2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘chimney cleaning’

A Brief History of Chimney Sweeps

Friday, March 28th, 2014

The job title “chimney sweep” carries with it connotations both romantic and sooty. The first images that pop into people’s imagination when they hear the words “chimney sweeps” are either Mary Poppins or something close to the world of Charles Dickens. However, the chimney sweep in history goes farther back in time than Victorian London. This is an old profession, and a necessary one from the days of the first chimneys up through today.

Chimney sweeps are still with us, and they may not be as soot-covered as before, but they’re still ready to keep your chimney clean and safe. You can find some of the finest chimney sweeps at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. Call on us for fast and effective chimney inspection and chimney cleaning in Eden Prairie, MN.

The Chimney Sweep in History

The ancient Romans usually receive credit for the invention of what we would call a chimney. Since the Bronze Age, homes and palaces used large central hearths vented through a hole in the ceiling to heat rooms. But the Romans started to use fires in individual places of a dwelling that vented out a brick stack. Cleaning this was crucial to making sure the exhaust left the room and didn’t enter it, although there was not yet a single profession dedicated to the job.

It was during the 16th century in England that fireplaces with chimneys developed toward their modern versions, with fireplaces built in each room of a house to spread warmth more evenly. When the Crown levied a hearth tax in the 17th century on the number of chimneys in a house, homeowners would build complex tunnels systems of vents to all connect to single chimney. Coal also started to replace wood as the main fireplace fuel. Now homes were riddled with twisty channels choked with coal soot—and the task of keeping them clean was so large that a new profession arose to deal with it: the full-time chimney sweep.

This was an often hazardous occupation. Soot is dangerous for lungs, and the sweeps were frequently up in high places or required to squeeze up difficult narrow shafts. Orphaned children were often placed into indentured servitude as sweeps in exchange for food and lodging. (The term “light a fire under you” comes from a master threatening a frightened child sweep to continue to climb up a long chimney to complete the cleaning.)

In 1864, this abusive practice thankfully ended when Parliament passed a law to stop child labor as chimney sweeps. New inventions also allowed for much easier cleaning of chimneys.

Today in the U.S., chimney sweeps are highly specialized professionals certified to work to keep people’s fireplaces safe using the finest modern equipment.

For quality chimney cleaning in Eden Prairie, MN from a professional chimney cleaning service, contact the experts at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. Give us a call today to schedule your next service appointment!

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Common Causes of Chimney Fires

Saturday, December 14th, 2013

The title of the post might sound a touch scary. “How often do chimney fires happen? Should I even have a fireplace?” You don’t need to worry unnecessarily, since a fireplace in a home is no more dangerous than any other heating system you may have installed, such as a furnace or a boiler. If you take care of your chimney with regular sweeping and the necessary repairs, it will pose no serious danger to you, your family, or your home.

But accidents still happen, and poor chimney maintenance will make them more likely to happen. Here are the most common reasons for fires to start in chimneys. To prevent any of these from occurring in your home, rely on the professional services of 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. for chimney cleaning in Saint Paul, MN.

Here Are Some Causes of Chimney Fires

There is one main cause of chimney fires, although there are many reasons for it to develop. The cause is creosote, and it is Enemy #1 for your chimney and fireplace. Creosote is the name for that shiny, tarry, flaky residue that will start to coat the masonry of your fireplace and chimney after burning wood. Creosote is basically unburned wood energy, the by-product of combustion, and it is highly combustible itself. If it starts to layer the bricks of your chimney too thickly, not only will it restrict the escape of flue gases, but it will pose the risk of igniting and causing fires that can reach the upper floors or roof of your house. The more creosote builds up, the longer it can sustain a fire. Creosote will build up because of poor venting in your chimney, or excess smoke from burning unseasoned wood.

To help prevent creosote build-up, make sure that your chimney is properly vented. Build smaller, hotter fires that will burn completely and produce less smoke that will encourage creosote. Make sure that the chimney receives regular cleaning—once a year is recommended.

Only rely on CSIA-certified chimney sweeps

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends that you call a chimney sweep with CSIA certification to handle cleaning because they are regularly tested on their understanding of the complexities of chimney and venting systems. At 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc., all of our sweeps are CSIA certified, so you know that when you have your annual sweeping done, you will get the proper care that will keep creosote away and other dangers. You can enjoy your cozy fireplace all through the year without needing to worry about fires starting where they don’t belong. Contact us for your chimney cleaning in St. Paul, MN.

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What Happens During a Chimney Cleaning?

