  • Fourth, if you are concerned about other parts of your home, you may wish to lay down papers from the door to the fireplace. However, if you have hired a quality company with proper certification, the chimney sweeps will do everything they can to respect your home and wear protective, disposable covers on their shoes.
  • Fifth, contact your chimney sweeps if you have additional questions regarding the service or what you can do to help prepare.

The actual sweeping service will go speedily and will create minimal disruption on daily activities. If you have 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. performing your chimney sweeping in Minneapolis, MN, the technicians will provide you with the findings from the Level 1 inspection. They will recommend whether you need a Level 2 or 3 chimney inspection, as well as recommendations for any repairs you may need.

Make us your first choice when it comes to any service you may need for your fireplace and chimney. Call Us Today! 612.922.9600 or 1-888-PIXLEYS

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How Often Should I Get Chimney Sweeping?

Wednesday, December 4th, 2013

Chimney sweeping is an occupation surrounded with myths—many of them from Mary Poppins and other movies and books about Victorian London. These are benign myths, of course, and amusing for modern chimney sweeps. But there’s another myth about chimney sweeping we encounter too often, and it’s a far more dangerous one: “your chimney only needs cleaning every five years or so.” This is not remotely true, even if you only use your chimney during the winter. Regular chimney sweeping is important for both the attractiveness of your fireplace, and for your safety. You should consider the fireplace in your home as part of your heating system. Just as your heating system should receive yearly maintenance, your chimney and fireplace should receive yearly cleaning.

2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. has CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) certified technicians on staff to provide you the cleaning and other services you need for a safe and beautiful fireplace. Make us your first choice for chimney sweeping in Minneapolis, MN.

Schedule annual chimney sweeping

The National Fire Protection Association Standard 211 states: “Chimney, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary.” It will almost always be necessary to clean your chimney: even if you don’t use your fireplace often, deterioration can still occur and animals can build nests inside it. The CSIA recommends that even an 1/8” of soot build-up needs sweeping—and if it starts to develop into shiny creosote, it should be cleaned up sooner than the yearly visit because that is enough combustible material to constitute a fire hazard.

What if you use gas to heat your fireplace? Does that mean you need yearly cleaning as well? Absolutely. Even though gas burns cleaner than wood, you can still have trouble with damage from weather, debris, and animal nesting. Damage to the lining of the chimney from these infestations can turn into a serious fire hazard. You should have an annual inspection done on any type of fireplace.

Call for professional chimney sweeps

You can’t effectively clean a chimney on your own: there’s a reason that the profession “chimney sweep” exists in the first place. The task requires experience, training, and special tools. Removing dangerous creosote is a top priority during chimney sweeping, and you need this potentially dangerous substance scrubbed away as thoroughly as possible. Call 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. for chimney sweeps that will keep you safe and make your fireplace a source of comfort and coziness all through the winter.

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Benefits of Chimney Sweeping

Friday, November 15th, 2013

Chimney sweeping evokes images of cockney street urchins, stovepipe hats and Dick Van Dyke. But the principles involved haven’t changed in 150 years, and while today’s chimney sweeps use modern equipment and techniques, the work they do isn’t all that different from those of their predecessors. Chimney sweeping in St. Paul is a particular necessity, owing to our numerous older homes with fine brick fireplaces.

The benefits of chimney sweeping are numerous and obvious.

  • Safety. Smoke from your fireplace carries creosote into the chimney, which can coat the walls and ultimately become a fire hazard (it will ignite very easily). Creosote build-up can also prevent carbon monoxide from escaping your home, constituting another hazard.
  • Comfort. Build up inside the chimney can prevent smoke from escaping as quickly as it should, meaning that more of it could back up into your home. Clean chimneys also improve the amount of heat your fireplace projects into your home, making it more efficient as well as comfortable.
  • Longevity. Over time, the acidic qualities of soot and other debris can damage your chimney, forcing expensive and unnecessary repairs. A regular cleaning session can prevent that damage and extend the life of your chimney.

A good chimney sweeper understands the benefits of chimney sweeping, but also knows who to deliver them safely and effectively. That means paying close attention to new methods and techniques. Qualified chimney sweeps are licensed, bonded and insured to protect against accidents. They also work with the cleanliness of your home in mind, and guarantee their work once it’s completed.

For chimney sweeping in St. Paul, the professionals at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. are ready to help. We’ve served the Twin Cities area since 2001 and offer complete programs for inspecting, installing and maintaining your chimney. We’re available 24 hours a day in the event of emergencies, and our trained experts have earned the trusted of over 52,000 loyal customers. If you understand the benefits of chimney sweeping and want to set up a regular maintenance session to help keep yours clean, pick up the phone and give us a call today.

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All I Know About Chimney Sweeping I Learned from Mary Poppins: What Else Should I Know?

