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

How Can I Tell if My Chimney Need a Repair?

Thursday, June 13th, 2013

Homeowners with working fireplaces know how relaxing and comforting a roaring fire in the living room can be. While fireplaces are a great luxury, though, they can also present some unique hazards if not properly cared for. One of the most important things that you must do if you use a fireplace in your home is to ensure that your chimney is in great working condition. If you have any reason to suspect that you may be in need of professional Minneapolis chimney repair, 2^nd Generation Chimneys is the company to call. Contact us today to schedule the outstanding chimney repair services you need to operate your fire safely and confidently.

In order to schedule any necessary chimney repair services promptly of course, you must be able to recognize some common signs that you are in need of chimney repair. One of the most obvious signs that you need to schedule professional chimney repair is the development of cracks in your chimney. Chimney crowns, for instance, are a common cause of chimney leaks. They are very exposed to the elements, designed to shed water away from the top of a chimney. As the weather fluctuates from freezing winters to hot summers, your crown may cracks and crumble.

You may also notice cracks in the mortar of your chimney. The mortar tends to go before bricks, which are much more durable. It is very likely that, at some point, your mortar will need to be touched up or replaced.

Finally, operational issues most likely point to a need for a professional chimney repair. If you are at all concerned about problems with venting smoke out of your fireplace, contact us immediately. The threat of carbon monoxide exposure should not be taken lightly. Schedule professional chimney repair the moment you notice any problems with its operation.

2^nd Generation Chimneys is happy to answer any questions you may have about the chimney repair process. Give us a call today to learn more. Our Minneapolis chimney repair technicians want to ensure that you are able to use your fireplace safely and with total confidence in the quality of your chimney’s operation.

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Tips for Chimney Fire Prevention

Tuesday, June 4th, 2013

Fireplaces are a great addition to many homes and provide warmth and style to any indoor environment. But fireplaces and their chimneys need to be taken care of and respected. Chimney fires are no laughing matter and can be a serious threat to your home and to your safety. Preventing chimney fires should be something that every homeowner is interested in. The St. Paul chimney fire prevention professionals at 2nd Generation Chimneys have years of experience cleaning and maintaining all different types of chimneys. We thought it would be a good idea to put together some of the ways that you can potentially protect your home from chimney fires.

St. Paul Chimney Fire Prevention

During the winter you likely use your fireplace on a regular basis. That use can lead to the build-up of creosote and soot on the inside of your chimney lining. These two materials are the result of burning fuel in your fireplace. They are also the most common cause of chimney fires. These are a few of the St. Paul chimney fire prevention steps that you can take to make sure that your chimney keeps working efficiently and safely.

Get regular maintenance – Probably the best way to potentially prevent chimney fires is to get your chimney regularly inspected and cleaned by a professional. During regular maintenance and cleaning visits, our chimney sweeps will thoroughly clean and inspect your chimney for any cracks or issues that could be developing it your chimney’s lining.
Burn the right wood – Make sure that the wood you burn (if you have a wood-burning fireplace) is thoroughly dried. When green, wood can have a lot of resin, water and tannins that can create a lot of creosote when you burn them. Also, evergreens like pine and hemlock tend to have more resin and sap in them which produces more creosote. To help prevent creosote build-up you can burn an aluminum can in your fireplace every once in a while which will help dry out the creosote.

If you’d like to learn more St. Paul chimney fire prevention tips just call 2nd Generation Chimneys today to talk with one of our friendly staff about any of the services that you need.

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How Is Minneapolis Chimney Relining Done?

Thursday, May 23rd, 2013

Here in Minnesota you likely use your chimney a lot. All that use can eventually cause problems for your chimney. One of the fastest and easiest ways to both repair cracks and also increase the efficiency of your chimney is to get it relined. Here at 2nd Generation Chimneys we have many years of experience relining all different types of chimneys. We often get asked about how the process actually gets done. We thought it would be a good idea to put together a quick explanation of how our experts perform Minneapolis chimney relining. Give us a call if you’re having any issues with your chimney.