Friday, October 11th, 2013

Soot and creosote can build up in your chimney over time. Not only do they interfere with your ability to enjoy your fireplace, but they can constitute a danger to your household. When it comes to chimney cleaning, Plymouth MN and other communities in the Twin Cities need a reliable service in order to make full use of their fireplaces during our long, cold winters. But what happens during a chimney cleaning? The specifics depend on the type of fireplace and the nature of the build-up or damage, though a few general steps are universal.

It starts with an inspection to determine the state of your chimney and note the specific levels of soot or creosote build-up. After that, the chimney sweep lays down tarp and other protective coverings to keep your home clean and safe during the cleaning process. From there, the cleaning can proceed in earnest, using one of three basic methods:

  • The rod method uses flexible rods with sweepers on the end. The chimney sweep brushes the interior sides of the chimney to clear off the build-up. The deeper he needs to go into the chimney, the more extensions he can add to the rods to extend them. The rod method can be applied “top down” from the roof or “bottom up” from the interior of the home, depending on what’s most effective.
  • The weight method applies heavy weights to the brushes, then lets gravity help do the scrubbing. The chimney sweep can raise or lower it using a system of pulleys.
  • The dual line method involves two chimney sweeps: one at the top of the chimney and one at the bottom. They push and pull on a line running the length of the chimney with a brush attached to scrub down the sides of the chimney.

The exact method depends on the type of chimney, the cleaning required, and the proclivities of the chimney sweep. When you need a chimney cleaning in Plymouth MN, we can help. 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. can explain what happens during a chimney cleaning, then clean yours with thoroughness and courtesy. Give us a call today to set up an appointment.

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Which Type of Fireplace Is Safest for My Chimney: Gas, Electric or Wood-Burning?

Thursday, August 15th, 2013

If you’re replacing your fireplace and are concerned about creosote and soot build-up or about cracks forming in your chimney, then you’re likely weighing your options about which type of fuel you should burn. Here at 2nd Generation Chimneys, we have years of experience working with all different types of chimneys and we wanted to help our customers figure out which type of fireplace is right for them: gas, electric or wood-burning.

Give us a call if you have any questions or if you need any Minneapolis chimney cleaning services.

Types of Fireplaces

There are several different types of fireplaces that you can choose from, but which one will be safest for your chimney? Here’s a quick explanation of the pros and cons of each different type of fireplace in regards to chimney health and safety.

  • Electric – With electric fireplaces, there isn’t any need for a chimney because there are no byproducts of the fireplace. So if you’re concerned about the health of your chimney, then an electric fireplace is a good option because your chimney won’t actually get any use. However, electric fireplaces tend to use a lot of electricity to generate heat, which can be very expensive.
  • Gas – While gas fireplaces are very popular because of their efficiency, their exhaust gases can produce acid. They may not create creosote or soot deposits like wood-burning fireplaces, but the acid produced can eat away at the inside of your chimney. Also, water vapor is another by-product of burning gas, which can condense on the inside of your chimney and cause problems.
  • Wood-burning – If you’re interested in a more rugged experience with your fireplace, then wood-burning might be a good choice. Just be aware that soot and creosote are created as a by-product of burning wood. These substances can build up on the inside of your chimney and are one of the most common causes of chimney fires. Make sure that you always burn well-seasoned and dry wood because green wood can cause even more creosote and soot to build up. And if by chance you’ve already had a chimney fire, you may want to consider calling 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. for our chimney restoration services. We can make sure your chimney is safe for use again.

No matter what kind of fireplace you have, getting regular Minneapolis chimney cleaning is a great way to help keep your chimney working well and your fireplace burning safely.

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What Types of Fuel Should I Burn to Minimize Soot and Creosote?

Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

Wood-burning fireplaces are rustic, attractive and they provide your home with plenty of warmth. There is a huge variety of fuel that you can burn in your fireplace, but which one produces the least amount of soot and creosote in your chimney? Both creosote and soot are responsible for a large number of chimney fires in the United States, which is why getting regular St. Paul chimney cleaning is so important. Read on below to learn about which types of wood you should burn in your fireplace to avoid creosote and soot build-up in your fireplace.

Whether you need chimney cleaning, repairs, inspections or installations – 2nd Generation Chimneys is here to help!

What are Soot and Creosote?

When you burn wood in your fireplace, it produces a number of byproducts including ash, smoke, soot and creosote. Soot is a black powder that is largely comprised of unburned materials. When it is first produced, soot can be easily vacuumed up or brushed off. But over time, as layers of soot collect on the inside of your chimney, they can form layers that will restrict the flow of air out of your chimney.