Friday, November 8th, 2013

The romanticized image of the chimney sweep comes to us from the Disney movie Mary Poppins, where we learn that chimney sweeps are always coated from head to toe with soot, know fantastic dance moves, and say “guv’ner” at the end of every sentence. That’s all good to know if you live in a fantasy version of Victorian London. But if you live in contemporary Minnesota, you need to know the more practical side of keeping a chimney clean so you can enjoy it all through the winter in comfort and safety.

At 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. we have decades of experience with chimney sweeping in St. Paul, MN. When you want to go past thinking about getting your chimney cleaned and actually get it clean, contact us.

Here are some jobs that chimney sweeps—well, chimney technicians—perform that you won’t learn about from Disney movies:

Creosote cleaning

The black shiny substance that will start to cover the bricks of your chimney after burning wood and coal in the hearth is called creosote. Basically, it’s unburned wood or coal energy. It is highly combustible and poses a serious fire hazard to your home because it can cause flames to vault up the chimney to the upper floors of your home and the roof. Thick creosote (level 3 creosote) requires special equipment and techniques to remove. You need chimney technicians armed with more than brooms to take care of this problem.

Chimney flue cleaning

The flue serves an important safety and comfort function: it allows smoke from a fire to escape out the chimney when it’s open, and it keeps drafts from entering your home when closed. Damage and soot build-up can become a major issue for the flue, and so it’s one of the important components that technicians inspect when they come to clean your chimney.

Animal removal

Mary Poppins has some adorable animated animals in it: remember the penguins? However, you don’t want animals getting inside your chimney. Penguins shouldn’t be an issue, but birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and raccoons can create serious hazards. You don’t want to try to “smoke out” animals from your chimney (especially raccoons; this just makes them mad). Rely on technicians to do this job safely. You should also have the technicians install a chimney cap to help prevent this problem from returning in the future.

Here’s something else Mary Poppins won’t tell you: how often you should have your chimney inspected and cleaned. We recommend you schedule annual cleaning, even if you don’t use the fireplace often (cracks and animal infiltration can occur regardless of how much use the chimney gets). Contact 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. when you want quality chimney sweeping in St. Paul, MN. We can’t sing and dance as well as Dick Van Dyke, but you’ll have a clean and safe fireplace in your home after we leave.

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Which Type of Fireplace Is Safest for My Chimney: Gas, Electric or Wood-Burning?

Thursday, August 15th, 2013

If you’re replacing your fireplace and are concerned about creosote and soot build-up or about cracks forming in your chimney, then you’re likely weighing your options about which type of fuel you should burn. Here at 2nd Generation Chimneys, we have years of experience working with all different types of chimneys and we wanted to help our customers figure out which type of fireplace is right for them: gas, electric or wood-burning.

Give us a call if you have any questions or if you need any Minneapolis chimney cleaning services.

Types of Fireplaces

There are several different types of fireplaces that you can choose from, but which one will be safest for your chimney? Here’s a quick explanation of the pros and cons of each different type of fireplace in regards to chimney health and safety.

  • Electric – With electric fireplaces, there isn’t any need for a chimney because there are no byproducts of the fireplace. So if you’re concerned about the health of your chimney, then an electric fireplace is a good option because your chimney won’t actually get any use. However, electric fireplaces tend to use a lot of electricity to generate heat, which can be very expensive.
  • Gas – While gas fireplaces are very popular because of their efficiency, their exhaust gases can produce acid. They may not create creosote or soot deposits like wood-burning fireplaces, but the acid produced can eat away at the inside of your chimney. Also, water vapor is another by-product of burning gas, which can condense on the inside of your chimney and cause problems.
  • Wood-burning – If you’re interested in a more rugged experience with your fireplace, then wood-burning might be a good choice. Just be aware that soot and creosote are created as a by-product of burning wood. These substances can build up on the inside of your chimney and are one of the most common causes of chimney fires. Make sure that you always burn well-seasoned and dry wood because green wood can cause even more creosote and soot to build up. And if by chance you’ve already had a chimney fire, you may want to consider calling 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. for our chimney restoration services. We can make sure your chimney is safe for use again.

No matter what kind of fireplace you have, getting regular Minneapolis chimney cleaning is a great way to help keep your chimney working well and your fireplace burning safely.

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What Types of Fuel Should I Burn to Minimize Soot and Creosote?

Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

Wood-burning fireplaces are rustic, attractive and they provide your home with plenty of warmth. There is a huge variety of fuel that you can burn in your fireplace, but which one produces the least amount of soot and creosote in your chimney? Both creosote and soot are responsible for a large number of chimney fires in the United States, which is why getting regular St. Paul chimney cleaning is so important. Read on below to learn about which types of wood you should burn in your fireplace to avoid creosote and soot build-up in your fireplace.

Whether you need chimney cleaning, repairs, inspections or installations – 2nd Generation Chimneys is here to help!

What are Soot and Creosote?

