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

What To Do When Animals Get Into Your Chimney

Monday, June 6th, 2022
chimney-trees

Spring is a lovely season when we get to see plants and animals flourish. While this is wonderful to experience in a majority of cases, it can also cause some annoyances. Just ask anyone with allergies how they feel about all of those flowers blooming!

Extra pollen in the air isn’t the only issue that might come from this time of year. All of those little critters may be looking for a nice place to call home and some of them may mistake your chimney for a great piece of real estate. It’s warm, dry, and safe–at least until you start up the fireplace!

Animals getting into your chimney isn’t something that we advise trying to address yourself. Let the experts at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. help you clear out any unwanted squatters from your chimney.

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The Importance of Having a Professional Cleaning Your Chimney

Monday, May 24th, 2021

Would you let an amateur clean your teeth? Or would you make a DIY attempt at a major repair on your car? We certainly hope the answer to these questions would be no!

Some jobs are best left to the professionals. In the examples we just listed, you should visit a dentist or a car mechanic who is trained and licensed to perform the work your need. The same concept applies when it comes to cleaning your chimney. You need to work with a professional.

Professional services for your chimney aren’t just recommended, they’re necessary for the sake of your chimney’s wellbeing and yours too. Let’s look at the difference a professional can make when they perform your chimney cleaning in Minneapolis, MN.

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Chimney Sweeping Is a Job for Pros

Monday, November 9th, 2020

Most of us have watched the iconic “Mary Poppins” movie scene with dancing chimney sweeps hopping from roof to roof and covered in soot. While chimney sweeps around here might be a little less magical, that doesn’t make them any less important. This is because chimney sweeping is a job that is best left to the professionals (that’s us) to ensure your comfort and safety.

It may not come across as a job that requires a lot of skill (you know how to sweep after all) but this couldn’t be further from the truth. The tools and knowledge required for proper chimney sweeping in Minneapolis, MN are only going to be found with a trained professional. That is why you should always reach out to 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. to keep your chimney and fireplace clean and clear.

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How Chimney Cleaning Helps You

Monday, October 12th, 2020
man-shadow-chimney-clean

Fall is finally here and you know what that means–it is time to decorate with some autumnal and Halloween themed décor if you haven’t already started! That’s right, you can break out the leaf wreaths, the pumpkins, and the cuddly blankets. But before you set everything up for the fall season, you likely will want to clean up a bit to make sure you aren’t adding dust onto dust.

While you are in the process of cleaning up around the house, it may be a great time to make sure that your chimney is ready for the fall season too. While, yes, the mantle might be ideal for that spooky vampire figurine, we are talking more about chimney cleaning in Edina, MN, rather than your dusting habits.

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Chimney Cleaning: A Job For the Pros

Monday, September 16th, 2019

We all love a good DIY project, right? Certainly, you’ve spent hours scouring the internet for tips on how to stain that old coffee table, build a cute planter for your garden, and maybe even remove a nasty clog from your shower drain. But one thing is for certain: when it comes to your chimney, it’s best not to take matters into your own hands.

With Autumn on its way, now is the perfect time to schedule your chimney cleaning in St. Paul, MN (if you haven’t done so already). Of course, chimney cleaning is a job best left to the professionals… for a number of reasons! Keep reading below and we’ll tell you why.

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P.U.! What’s That Smell?

Monday, August 19th, 2019

We expect most of the strange smells in our homes to come from the bathroom — human waste and clogged toilets can certainly be a little stinky! But, what if we told you that the smell you’re smelling isn’t coming from the bathroom at all? And no, it isn’t coming from the garbage can either… No, that smelly smell you’re smelling is coming from the chimney!

WHAT? How is this possible?

Well, there are actually a number of reasons why your chimney might start to stink, and below, we’ve listed some of them for you. Not to worry though — if you’ve got a stinky chimney, we can help! So, what are you waiting for? Keep reading to find out more!

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The Benefits of Regular Chimney Cleanings

Monday, June 10th, 2019

We know, we know: it’s Spring…why should you even be thinking about your chimney when you’re aren’t going to be using your fireplace at all over the next few months?

Well, we are here to tell you that NOW is the perfect time to schedule your chimney cleaning services if you haven’t done so already. Regular chimney cleaning in St. Paul, MN is important for a number of reasons. First of all, it’s quite important for your safety. And secondly, regular chimney cleanings help to protect your home and your wallet from costly repairs!

In case you aren’t yet convinced, keep reading below. We have listed just some of the many reasons why you should schedule your chimney cleaning this Spring.

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Here’s Why You Need to Fix That Broken Fireplace Damper ASAP

Monday, March 4th, 2019

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.

A broken fireplace damper needs to be repaired as soon as possible. If it is sealed shut, smoke can quickly back up into your home. When it is working properly, the damper should be able to open and close when you need it to, however, sometimes it can get stuck in either position. If this happens, you need to hire a professional fireplace technician right away to address the problem. In case you aren’t yet convinced, we have listed a number of reasons why you need to repair that faulty damper now. Keep reading below to learn more. 

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Fireplace Safety Tips for Winter

Monday, October 29th, 2018

chimney-cleaningA lot of people in this part of the country love winter. Others simply tolerate it. Others may loathe it, but stick around for the many positive elements of life here in Minnesota has to offer. Regardless of where you stand on the matter of the season itself, though, you have to admit that a great heating system is integral to your enjoyment of the winter weather. While few homeowners use their fireplaces as their sole heat source, many use them daily to supplement their heating.

As effective as fireplaces can be in heating one’s home, a major part of their appeal is the ambiance and soothing nature of having a roaring fire contained safely in the hearth. “Safely” is the key word there. Remember, you’re still dealing with an open flame in a home largely constructed of wood and filled with combustible materials. That is why we want to give you some tips for using your fireplace in Edina, MN safely this winter.

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What You Must Know About Creosote

Monday, October 15th, 2018

chimney-fire-top-bottomFireplaces 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.

We are going to talk a bit about creosote today, so that you understand what it is, why it builds up, and why you need to have it cleaned out of your chimney. Failure to do so can put you and your family in a dangerous situation, and it won’t be the fault of the fireplace. It will be user error, if not total negligence. So read on, contact us with any questions that you may have, and remember that you can count on our team for great chimney cleaning services in Minneapolis, MN.

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