Creosote is more tar-like than soot, which is produced by the condensation of many different fire byproducts like wood particles and hydrocarbons. These substances cool as they exit up your chimney and collect as a sticky substance on your chimney walls. In order to remove creosote, you should call 2nd Generation Chimney for your St. Paul chimney cleaning needs. This creosote is incredibly flammable and can create a very hot fire that ignites within your chimney.

What Fuels Should I Burn?

As we mentioned above, there are a lot of different fuels that you can burn in your wood-burning fireplace. Here’s a quick list of some of the things that you can burn to make sure that you limit the amount of soot and creosote that gathers in your chimney.

  • Avoid wet, young wood – When you try to burn wet wood that hasn’t had a chance to dry out, it will likely smolder and produce more smoke than heat. This can cause more creosote to build up in your chimney.
  • Dry wood – There are a couple reasons to make sure that you burn seasoned and dry wood. First, the fire will burn hotter. A hotter fire means that more of the wood will be consumed which will reduce creosote. Also, a hotter fire will keep your chimney warmer and prevent the gases from cooling and condensing into creosote.

For any St. Paul chimney cleaning that you need, just call 2nd Generation Chimneys today.

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Minneapolis Chimney Cleaning FAQ: What Is that Black Stuff in My Chimney?

Monday, May 6th, 2013

When you enjoy the warmth, comfort, and pleasure of a fireplace, you need to make sure that it is in good shape year round. One of the most common question we hear from customers throughout our Minneapolis is concerning the black stuff in your chimney.  Creosote is the name for that tar-like substance that accumulates on the parts of your fireplace and chimney. It’s imperative that you have your chimney cleaned on a regular basis to keep your fireplace running smoothly. Let’s take a look at creosote. For superior Minneapolis chimney cleaning service, call the experts at 2nd Generation Chimneys today!

  • What is creosote? Creosote is that dark brown or black, and often foul-smelling substance that builds up in your chimney.  Its composed of unburned wood particles mixed with condensed flue gases. It is one of the major reasons to have your chimney cleaned. It is toxic and carcinogenic.
  • What causes it? Creosote is typically caused by three major things: incomplete combustion of firewood, cool surfaces within the chimney, and wet firewood. The latter cause is easy to avoid: use only seasoned dry hardwood to build your fires. Depending on your stove or fireplace, there are some things you can do to make sure that your fuel is combusting properly. Use small amounts of wood and stoke often to decrease smoke density in an airtight stove, and make sure you avoid constant smoldering. Burn your fire hot regularly.
  • So what? Our reason for alerting you to creosote is because it poses a potential hazard to the safety of your home. While creosote tends to affect wood stoves more than fireplaces because the former’s exhaust gases tend to be cooler, creosote is an issue in any wood-burning device. As creosote accumulates within the chimney, it can become thick and begin to close in on the draft opening. When such accumulations thicken enough, they can actually ignite; chimney fires can disturb the masonry or metal chimney, but they can also lead to house fires when the framing heats up enough.

We hope this gives you some idea about creosote. For comprehensive Minneapolis chimney cleaning, call 2nd 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!

chimney-cleaning-and-sweeping

 

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Plymouth Chimney Sweeping: Tools of the Chimney Sweeping Trade

Monday, January 21st, 2013

When most people think of chimney sweeping they most likely think of Bert from Marry Poppins leaping across rooftops with a black wire brush filled with soot. 2nd Generation Chimneys provides complete Plymouth chimney sweeping services. While we still to use metal brushes on poles, there are many other tools that we have at our disposal to get your chimney nice and clean.

Why Are Chimney Cleaning Services Necessary?

If you have a fireplace in your Plymouth home, you may have never thought about getting it cleaned. Here are a couple of the benefits of getting your chimney cleaned.

  • Safety – Most people think that once the fuel they put in their fire burns that there’s no risk to them. In reality, the soot and creosote that gather on the inside of your chimney are still flammable. If soot and creosote build up in your chimney they can ignite again. Chimney fires can cause tremendous damage to your chimney and to your home.
  • Efficiency – When you have a fire in your home, you want it to burn as efficiently as possible. If you let soot and creosote build up inside your chimney, it can hinder the flow of smoke, heat and air out of your chimney.

Chimney Sweeping Tools

Here are some of the tools that our skilled Plymouth chimney sweeping professionals will use.

  • Brushes – One of the best tools for chimney sweeps is still a long wire brush. The flexibility and strength of wires brushes allows us to get into tight spaces and scrub out any deposits.
  • Vacuums – Chimney sweeping is a dirty job. We use vacuums to remove any pollutants that enter the air as a result of our cleaning processes. We also make sure to clean up any mess that we make.
  • Chemical soot removers – Sometimes, a brush isn’t enough to get the soot or creosote off of your chimney. In some cases, we use a chemical cleaning agent to remove those deposits.