Minneapolis Chimney Relining

There are a couple different methods for relining your chimney. The Minneapolis chimney relining experts at 2nd Generation Chimneys can work with you to figure out which method would be best. The fuel that you use for your fireplace will be a large determining factor in which type of chimney relining material we will use.

Clay tiles – Clay tiles are inexpensive and very common. They can be found almost anywhere and are a good option for many homeowners. The Minneapolis chimney relining professionals at 2nd Generation can help determine if this is the right route for your home.
Metal – Metal relining is another very common chimney relining material. Stainless steel is a good choice for some homeowners because it can be used with many different types of fireplaces.
Cast-in-place – This type of relining involves pouring cements into a mold inside your chimney. The mold forms the cement into a solid cylinder inside of your existing chimney. This is a great option if your chimney is damaged.

If you’ve started to have problems with your chimney just call the friendly Minneapolis chimney relining specialists at 2nd Generation Chimney. We have years of experience working with all different types of chimneys. We’ll be able to get yours back up and working again soon.

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What Kind of Tools We Use For Chimney Sweeping in St. Paul

Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

Homeowners throughout the St. Paul, MN area enjoy the comforting glow of fireplaces for much of the year. But creosote, animals, and other debris present challenges to this comfort, which is why you need routine professional chimney sweeping. Unfortunately, many customers have a somewhat antiquated image of what we do, usually associated with lots of soot and black dust, perhaps something out of Mary Poppins. While we retain the chimney sweeper’s cheer of the Disney film, we use only clean, modern techniques to keep your chimney working well throughout the year. In this post, we’d like to explain the basics of the process so that you get a sense of what you’re getting. If you’re looking for St. Paul, MN chimney sweeping, look no further than the experts at 2^nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. Call us today!

Brushes. Your chimney sweeper will use a variety of rotary brushes to scrape the creosote from the interior of your chimney safely. These brushes are designed with this task in mind, and specifically built to remove creosote efficiently. They are attached to flexible rods, or to a long flexible hose that goes up and down your chimney, all the way to the top.
Vacuum. In order to keep your home clean, and to prevent the black dust from entering your household, the chimney sweeper uses an industrial vacuum with a filter specially designed to capture micro-particles of dust. The vacuum’s position depends on your chimney and the type of equipment being used, but its high suction rate ensures that the job is done cleanly and efficiently, with minimal disruption to the rest of your home. The sweeper may also recommend covering the chimney area in drop cloths to ensure that your belongings to do not accumulate dust.
Chemicals. If the amount of creosote in your chimney reaches what’s called level 3, then your sweeper may recommend using special chemical agents to remove the creosote, in addition to brushes.

We hope this gives you a preview of the clean, efficient service that we offer. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give the St. Paul, MN chimney sweeping experts at 2^nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. a call today!

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What You Need to Know About Chimney Fires and Insurance

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

Whenever you use a fireplace or stove that requires the use of a chimney to heat your home, there is the possibility of a chimney fire. While scheduling routine chimney maintenance and professional chimney sweeping services will keep your chimney as safe as possible, you should still understand some basics about chimney fires and insurance. Here is some information about the Minneapolis chimney insurance claims procedure. If you have any further questions, or need to schedule any services for your chimney, contact 2^nd Generation Chimneys. We have the answers to any questions you may have about Minneapolis chimney insurance claims.

First of all, you need to initiate your claim right away. Contact your insurance company to do so, and try to get your claim number as soon as possible. Then you must find a reliable contractor to work with. This contractor will act as a liaison between you and the insurance company you use. Make sure that you are working with a dependable, qualified contractor.

