How to Repair a Deteriorating Fireplace

September 4th, 2017

fireplace-brick-fireWe’re getting excited for the cooler weather to come! It’s almost time to light a fire, gather with loved ones, and feel the cozy warmth of a naturally heated living space. But you are probably a lot less excited about that joy of the coming seasons if your fireplace is not in good shape, if you’ve noticed that parts are not working properly or it’s started to deteriorate.

We want to help you learn what to do about a problematic fireplace. However, we will stress that most fireplace repairs, especially those that carry over to your chimney, should be handled by the pros. Please, feel free to reach out to our professional technicians for more information.

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A Fire Risk in Your Home You May Not Expect

August 28th, 2017

dryer-vent-lint-cleaningWe spend a lot of time telling people about the hidden fire risks that lurk inside their chimneys and fireplaces (especially those that don’t receive regular cleanings and inspections). Our chimney sweeps are committed to safety, and there’s one safety measure that often goes unchecked.

Today, we want to talk about a part of the home you may rarely, if ever, spend time thinking about. The dryer vent leads out of your dryer and outside of the home. It keeps all that heat out of the house, along with any gases you certainly don’t want in your home—byproducts of combustion.

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The Facts about Animal Removal from Your Chimney

August 21st, 2017

chimney-masonry-worn-brickMany of the same cute little critters we love seeing videos of on the internet are also considered pests. Raccoons, squirrels, and more of those silly bandits can hide out in your chimney, while birds can get stuck inside or nest atop the chimney. You may love finding and sharing images of some of these animals online, but when they get into your chimney, you can start to worry.

Some chimney technicians, like many of the members of our team, specialize in animal removal from chimneys. Some animals will require the help of animal rescue services to remove. Others will require you to allow them to stay and camp out until they migrate on their own, but there are things you can do to prevent this in the first place. Read on to learn a bit more about how animal removal works when it comes to chimneys.

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Options for Fireplace Installation You May Not Know About

August 7th, 2017

living-room-open-kitchen-fireplaceThere’s nothing like the crackle of a fire on a cold night, something you may be dreaming of right now as summer temperatures leave you sweating. So when you’re looking into buying a new fireplace, you may picture that traditional look and feel: a wood fireplace that burns logs and sends smoke out through the chimney.

However, this is not the best option for many homes. In fact, in our experience, more and more homeowners are looking for other options, like gas and electric fireplace installation, especially when renovating an older home or even when modifying a newer existing home. Find out which new fireplace or setup might be the best choice for your home!

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Chimney Fire Safety Tips for Warm Weather

July 31st, 2017

fire-smoke-detectorFor most of the year, we post articles about what to do in order to prevent fires from occurring in your chimney and spreading to the outside of the home. In the summer, however, you may think you have little to worry about it.

For the most part, this is true. It’s important to keep your chimney in good condition, scheduling inspections and repairs as needed. However, you likely use your chimney sparingly, if at all, and you won’t have to worry about a chimney fire again until the next chilly day.

Still, fires are possible when warm dry weather picks up. Downdrafts from the chimney can contribute to this, and no matter where a fire originates, it’s important to have a fire safety plan in place.

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What Happens After a Chimney Fire?

July 24th, 2017

chimney-and-fireWe spend a lot of time warning people about chimney fires, advising homeowners on how to prevent a fire, and sharing information about preventing fires from spreading to the outside of the home. Unfortunately, chimney fires are an all-too-common reality for people who use their fireplace. In our area, it’s essential to know what to do if you encounter a chimney fire, and what will happen to your home as a result.

For more information on chimney fires, or to get services for your chimney and fireplace in Minneapolis, give us a call. For now, read on to find out what can happen to your chimney when a fire starts, how you may not even know about it in the first place, and what to do to detect and repair the damage.

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Top Chimney Service Company with the Largest Napoleon Showroom in the State

July 19th, 2017

napoleon-fireplacesHave you checked out our Napoleon fireplace showroom yet? If you’re looking for a new home fireplace, it’s the only place to go. Napoleon manufactures some of the finest, most beautiful fireplaces and stoves in the country, and you can see them all in the largest showroom in the state.

When you visit our showroom, our experts help you to pick out the best fireplace for your home and budget. Our installers make sure your new fireplace and chimney is safe and secure.

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About Your Chimney Flashing and What Can Go Wrong

July 10th, 2017

chimney-flashing-repairWe’re not talking about flashing lights above your chimney. “Chimney flashing” is a term that describes the part of the chimney that meets the rooftop, and the way the two are sealed together. Chimney flashing is made of durable materials meant to help prevent leaks and water damage, but it’s still one of the most common areas to require repairs for a chimney.

If chimney flashing is not done properly, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise: a leak from your ceiling. Learn more about this problem and potential prevention and solutions below!

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What’s Wrong with This Chimney?

July 3rd, 2017

chimney-needs-repairTake a look at the chimney pictured here. It might look like a typical chimney, if not a bit worn with age. But to chimney sweeps, this structure has a couple of major issues. We want to make sure that your home is protected, so we’re helping you learn what might make a chimney fire more likely or what may help it to spread to the outside of the home.

Be sure to schedule inspections and cleaning for your chimney each and every year, so you don’t have to worry about trying to evaluate your chimney on your own. Call our friendly team today!

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4 Common Chimney Repairs Homeowners Make in the Off-Season

June 26th, 2017

chimney-masonry-worn-brickSummer is finally here, and you’ve quit using your fireplace and chimney for the changing seasons months ago. Why should you have to worry about the condition of your chimney now? If not, you might be stuck with problems that make it impossible to use your fireplace and chimney during the winter. Even worse, you might not know about problems within your chimney that make it incredibly unsafe to use.

Summer is the perfect time to schedule that chimney inspection and make sure your home has an extra layer of protection from fire. Repairing your chimney could also help protect your home from water leaks throughout the year, preventing you from having to spend thousands to for water damage repair and mold restoration. Here are just a few of the repairs we make for homeowners for their chimneys during the off-season.

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