If you’ve never had your chimney cleaned, it might be a good idea to think about calling 2nd Generation today. We have many years of experience offering chimney cleaning in Plymouth. Contact 2nd Generation Chimneys today!

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Minneapolis Chimney Tip: How to Maintain Proper Airflow in Your Chimney

Monday, October 15th, 2012

Whether you heat with gas, wood, or pellets, proper airflow in your chimney is important for several reasons. Not only does it help with efficiency, but it can also prevent backdraft and fire hazards. Here are some ways you can ensure that you are getting proper airflow in your chimney.

At 2nd Generation Chimneys, our Minneapolis chimney specialists are here to answer any further questions you might have. Our technicians are trained and certified to inspect chimneys for any type of heating system that requires ventilation through a chimney, so feel free to contact us any time.

Make Sure the Damper is Fully Open

Before you turn on your heat or build the first fire in the fall, always make sure that the damper is fully open. After you open it, check to make sure it’s fully open. Often a damper won’t open all the way because of excess creosote or soot buildup on the smoke shelf, or the damper could be damaged.

Schedule Your Annual Chimney Cleaning Before the Heating Season

In addition to checking for damage to the damper or other components, hiring a professional for a thorough chimney cleaning and inspection before the weather gets cold is important for many reasons. This gives the technician a chance to clean out dangerous levels of creosote build-up, and check for other issues with airflow. Poor chimney design is another issue that can be remedied in several ways. A damaged chimney cap or animals living inside the chimney are other potential airflow blocks.

Have Your Chimney Repaired as Needed

Should you need a chimney repair, it is important to have the repairs done before you use your heating system for the first time in the fall. This ensures proper airflow and safe operation. If there are cracks in the lining or your chimney needs masonry repairs, it’s also important to have this done since moisture can damage the inside of the flue or fireplace.

Increase Airflow by Making a Hotter Fire

The draft in your chimney works by pulling the air up through the chimney, so an easy way to increase the airflow is to burn hotter fires. Because hotter air is lighter, it creates more pull. If your chimney is too short or narrow for the heating unit, it can also affect the airflow and draft.

Make Sure Your Home is Properly Sealed and Insulated

Having a home that is sealed too tightly or one that has too many cracks and air leaks can disrupt the pressure inside the home, which also affects the draft.

Call the Minneapolis heating experts at 2nd Generation for any further questions you might have.

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Minneapolis FAQ: What is the Difference Between Creosote and Level 3 Creosote?

Monday, October 8th, 2012

Many of our customers in Minneapolis have asked about level 3 creosote and how it differs from normal creosote build-up, so we’ve created a helpful post to explain the difference and how to prevent level 3 creosote. Don’t hesitate to call 2nd Generation Chimneys any time if you have further questions. We’re here to provide you with all your Minneapolis chimney needs, so call today!

What is Creosote?

Creosote is a natural by-product of burning wood inside your fireplace or wood stove. Any type of wood-burning application will create some level of creosote build-up inside the chimney flue. Depending on the type of wood you use and the ventilation inside your home, creosote can build up quickly inside your flue lining. Regular chimney cleanings should take care of any normal build-up, but if your chimney hasn’t been inspected or cleaned in a while, the creosote creates a thick, gummy substance that is more difficult to get rid of. This is categorized as “level 3 creosote,” and it can cause potential fire hazards and corrosion of your chimney liner.

Ways to Prevent Level 3 Creosote Build-up

Annual chimney and fireplace inspections are a good way to prevent level 3 creosote. Scheduling an inspection before the heating season begins is ideal for a few reasons, namely because our chimney technicians can detect and clean out any Level 3 creosote from inside your chimney. In many cases, using chemicals is one of the only ways to get rid of this type of build-up. Ask your technician if you have concerns or questions. In addition to fire hazards, moisture inside the chimney is a common problem, especially if your masonry chimney has cracks, or your chimney cap is not properly installed. When moisture gets inside your flue liner and mixes with creosote build-up, it can create a chemical that can start to corrode the lining.

Wood-Burning Tip

Another important tip to remember is toburn the right type of wood. If you are burning “green” or wet wood, it can create more creosote build-up due to the nature of the unseasoned wood. “Seasoned” wood is wood that has been dried out for at least six months in a proper location. Always try to dry your wood in a covered area, where moisture cannot penetrate the wood pile. If you have questions, call us.

Contact the Minneapolis chimney technicians 2nd Generation Chimneys today to schedule your next chimney inspection. We can help prevent safety concerns with a Level 1. 2. or 3 inspection. Call us any time to schedule an appointment.

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