Why Do You Need to Have the Dryer Vents Cleaned?

February 20th, 2017

dryer-vent-lint-cleaningAt 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc., we’re advocates for home safety, encouraging homeowners to schedule professional chimney sweep services in order to prevent dangerous chimney and home fires. We also encourage regular dryer vent cleaning, but some people are not sure how the two are connected and why dryer vent cleaning is a necessary home safety measure.

Here, we discuss what you may risk by failing to clean the vents that lead from your dryer to the outdoors. We also give you some tools to detect potential safety risks, but be sure to call a professional technician for a thorough inspection and cleaning of your dryer ducts.

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Keep Heat in Your Home with 4 Fireplace and Chimney Tips

January 23rd, 2017

A fireplace is a soothing, comforting source of heat when the whole family is gathered in the living room, playing games or watching television and making the most of a cold evening.

We hope we don’t have to tell you that you shouldn’t be using your fireplace as a primary source of heat. This is expensive, first of all, and it can be unsafe. You should never use a fireplace unattended, and it can only really heat one area of the home anyway.Chimney-Heating-Efficiency

This winter, you may use both your heating system and your fireplace. If so, we want to make sure your home works as efficiently as possible and that you get the most out of both of these comfort systems. Follow these tips to make sure your fireplace and chimney don’t contribute to higher energy bills than you need.

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Why It’s So Important to Have Certified Chimney Sweeps on the Job

January 17th, 2017

You wouldn’t hire a mechanic to be your doctor—or vice versa—so why would you choose a random “handyman” to clean your chimney? A dirty chimney is dangerous, greatly increasing your chances of a home fire, and it’s something you should have cleaned every year.

Certified chimney sweeps have gone through training and testing to prove their expertise, and you should only hire someone with the right credit for the job.

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Does Your Family Have a Fire Escape Plan?

January 16th, 2017

Fire safety is an often-neglected topic in households. You teach kids about fire alarms and warn them of the dangers of fires and heat-producing appliances, but you may never take the time to plan what would happen if there were a fire in your home.

A complete plan is more than realizing you need to get out in case of a fire. You should have a complete escape route, meeting place, and a plan for what to do next, so talk to your family and solidify your plans today!

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Burning the Right Wood in Your Fireplace

January 9th, 2017

Choosing the wrong firewood can result in an inefficient winter—and you may run out of fuel quickly. Alternatively, the wrong firewood may mean the fire does not burn hot enough, or there could even be a serious safety issue.

Make sure you have the right firewood, seasoned appropriately, to get you through the winter (or reconsider using the fireplace!).

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Start the New Year Right with a Chimney Inspection

January 2nd, 2017

The new year is a time for a new start. If you missed out on chimney maintenance in the beginning of the winter, it’s not too late! We want every homeowner to have the opportunity to ensure that their chimneys are in tip-top shape, so that they can prevent potential home fires, water damage, and other issues.

Schedule a chimney inspection with a local chimney sweep. It’s important!

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Failure to Clean Dryer Vents Leads to Fires

December 26th, 2016

Dry winter air can intensify the possibility of a home fire. And some of the most inconspicuous things in your home could be responsible for starting a fire that spreads to the outside of your home. One of these is a home’s clothes dryer.

Clothes dryer fires are surprisingly common, and the number one reason for a dryer fire is lack of maintenance on the part of the homeowner. This may be more involved than you think.

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Plan for Fire Safety in Your Home

December 20th, 2016

We cannot overstate the importance of knowing what to do, and ensuring your family knows what to do, in case of a fire in the home. Planning for fire safety means ensuring you have up-to-date working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, along with a plan for what to do in an emergency. Learn more in today’s guide.

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How to Tell Your Chimney Needs Sweeping

December 19th, 2016

We recommend that you get your chimney cleaned about once a year. However, there are certain circumstances in which creosote can build up faster (or slower) than it normally would, meaning you may need to clean at a different frequency.

Want to check whether your chimney is in dire need of cleaning? Read on to learn about when to get your chimney professionally cleaned, and find out more from our chimney sweeps.

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We Use the Chim-Scan System for Chimney Inspections

December 5th, 2016

We want you to have a safe and happy holiday season. But an uninspected chimney can be a serious barrier to this. Spending the holidays around a warm, welcoming fire may seem like the perfect family time, but hidden dangers could lurk in the chimney and fireplace.

Routine chimney cleaning is a good way to protect your home, but it’s nothing without a complete inspection before and after. Call our team for more information about chimney cleaning services, and find out why we use the Chim-Scan video scanner below.

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