Your contractor may have you sign a contingency contract, which serves as a written agreement between you and the contractor. Many insurance companies will not work with a contractor on a restoration without this type of contract. In most cases, if you have the proper insurance, you will only wind up paying your insurance deductible in the event of a chimney fire. Make sure that you have a good grasp on the details of your insurance policy. You do not want to have a chimney fire occur in your home, only to realize that the resulting damages are not covered by your policy.

Generally speaking, an insurance payment will occur in two phases. You will get a first check, representing the actual cash value, which will be released once your insurer agrees to the damages and their worth. The final replacement check is issued once the project is complete.

When you are looking for information about Minneapolis chimney insurance claims, or if you need a contractor you can work with in complete confidence, call 2^nd Generation Chimneys today. We can handle your evaluations and reports, claim loss recovery and chimney restoration needs. Call today to get started.

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Twin Cities: The Importance of Chimney Resurfacing

Friday, April 19th, 2013

Check out our video of one of our certified technicians performing smoke chamber resurfacing. As part of our chimney repair services, resurfacing is an important part of maintaining and preserving your chimney and masonry work. Don’t wait until your chimney becomes irreparable to schedule a maintenance call. We service the Twin Cities area so Schedule an appointment today!

Tags: chimney repair, Chimney Resurfacing, Twin Cities
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From Mary Poppins to 2nd Generation – A Brief History of Chimney Sweeping

Monday, April 8th, 2013

Originally based on a series of children’s books written by P. L. Travers, the popular Walt Disney film Mary Poppins instilled in the American imagination a delightful portrait of the chimney sweep, played by Dick van Dyke, who sings and dances well, even when covered in soot. We might call this the romantic image of the late 19^th and early 20^th century English chimney sweep who performs difficult labor with a smile on his face.

Of course, as with many of our modern professions, the history of chimney sweeping was not always as pleasant as the Plymouth, MN chimney sweeping experts at 2nd Generation Chimneys make it! The occupation had its hardships, including illness and disease from soot and carbon monoxide.

In this post, we’d like to give you an overview of the profession of chimney sweeping. For Plymouth, MN chimney sweeping, call the experts at 2^nd Generation Chimneys today!

Long used in ancient Rome, chimneys became especially prevalent in post-Renaissance Europe, especially for nobility, whose castles and palaces were well equipped with numerous fireplaces, many of them quite extravagant. But even for the average row house, the use of wood as a fuel to both heat and cook meant that the home fireplace received much more use than they do today. When creosote builds up, it becomes a fire hazard and blocks the ventilation. Up until the late 18^th century, both the English and Americans alike were largely ignorant of the dangers of soot, creosote, and carbon monoxide, so that young apprentices would often be susceptible to disease early in life. Such conditions were stemmed by governmental restrictions, but it wasn’t until the 20^th century that such dangers were truly exposed.

The modern chimney sweep uses much of the same equipment as his predecessors to remove creosote and soot buildup from the interior surface of chimneys: brushes and scrapers. But, vacuum technology has made the practice much safer to perform, and safety equipment is regularly used to prevent inhalation of noxious particles. A clean chimney allows you to heat your home confidently. It provides excellent comfort throughout the heating season.

When you need chimney services, make sure you contact a professional. For more information, or to schedule a Plymouth, MN chimney sweeping, call the experts at 2^nd Generation Chimneys today!

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How Water Can Damage Your Chimney in St. Paul

Monday, April 1st, 2013

While most homeowners associate their chimneys with fire, water can pose significant challenges to the parts and materials of your chimney. While the rest of your home is protected from water and snow by roofing material and eaves, your chimney stands exposed to all of the elements. When professionally installed and maintained, your chimney is built to last, but over time it may require repair. Remember that professional chimney and fireplace repair in St. Paul, MN requires expertise and experience. Call the experts at 2^nd Generation Chimneys today.

