January is a month when people get their lives into regular shape after a busy conclusion of the year. Suddenly, we have “normal” weeks and weekends with less crowding our schedules, and that’s a good time to get to some basics about arranging for the new year and taking care of various bookkeeping and planning jobs.
Some of the jobs you may look into doing during the start of the new year will be for home maintenance. We’d like to suggest that one of these maintenance jobs you get done—if you didn’t do it at the end of the year—is a chimney inspection in Minneapolis, MN.
Don’t worry about getting a ladder, flashlight, and old clothes. This isn’t a job you can do yourself. Although you can spot major troubles with your chimney and call for repairs, a full annual inspection requires licensed professionals with the best tools and training. 2nd Generation Chimneys is your best resource for your yearly chimney inspection.
What’s the Big Deal About Chimney Inspections?
People often think of chimneys as invincible towers of masonry. But all chimneys need regular check-ups to spot problems. Here is why every fire safety organization recommends annual inspections:
1. Safety
Safety always comes first with a chimney. Your chimney is the conduit to carry away harmful gases from the fireplace, including carbon monoxide monoxide. A chimney that isn’t venting out gases properly or has obstructions (such as animal nests, a common problem here in Minnesota) can push these dangerous gases into your living spaces. Remember, carbon monoxide is difficult to detect, so you want any potential hazards identified by pros early on.
Another important safety issue for wood-burning fires is creosote, a highly flammable substance that will accumulate inside the chimney over time. Creosote is the main cause of chimney fires, and these fires can leap to the upper levels of the house or the roof and create a rapidly spreading house fire. Inspections look for creosote so it can be cleaned out.
2. Maintaining Efficiency
Without a properly functioning chimney, you won’t have an energy-efficient fireplace. Chimneys with restricted airflow will lead to inefficient performance. If you rely on your fireplace as part of your home heating during the winter (and they work well at this), you may end up with an energy-wasting fireplace and a colder home.
3. Extended Chimney Lifespan
Regular inspections will identify and address minor issues before they grow into bigger ones. You can extend the lifespan of your chimney and avoid costly repairs—or even a complete chimney rebuild—when you stay on top of annual chimney inspections.
4. Compliance with Codes and Regulations
Many local building codes and insurance policies require regular chimney inspections and maintenance. If you fail to comply with these regulations, you could lose your insurance coverage and incur fines. Our annual inspections will ensure you’ve got a code-compliant chimney.
5. Peace of Mind
Knowing that your chimney is in good condition and won’t create safety risks lets you get the most out of your fireplace. After all, fireplaces are supposed to be sources of relaxation and coziness, not stress!
2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. serves Minneapolis, St. Paul and the Surrounding Communities. Call us today to schedule an appointment for a chimney inspection.