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

The Facts about Animal Removal from Your Chimney

Monday, August 21st, 2017

chimney-masonry-worn-brickMany of the same cute little critters we love seeing videos of on the internet are also considered pests. Raccoons, squirrels, and more of those silly bandits can hide out in your chimney, while birds can get stuck inside or nest atop the chimney. You may love finding and sharing images of some of these animals online, but when they get into your chimney, you can start to worry.

Some chimney technicians, like many of the members of our team, specialize in animal removal from chimneys. Some animals will require the help of animal rescue services to remove. Others will require you to allow them to stay and camp out until they migrate on their own, but there are things you can do to prevent this in the first place. Read on to learn a bit more about how animal removal works when it comes to chimneys.

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What Happens After a Chimney Fire?

Monday, July 24th, 2017

chimney-and-fireWe spend a lot of time warning people about chimney fires, advising homeowners on how to prevent a fire, and sharing information about preventing fires from spreading to the outside of the home. Unfortunately, chimney fires are an all-too-common reality for people who use their fireplace. In our area, it’s essential to know what to do if you encounter a chimney fire, and what will happen to your home as a result.

For more information on chimney fires, or to get services for your chimney and fireplace in Minneapolis, give us a call. For now, read on to find out what can happen to your chimney when a fire starts, how you may not even know about it in the first place, and what to do to detect and repair the damage.

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About Your Chimney Flashing and What Can Go Wrong

Monday, July 10th, 2017

chimney-flashing-repairWe’re not talking about flashing lights above your chimney. “Chimney flashing” is a term that describes the part of the chimney that meets the rooftop, and the way the two are sealed together. Chimney flashing is made of durable materials meant to help prevent leaks and water damage, but it’s still one of the most common areas to require repairs for a chimney.

If chimney flashing is not done properly, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise: a leak from your ceiling. Learn more about this problem and potential prevention and solutions below!

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What’s Wrong with This Chimney?

Monday, July 3rd, 2017

chimney-needs-repairTake a look at the chimney pictured here. It might look like a typical chimney, if not a bit worn with age. But to chimney sweeps, this structure has a couple of major issues. We want to make sure that your home is protected, so we’re helping you learn what might make a chimney fire more likely or what may help it to spread to the outside of the home.

Be sure to schedule inspections and cleaning for your chimney each and every year, so you don’t have to worry about trying to evaluate your chimney on your own. Call our friendly team today!

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4 Common Chimney Repairs Homeowners Make in the Off-Season

Monday, June 26th, 2017

chimney-masonry-worn-brickSummer is finally here, and you’ve quit using your fireplace and chimney for the changing seasons months ago. Why should you have to worry about the condition of your chimney now? If not, you might be stuck with problems that make it impossible to use your fireplace and chimney during the winter. Even worse, you might not know about problems within your chimney that make it incredibly unsafe to use.

Summer is the perfect time to schedule that chimney inspection and make sure your home has an extra layer of protection from fire. Repairing your chimney could also help protect your home from water leaks throughout the year, preventing you from having to spend thousands to for water damage repair and mold restoration. Here are just a few of the repairs we make for homeowners for their chimneys during the off-season.

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Is Your Chimney Safe for the Summer?

Monday, June 12th, 2017

chimney-treesYou may have heard before that it’s so important to clean out and inspect your chimney each year. Chimney cleaning is a professional service that can protect your home from fires, but should you really worry about this now that temperatures are rising and you don’t plan to use your chimney and fireplace for several months?

We think so. Spring and summer are perhaps the best times to schedule a chimney inspection and sweeping. You can prevent problems that would cause a potential fire in the colder seasons, and even help to prevent damage to your home that can occur at any time of year. Here’s why your chimney might not be safe for summer and why you should call chimney sweeps this season.

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What Technicians Are Looking for During a Chimney Inspection

Tuesday, June 6th, 2017

man-shadow-chimney-cleanHopefully, you’ve heard before just how important it is to schedule a chimney inspection each year. We tell our customers and neighbors this all the time, but you might feel as though you can do a sufficient job yourself. We’re here to tell you it takes experience. A trained chimney sweep can recognize problems, and carries the right tools to detect problems sooner.

Want to know what professional chimney sweeps are looking for during an annual inspection? Take a look. It’s more complex than you may think.

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Some Alternatives to Clay Tile Flue Liners

Monday, May 29th, 2017

chimney-fire-top-bottomA chimney is not complete without a liner. Chimney fires are more common than you think, and you may have experienced one before without even realizing it. While you should do whatever you can to prevent a chimney fire—using a dry seasoned wood, proper ventilation, regular cleaning—what’s just as important is making sure a fire cannot spread to the outside of the home.

A chimney liner stops flames from potentially spreading to the outside of the house. It helps to prevent chimney fires from occurring in the first place, and reduces water damage to a masonry chimney. There are many different types of chimney liners available, but one receives some critique. Think clay tile is the wrong choice for your next liner? We offer some advice here, but call a chimney sweep for more information about services available in your area.

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3 Things That Can Happen to a Chimney in the Spring and Summer

Monday, May 15th, 2017

chimney-with-capAs the weather warms up, you’re probably not going to think much about using your chimney and fireplace. That doesn’t mean your chimney is immune to problems. You can actually run into a lot of problems with your chimney or fireplace in the spring and summer, especially if you don’t call a technician for routine inspection and cleaning this year.

Take a look at a few of the problems you might run into this spring and summer, and make sure your chimney is in tip-top shape before it’s back in service in the fall.

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We Use SmartScan Technology to Inspect Your Chimney Flue

Monday, May 8th, 2017

chimney-fire-top-bottomYour chimney may not be in as good of a condition as you think. Hopefully, your chimney is lined with a flue liner, a liner most likely made of steel or clay tiles, that protects the masonry from damage. It stops a potential chimney fire from spreading to the outside of the home, but that doesn’t make it infallible.

When a chimney liner is filled with flammable materials, or when the chimney liner is compromised structurally, it puts your home at risk. Schedule your annual chimney cleaning and inspection with a technician who uses SmartScan technology to check out the chimney liner.

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