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.”
Spring and summer are perhaps the best times to schedule a chimney inspection and tune-up. By scheduling these services, you can prevent a number of potential issues that can occur anytime throughout the year, especially those that may arise in the winter. There are many reasons as to why your chimney might not be safe for summer yet, and below, we have listed these reasons. Keep reading to learn more about why you should schedule your chimney services now!Â
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?
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.
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.
You do not need us to remind you that the biting cold of the winter season is coming.
There is a lot to love about winter, from snowshoeing and ice fishing to skiing trips and snowmobiling. It really can be a very fun time of the year for the outdoorsmen and women among us. Even the most rugged individuals, however, and even those with the best gear on the market, look forward to coming home to a warm, comfortable environment at the end of the day. The critters outside are not all that different in this regard.
In the age of not only combustion boilers and furnaces but also modern technology like heat pumps and ductless mini splits, there are undoubtedly those individuals that look upon the old-fashioned fireplace/chimney combo as being a relic from the past. Those of us fortunate enough to have a well-designed and properly maintained fireplace/chimney setup, however, know different. Not only is the heat generated comforting, but the ambiance is incredibly relaxing.
Well, let me guess. One is inside, and one is outside, right? Haha, very funny. Sure, you may have a basic grasp of the difference between any components of any system when one is designated as “exterior” and the other “interior”. However, chances are that you may not even understand what a 
Ready to get your hands dirty? We hope so, because chimney cleaning can be a messy job! Of course, since we would never advise you to clean your chimney on your own, it’s only our hands that are going to be getting messy. We apologize for the fakeout, but there is absolutely no circumstance in which you are going to be able to clean your chimney on your own.