Many people assume that their chimney is strong enough to endure quite a bit. Besides, the chimney is located outdoors, and it is designed withstand fire, so it should be sturdy enough to tolerate any instances of poor weather. However, this way of thinking leads many chimneys to go without service for far too long. And without any maintenance at all, your chimney may deteriorate quickly and become a fire risk for your home, all due in part to a seemingly harmless substance: water.
2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Chimney’ Category
The Facts about Water Damage and Chimneys
Monday, April 27th, 20153 Myths about Chimneys that Could Put Your Home at Risk
Monday, April 13th, 2015Many people are fairly unfamiliar with the chimney they make use of every winter. It is such a great feeling to walk into a room kept warm and cozy by the light of a glowing fireplace, that you may not take the time to think about what’s really going on inside of the chimney. Chimneys require a certain level of regular care and maintenance, and believing otherwise could put your home and family members in jeopardy. Today, we’ll take a look at three common myths about chimneys, so that you can get the facts and take the proper steps to keep your unit safe.
Myth #1: Chimneys and fireplaces are a great, maintenance-free source of heating.
One of the most dangerous beliefs about fireplaces is that little needs to be done to keep them in good condition. A standard forced-air heating system such as a furnace contains multiple moving and electrical components, and these must all be in good condition if you want the heater to run efficiently and operate correctly and safely. Although it lacks the mechanical complexity of a furnace, your chimney needs just as much maintenance in the form of annual inspections and cleaning. A dirty chimney can lead to a chimney fire, so be sure to get on a chimney cleaning schedule today.
Myth #2: I don’t use my chimney often, so I can skip an inspection this year.
Chimney fires most commonly result when creosote builds up in the chimney flue. Your chimney is meant to provide a pathway for the dangerous byproducts of combustion to move away from the home. However, as condensation forms in the chimney flue, a residue forms from these byproducts known as creosote. If conditions in your chimney are not quite right—if the damper is not adequately opened, for example—creosote may build up more quickly. So even if you don’t use your chimney very often, you may still have a significant buildup, and it is worth it to get an inspection.
Myth #3: A good chimney sweep will get through the job fast.
If a chimney sweep service promises you fast inspection and cleaning, be wary. A chimney expert will take time to make sure that your chimney is in top shape, something that should take over an hour.
When you decide it is time for quality chimney inspections and chimney cleaning in Minneapolis, MN, 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. is the name to trust. Call Us Today! 612.922.9600 or 1-888-PIXLEYS
Do All Chimneys Need Annual Inspection and Cleaning?
Friday, March 27th, 2015As we head into warmer temperatures, many people are shifting their focus from the indoors to the outdoors. However, spring offers a great time to schedule a chimney inspection for your Roseville, MN, home, especially for those who use their chimney and fireplaces heavily during the winter months. So to answer the question, “do all chimneys need inspection?” the answer is a resounding yes. It doesn’t matter if you have a pre-fab chimney, use a pellet stove with low ash or use your chimney only a few times a year: you’ll need your chimney inspected. And the best people to inspect and clean your chimney are trained experts, like the ones at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc.
Why Do I Need to Inspect My Chimney?
There are multiple reasons why you need to have your chimney inspected:
- Home insurance coverage – some policies require that homes with working chimneys have annual chimney inspections to keep the policy in force.
- Safety issues – a fireplace and/or chimney that is in disrepair or in need of cleaning can be a dangerous one.
- Reduce and avoid corrosion of your fireplace and flue – combustion by products such as ash, soot and creosote are highly acidic and eat away at masonry and metal. An annual inspection and cleaning removes these acidic byproducts, keeping your chimney in good working order.
- Reduce the chance of a chimney fire developing – creosote, a combustion byproduct that coats the inside of chimneys, is highly flammable; as such, your chimney shouldn’t have more than 1/8th of an inch build-up of creosote. Annual inspection and cleaning help keep the creosote build-up in your chimney low.
- Improves operation and efficiency – chimneys do two things at the same time: they vent and expel combustion byproducts and they help bring oxygen to the fire; when your chimney is dirty, it can’t do these two things properly.
There’s a lot of “rule of thumb” kind of information around about chimney inspection and cleaning, but many of these pieces of advice aren’t correct.
If you have questions about how to maintain your chimney in Roseville, MN, call the people you can trust: 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc.
What Is a Level 1 Chimney Inspection?
