You don’t often think about your chimney, and why would you now that spring has sprung and there’s no longer a need for your fireplace? Well, we are here to tell you that spring is the perfect time to take care of any outstanding chimney repairs and restorations that you may need. Of course, with the weather changing and the rainy season on its way, the need for repairs and replacements might be more imminent.
As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers,” but April showers may also bring a wide range of issues for your chimney and your home. This is especially the case if your chimney liner needs to be replaced. Your chimney liner is one of the most important components of your chimney, as it keeps gasses, smoke, creosote, and water out of your home. There are a number of signs that suggest it’s time you invest in a new chimney liner, and below, we have outlined them for you.Â
Spring is finally here, which means that summer is right around the corner. Of course, that means that now is the perfect time to whip out a pen and notepad to create a checklist of all the things that need to be done before summer officially arrives. Your checklist might include items like stocking up on sunscreen, buying a new bathing suit, and oddly enough, taking care of any outstanding chimney repairs. Yes, that’s right: summer is the perfect time to repair your chimney.
Summer is right around the corner, which means that is time to start thinking about all the ways to prepare! Of course, when temperatures rise, the need to use your fireplace is certainly less likely, so do you really have to worry about your chimney? Well, the answer to that question is a resounding “yes.”
Now that we are in the midst of the winter season, it is a good time to think about any fireplace repairs that have to be made. We still have a couple more months of cold weather ahead of us before we can enjoy some warmth, so any repairs that need to be made now, should. Of course, when it comes to your fireplace, safety is a priority, so it is best to contact a professional right away if you notice any signs of an issue.
It’s February in Minnesota, which means winter isn’t letting up anytime soon. With the extreme weather we’ve been having in the Midwest lately, it’s no secret that our fireplaces have been used quite a bit. Of course, during this time of year, we expect our fireplaces to be efficient and effective, so what happens when cold air starts to seep through your chimney and directly into your home?
There is nothing quite like coming home after a long day in the middle of winter and sitting in front of your fireplace. Homeowners across Minnesota look forward to comfort and warmth that only a fireplace provide, making great use of them throughout the entire winter season. Properly caring for your fireplace and all of its components is the best way to ensure that your fireplace will remain efficient, effective, and safe all winter long.
Yes, your wood stove’s chimney does need to be cleaned. Many homeowners assume that their wood stoves do not need chimney cleaning since they produce so little ash and combustion byproducts. However, any type of wood burning you do, whether it be in a traditional fireplace or a wood stove, will result in the need for chimney cleaning. Similar to a traditional fireplace, your wood stove has a firebox and a chimney. Over time, all chimneys collect a material called creosote, which is a byproduct of burning materials and it is highly flammable.
Water entering your home is certainly a cause for alarm. Inclement weather can make our homes especially susceptible to leaks and water damage. Most homeowners are unaware that their chimneys can be a potential site of a leak in their homes. Your chimney receives exposure to the elements: wind, rain, snow, sleet, etc. Winters here in Minnesota are especially brutal, so in this part of the country, your chimney is more susceptible to damage. Water entering through leaks in a chimney will freeze during the winter, and as the water expands when it turns into ice, it will cause even larger cracks.
Nobody expects you to be an expert on your chimney and all of the different materials and components that it uses in order to safely and effectively vent smoke and combustion gases out of your home. If you were an expert, after all, it wouldn’t exactly be great for our business! That being said, we do believe that it is in every homeowner’s best interest to have a basic idea of how their chimney works (provided that they’re using a fireplace, of course).
Fireplaces are safe to use, provided that you use them right. That means more than being careful when building up your fire, stoking it, and cleaning out the hearth. It also means having your chimney cleaned regularly by trained, qualified professionals. Why? Because if you ignore this vital service long enough, it’s not just the performance of your fireplace that will suffer. It could also very well be your safety. We are not just saying this to alarm you.