Water damage is the result of erosion, oxidization, as well as the deterioration of brick and mortar materials by frequent freezing and thawing. If water enters the pores of these materials, and the temperature drops, the resulting water expansion inside these materials can cause significant problems to the integrity of the masonry. Here are a few ways that water can damage your chimney in St. Paul, MN:

Rusty damper. In addition to the freeze/thaw action of water, there is, of course, the oxidization of metal cause by water and water vapor. While most of the materials used within chimney and fireplace construction are water-resistant, rust is still a constant risk. Your damper controls the airflow of your chimney, so that you can avoid losing heat when you’re not using your fireplace. When moisture enters the damper mechanism, the parts can rust, and they may eventually cause the damper to become stuck.
Mortar deterioration. As already mentioned, water can pose a significant threat to your chimney mortar. Your bricks are only as good as the glue that holds them together, so be sure to ask your local fireplace repairman to use only quality mortar for repairs and new construction.
Faulty flashing. Your flashing is the material that forges a seamless bond between your chimney and your roof. Typically made out of aluminum or copper, flashing can begin to undergo wear and tear over time, especially if improperly installed.

Understanding the risk of chimney water damage is important to keeping your home safe. If you need fireplace repair in St. Paul, MN, call 2^nd Generation Chimneys today!

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Chimney Inspection & Maintenance in Your Home

Friday, March 22nd, 2013

Are you looking to buy a home? Part of your home inspection will be an evaluation of the chimney for potential hazards or needed repairs. Inspectors may recommend an additional inspection by a certified chimney sweep. 2nd Generation Chimneys has certified chimney technicians who will complete their own inspection of your chimney and make recommendations for necessary repairs.

Regular cleanings and inspections are an essential part of preventative maintenance. Not only does this help with ventilation, but chimney cleaning can also help prevent chimney fires and carbon monoxide intrusion. Whether you’re purchasing a home or maintaining a home you’ve loved for years, call 2nd Generation Chimney to schedule a chimney cleaning today. And for long term care, don’t forget to ask about our maintenance program!

Tags: chimney cleaning, Chimney Inspection
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Minneapolis Chimney Tip: Why Is Chimney Flashing So Important?

Monday, March 18th, 2013

Chimney Flashing is a term for the metal used to wrap exposed parts of your roof and chimney to protect them from water damage. While most of your roof—whether asphalt shingles or metal sheets—is designed to shed water rapidly, the areas at the roof edge, as well as those surrounding vents and chimneys must be protected, for it is in these areas that water tends to seep in. The area around your chimney needs special attention because it is essentially a hole in your roof. Making sure your roofing joins to the outside of your chimney is critical to ensure that water does not cause damage to your roof or create mold problems in your home. For more information about the importance of Chimney Flashing, or for Minneapolis chimney repair, call 2^nd Generation Chimneys today!

What it is. Chimney Flashing is the name for thin metal sheets that act to prevent water from reaching susceptible areas of your home. It is part of weatherproof construction, which uses impervious materials to make your home shed water effectively. Chimney Flashing can be made out of any sheet metal, including aluminum, copper, zinc, lead, or stainless steel. The choice of material depends upon the application and the budget.
Why it is important. Chimney Flashing is important because it protects water from damaging the area around your chimney. As one of the major areas of potential water damage, your chimney needs to be joined to the rest of the weatherproof design on the roof. Improper or inadequate Chimney Flashing can result in major roof and chimney damages. Because your chimney protrudes, it is the first to undergo wind and water during a storm. Chimney Flashing allows a seamless fit.
The risk of water damage. If water is permitted to pool in and around your chimney structure, it cannot only require a major roof repair; it can be a breeding ground for mold growth, which can then seep into the interior walls. You need to ensure that your Chimney Flashing material is of high quality and that it lasts long—copper is generally acknowledged to be one of the best materials for Chimney Flashing.

For comprehensive chimney installation, repair, and maintenance in Minneapolis, MN, call 2^nd Generation Chimneys today!

Tags: chimney, Minneapolis
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