Friday, March 20th, 2015Without a clean and properly working chimney, your fireplace won’t operate as needed; it could also be possibly dangerous to operate. This is one of the reasons why it is important to schedule an annual chimney cleaning, also known as a Level 1 inspection. The experts at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc., have the qualifications and training to conduct any kind of chimney inspection for your St. Paul, MN, home, as well as repair, installation and maintenance for your entire fireplace and chimney. If it’s been more than 12 months since your last chimney inspection, call us today and schedule an appointment.
What Happens During the Inspection?
During a Level 1 inspection, the technician inspects all of the readily-visible parts of your chimney and fireplace, including the firebox, damper and smoke chamber on the inside and the crown, cap and condition of the chimney on the outside. The goal of this inspection is to find any existing problems both with the inside and outside of your chimney and fireplace, including any structural issues, problems with the masonry and problems with drafting. Once the inspection is completed, the cleaning process will begin. Your entire chimney will be scoured with a rotating brush that removes the soot, ash and creosote, and all these combustion byproducts will be permanently removed using professional-grade vacuums. If any serious problems were discovered during the inspection process, you’ll be notified immediately.
Why Schedule Inspection?
The first reason you should schedule an annual inspection is for safety. A malfunctioning fireplace and/or chimney can be extremely dangerous, with the worst case scenario being the development of a chimney fire. A second reason chimney inspections are important is that they help your chimney operate as they should. Chimneys do two things at once: they expel the toxic byproducts of combustion while also bringing the right amount of air to feed the fire; if this balance is off in any way, your fireplace and chimney will experience problems.
We bring years of experience to every chimney inspection we do in St. Paul, MN, so Call Us Today! 612.922.9600 or 1-888-PIXLEYS
What Is a Level 2 Chimney Inspection?
Friday, March 13th, 2015Having a chimney that doesn’t work correctly isn’t just inconvenient, it’s dangerous. Your home’s chimney is the single outlet to expel the toxic byproducts of combustion and also to draw in air to feed your fire the oxygen it needs to burn properly. But when the chimney isn’t healthy enough to do these things, serious problems can ensue. The best way to ascertain whether or not your chimney is in good shape is schedule a chimney inspection. However, there are three levels of chimney inspections and we’ll explain more detail about these below so that you can understand what happens when you need a level 2 chimney inspection in Apple Valley.
Types of Chimney Inspections
The type of chimney inspection you need will depend largely on how you use your fireplace and chimney:
Level 1 Inspection
The level 1 inspection is the most basic type of inspection, and is the equivalent of a chimney sweep. This type of inspection is thorough, but is used when you aren’t changing the equipment in your fireplace, i.e., you aren’t making a change like installing an insert or stove. During a level 1 inspection, your chimney will be cleaned, the fireplace and fireplace box checked, insert or stove checked if there is one, and any blockages will be removed.
Level 2 Inspection
This type of inspection is needed for the following:
- When you sell or buy a new home with a chimney
- When you need to line your chimney
- If you change the fuel type burning in the fireplace
- If there are changes to the materials of which the chimney is made
A level 2 inspection will include all of the tasks of a level 1 inspection, but it will also include the areas close to the chimney, including attic space, crawl space and basement space.
Level 3 Inspection
Level 3 typically involves serious hazards. A level 3 inspection occurs when a chimney needs to have certain parts removed or rebuilt due to serious corrosion or damage. The tasks of levels 1 and 2 are also performed as part of level 3 service.
Maintaining your chimney is an important part of you and your home’s safety. The chimney specialists at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc., will let you know what level inspection you’ll need for your Apple Valley home, so you don’t need to worry about having this information when you call us.
It’s recommended that your chimney is inspected annually, so if it has been more than 12 months since your last chimney inspection, Call Us Today! 612.922.9600 or 1-888-PIXLEYS
Why Spring Chimney Cleaning Is Important
Friday, March 6th, 2015“Spring cleaning” is a term everyone knows, and today we apply it to more than just cleaning homes. Any thorough clean-up job done to maintain orderliness, whether at your office or on your computer’s hard drive, can be thought of as spring cleaning.
A part of your home that definitely needs true spring cleaning is your chimney. Spring is one of the best times to arrange for a professional chimney sweep to come to your home and give your chimney a complete cleaning, from firebox to crown. If you are looking for excellent spring chimney cleaning in White Bear Lake, MN, you have come to the right place: 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. has certified chimney sweeps on staff with the experience and equipment to handle the job while keeping your home protected from soot. Contact us today to arrange for your chimney cleaning.