When you burn wood in your fireplace, it produces a number of byproducts including ash, smoke, soot and creosote. Soot is a black powder that is largely comprised of unburned materials. When it is first produced, soot can be easily vacuumed up or brushed off. But over time, as layers of soot collect on the inside of your chimney, they can form layers that will restrict the flow of air out of your chimney.

Creosote is more tar-like than soot, which is produced by the condensation of many different fire byproducts like wood particles and hydrocarbons. These substances cool as they exit up your chimney and collect as a sticky substance on your chimney walls. In order to remove creosote, you should call 2nd Generation Chimney for your St. Paul chimney cleaning needs. This creosote is incredibly flammable and can create a very hot fire that ignites within your chimney.

What Fuels Should I Burn?

As we mentioned above, there are a lot of different fuels that you can burn in your wood-burning fireplace. Here’s a quick list of some of the things that you can burn to make sure that you limit the amount of soot and creosote that gathers in your chimney.

  • Avoid wet, young wood – When you try to burn wet wood that hasn’t had a chance to dry out, it will likely smolder and produce more smoke than heat. This can cause more creosote to build up in your chimney.
  • Dry wood – There are a couple reasons to make sure that you burn seasoned and dry wood. First, the fire will burn hotter. A hotter fire means that more of the wood will be consumed which will reduce creosote. Also, a hotter fire will keep your chimney warmer and prevent the gases from cooling and condensing into creosote.

For any St. Paul chimney cleaning that you need, just call 2nd Generation Chimneys today.

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What Will My Chimney Sweeps Actually Remove from My Chimney?

Wednesday, July 24th, 2013

Few home heating methods are both as effective and as aesthetically pleasing as lighting a roaring fire in the fireplace. However, operating a fireplace necessitates special measures that must be taken in order to keep your home safe. A professional chimney sweep must be hired to regularly sweep, clean and inspect your chimney to ensure the safe, effective operation of your chimney. There are a number of different materials and substances that your chimney sweep may find in your chimney, and any issues with such materials must be resolved professionally. Here are a few examples of what your chimney sweep may actually remove from your chimney. If you have any further questions, contact the Minneapolis Chimney Sweeping professionals at 2nd Generation Chimneys.

Animal infestations are not entirely uncommon in chimneys. During the offseason, critters will sometimes build nests within a residential chimney. This can create health concerns, ventilation problems, and lead to unpleasant odors. This is especially true if an animal gets trapped within the flue and dies, unable to remove itself from the situation when the chimney is put to work. Not only will our chimney sweeps remove any animals from within your chimney, but we can also offer our expertise and quality products to help prevent the problem from occurring again.

Creosote is what you really have to be worried about in your chimney. Creosote deposits are a natural byproduct of burning wood. If enough creosote is allowed to build up, due to a lack of professional chimney cleaning service, it is possible for it to ignite and catch fire. After enough time has passed, these buildups can reach a point where they are defined as level 3 creosote. This is very difficult to remove. It is thick enough that special techniques and, sometimes, even chemicals must be used to remove the buildup from your chimney.

The Minneapolis chimney sweeping technicians at 2nd Generation Chimneys are always happy to help you enjoy a great, safe performance from your chimney and fireplace. Call today to schedule professional chimney sweeping to ensure that this goal is met. We are always available to answer any questions you may have about the necessity of the chimney sweeping process.

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How Often Should I Schedule Chimney Sweeping?

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

Most homeowners probably don’t give much thought to the health of their chimney. However, dirty chimneys are the leading cause of chimney fires in the United States. Getting regular chimney sweeping is a great way to improve the efficiency of your chimney and to potentially protect your home from fires. The Minneapolis chimney sweeping experts at 2nd Generation Chimneys have been providing fast and good quality services for many years. We often get asked how often homeowners should schedule chimney sweeping services. Check out our answer below and give us a call if you have any questions or if you’re interested in scheduling a chimney sweeping visit.

When To Get Minneapolis Chimney Sweeping

Most homeowners understand the value of getting regular maintenance for their home’s components. We get our cars and trucks regular serviced so why wouldn’t regular cleaning and maintenance have benefits for our chimneys as well? But how often should you get Minneapolis chimney sweeping? The answer depends largely on what type of fuel you burn in your fireplace. Check out our quick guide below.

For most types of fuel, you can get your chimney swept once every year. However, there is a big caveat with this. If you use your fireplace a lot you should probably think about getting Minneapolis chimney sweeping twice per year. If you have a wood-burning chimney make sure that you only burn very dry wood in it. Burning young wood that is still wet can produce more creosote and soot in your chimney which would cause it to build up faster. If you have a coal-burning fireplace you should definitely get Minneapolis chimney sweeping twice per year. Coal is a very dirty fuel to burn and produces a lot of creosote that can build up in your chimney and cause a fire.

If you’re interested in setting up regular Minneapolis chimney sweeping visits for your home just call 2nd Generation Chimneys today. We will get to your home, quickly clean your chimney and then get out of your hair. Call us today to learn more and to talk with one of our friendly specialists.

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