Why spring cleaning is recommended for chimneys
You use your fireplace the most during the winter, and all that exhaust going up the chimney can lead to the development of creosote, a combustible material that needs removal. If creosote continues to build up, it can lead to chimney fires that can damage the chimney and even lead to fires in the upper floors or roof of your home. Extensive soot will also develop inside the chimney over the winter, and it’s important for chimney sweeps to eliminate this so the fireplace can vent properly.
The Minnesota winters can be exceptionally cruel to chimneys, and once the cold and snow are gone during the spring, it’s a good time to get rid of some of the troubles the chimney may have picked up during the last few months. Moisture inside a chimney from snow and rain can lead to cracking along the masonry, and cleaning will catch these problems before they become serious.
One common trouble that chimney cleaners encounter during spring cleaning is animal nests. Many birds and mammals seek shelter inside chimneys during the cold weather, which provide warmth and shelter. Bird nests are a frequent issue, often placed near the crown. Even raccoons can try to lair inside a chimney, and you certainly don’t want to attempt to remove a raccoon on your own!
Finally, chimney cleaning in spring is easy to plan, since chimney professionals are not as busy as in the winter and fall. You arrange to have your cleaning done on a convenient schedule.
We are certified with the Chimney Safety Institute of America and members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild.
For quality spring chimney cleaning in White Bear Lake, MN, give 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. a call. Call Us Today! 612.922.9600 or 1-888-PIXLEYS
What Is a Level 3 Chimney Inspection?
Friday, March 6th, 2015Although it is natural to think of the chimney in your home as durable almost to the point of invincibility, this is far from the truth. In order for a chimney to safely vent exhaust and avoid creating fire hazards and sustaining damage from moisture, it must receive routine inspections from professionals with licensing from the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Inspections will locate any problem areas where a chimney may need repairs, such as relining, masonry work, or a new crown.
If you are unsure of when your chimney last received an inspection, it’s probably overdue for one. Call 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc., and our certified inspectors will take care of the job, whether you need a Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 chimney inspection in Spring Lake Park, MN. We have many decades of experience with handling chimney issues of all kinds.
What do these levels mean?
The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) defines three levels of chimney inspection. A Level 1 inspection is the basic check for a chimney that has not experience any major issues, nor is the homeowner planning on making any changes to the chimney or fireplace in the future. A Level 2 inspection is required if the homeowner had made a change in the fireplace or chimney, such as switching to a new fuel type or putting in a new liner. These inspections are also required when property is transferred or the chimney suffers damage from an event such as building or chimney fire.
Do I need a Level 3 inspection?
The third level of inspection is the most thorough. However, you won’t need to worry about determining whether you need one or not, because the technicians will figure this out when performing either a Level 1 or Level 2 inspection. If the inspectors suspect that a chimney may have serious safety issues during a Level 1 or 2 inspection, they will then do a Level 3.
During a Level 3 inspection, the technicians will check all the parts of the chimney to see that it is sound, the flue venting properly, and combustion systems working correctly. The inspection then moves deeper to normally inaccessible areas of the chimney, which sometimes requires removing the crown or parts of the interior chimney wall to check for damage and serious structural problems. This job takes special tools and techniques that are not used during Level 1 and 2 inspections.
If it’s time for a chimney inspection in your home in Spring Lake Park, MN, a Level 3 chimney inspection may not be necessary. Whatever is required to keep your chimney safe and effective, you can trust to 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. to handle it.
Our certified chimney inspectors will start with either a Level 1 or 2 inspection, and then tell you if you need the higher level. Call Us Today! 612.922.9600 or 1-888-PIXLEYS
Signs Your Chimney Needs Repair
Friday, February 27th, 2015You can’t have a safe or effective fire in your home’s fireplace without a safe, effective chimney. As such, if you are a homeowner who uses your fireplace, whether for a simple, occasional fire or for every day heat, it’s important to be aware of the signs that your chimney may need repair. It’s just as important to hire experts to repair your chimney should it need repair. The fireplace and chimney experts at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc., bring two generations’ worth of experience and expertise to every job we do, so if you have fireplace needs, including repair, call us today!
Chimney Repair Signs
Here are some items to be aware of when it comes to chimney repair:
- Crumbling mortar – mortar is the cement or other binding substance that holds the stones or bricks of your chimney and fireplace together. If you can see that the mortar is crumbling, or can physically crumble it with your fingers, there is likely a moisture problem with your chimney. Crumbling mortar can lead to loose masonry, which can be very dangerous for your chimney.
- Loose flue tiles – loose flue tiles, also known as shaling, occurs when you find tiles that are specially-designed for the top of your flue in the lower parts of your chimney or even in the firebox. These tiles are very important for the safety of your chimney and need to be replaced before your next use.
- White powder on masonry – bricks sometimes develop a white, powdery substance on their surface that can be easily brushed off. Many people take this as normal, but it isn’t. That white powder is there because moisture that has gotten inside the brick and pushed the salt of the brick to the surface. There is a name to this phenomenon, and it is called Moisture isn’t good for any kind of masonry, so if you are seeing efflorescence, it’s time to call for an expert.
Whether you use your fireplace for occasional ambience or every day for additional heat, your chimney needs to be safe and effective.
If you are seeing the signs that your chimney in Roseville needs repair, Call Us Today! 612.922.9600 or 1-888-PIXLEYS
Valentine’s Day: Pagan Revelry, Clandestine Marriage, and 14th Century Poetry
Saturday, February 14th, 2015What do you think of when you think of Valentine’s Day? Perhaps rushing off to the stationary store after work to choose the perfect card with which to express your feelings towards a loved one? Dinner reservations at a fancy restaurant? Roses, dark chocolates, and other gifts and confections? Whatever Valentine’s Day may look like to you, chances are that it is a far cry from the history surrounding this holiday – or at least we hope so. Here are a few interesting facts about this most romantic of holidays, from your friends here at 2nd Generation Chimneys.
The fact of the matter is that there is no definitive history as to how Valentine’s Day came to be. There are a few different saints with variations of the name Valentine, for example. One of the most prevalent legends, and one certainly in keeping with the romantic nature of the holiday as we know it today, pertains to a priest serving during the 3rd century in Rome. Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II, who believed that young men made for better soldiers if unfettered by marriage, it was illegal for young men to marry. A true believer in love, Valentine would marry young couples in secret. Until, at least, he was found out, and met a very unpleasant end for his crimes.
Like many of our modern holidays, Valentine’s Day can also be traced back to pagan ritual. Lupercalia, as the pagan festival is known, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, a god of agriculture. As is often the case with Roman celebrations, the details of this celebration are unfit to detail here. Suffice to say that, while there is certainly a touch of the amorous in the proceedings, the festival was a far cry from what we associate with Valentine’s Day today.
How, then, did our modern version of Valentine’s Day come to be? The answer may lie in, of all places, 14th century poetry; particularly, in the writings of Geoffrey Chaucer. Famed for his Canterbury Tales, Chaucer may well be the very first writer to associate Valentine’s Day with romantic love, in the manner of which we are familiar with it today. His The Parliament of Fowls details the dream-vision of a narrator consumed with the idea of romantic love and the natural order of finding a mate. Valentine’s Day is mentioned by name a number of times, as the narrator witnesses a parliament of eagles vying for the hand – or, perhaps more aptly, the wing – of a mate.
Whatever you may think of the holiday’s sordid and convoluted history, we here at 2nd Generation Chimneys hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day with the special someone in your life.
What Happens During a Chimney Inspection?
Thursday, February 5th, 2015The safety of your family is important to you, which is why we feel it is so important for every home chimney to receive inspection once a year. Like any other type of heating equipment, a chimney can pose a safety hazard if it is not regularly maintained. Maintenance includes cleaning problem areas and checking for any damage that could increase your chances of a dangerous chimney fire. Heating equipment is the second leading reason for home fires, and chimney fires take the lead in this category.
Scheduling chimney cleaning and inspection every year can significantly lower your risk of a fire, alerting you to any repair needs and giving you some peace of mind over the condition of your unit. Call a company trusted for chimney inspection and repair and recognized by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. Call 2nd Generation Chimneys today.
The Levels of Chimney Inspection
What happens during your next chimney inspection will depend on your needs, the state of your chimney and firebox, and whether you or your technician suspects trouble. There are three stages or levels of chimney inspections.
- Level 1 – A level 1 chimney inspection is recommended for most homeowners as part of annual chimney cleaning. Before chimney cleaning, the technician should inspect your chimney for any large debris, like birds’ nests, and areas with a high concentration of creosote. After cleaning up these types of issues, the technician should inspect the chimney again using a strong light to locate any visible damage.
- Level 2 – Level 2 chimney inspections are a bit more comprehensive, but are necessary after a fire, in case you decide to sell your home, or if you’re upgrading your stove or alternate heating equipment. Technicians will access crawlspaces and use high-tech equipment to assess the state of the chimney.
- Level 3 – Finally, level 3 chimney inspections are recommended only in extreme cases, as the chimney may be disassembled to an extent for a complete inspection.
The technicians at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. are highly trained and certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. Call Us Today! 612.922.9600 or 1-888-PIXLEYS