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

Just What Is Chimney Sweeping?

Monday, July 3rd, 2023
chimney

Because people often have an old-fashioned image of soot-covered men with brooms in Victorian London in their mind when they hear “chimney sweeping,” they often dismiss this job as old-fashioned and unnecessary. But chimney sweeping is just another way of saying “chimney cleaning,” and this is absolutely something a chimney needs to receive on a regular basis.

We offer chimney sweeping in Plymouth, MN and throughout the Twin Cities, and we’d like to take this opportunity to give you a short primer on just what chimney sweeping is and why it’s important.

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Signs That It’s Time to Schedule Chimney Cleaning

Monday, June 19th, 2023
chimney-cleaning

There’s no season of the year that’s “best” for chimney cleaning—you can have it done at any time. However, you’ll find it easier to schedule during the warmer months when n you won’t miss the crackling warmth or coziness. 

A much tougher question than “What season should I have my chimney cleaned?” is “When do I need my chimney cleaned?” We recommend a regular schedule for chimney cleaning, but you may find yourself in a situation where the chimney needs it as soon as possible. We’re the experts when it comes to chimney cleaning in Saint Paul, MN, and we’d like to guide you through the major signs to watch for that will tell you it’s time to call us to arrange for this important service. 

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Common Misunderstandings People Have About Chimney Sweeping

Monday, June 5th, 2023
chim-scan-inside

Most people’s ideas of chimney sweeping come straight from Mary Poppins. That’s definitely a romantic image, and it does reflect something of what this job was like in the Victorian era, when combustion fires were used everywhere and had such efficiency problems that cleaning was an almost continual job.

Chimney sweeping is still necessary today for homes with fireplaces, but unfortunately most people have a limited understanding of the job, how it’s done, why it’s done, and when it needs to be done. 

We’re long-time experts when it comes to chimney sweeping in Minneapolis, MN, and we’d like to go through some of the common misunderstandings people have about this job.

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Why Chimney Cleaning Helps Keep You Safe

Monday, March 13th, 2023

Your chimney is supposed to provide a one-way exit route for the combustion gases and soot created by a fire in your fireplace. Your chimney may not be able to do this effectively if it’s dirty.

It may feel silly to think of a dirty chimney being a bad thing but it’s true. Over time, especially after a season of heavy use, your chimney flue may become so caked with debris that it starts to do the opposite of what it should. That’s why regular upkeep of your entire fireplace and chimney system is so important.

Let’s discuss the negative impact of a dirty chimney so you know if and when to schedule a chimney cleaning in Minneapolis, MN with our team.

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3 Reasons You Need To Have Your Chimney Cleaned

Monday, November 21st, 2022

Your chimney doesn’t move (unless you count the damper) but it serves a highly important role in your house. The chimney is the part of your fireplace that directs smoke and gas out of the house, along with any sparks or soot. This helps keep your home safe and healthy, along with keeping the fire going.

Much like how you’d want to clear a down tree branch blocking traffic or fill a pothole in a roadway, you want to keep your chimney clean, clear, and whole in order to keep things flowing the right way. The best way to ensure the well-being of your chimney is by scheduling a chimney cleaning in Minneapolis, MN. And we’ll explain why.

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Fireplace Safety Measures to Remember This Season

Monday, October 24th, 2022
couple-at-fireplace

It is a wonderful feeling to be able to start up the fireplace on a cold night and spend some quality time with your loved ones. This cozy set-up really draws people in. We want you to enjoy this time but we want you to also enjoy it safely.

As you start using your fireplace more often, or you get ready to start up your fireplace for the first time, we want to give you a couple of reminders to improve your safety. This way you can enjoy the use of you’re fireplace and chimney without worry.

Here are some of the safety measures you should keep in mind this season and the next.

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Never Ignore a Smelly Chimney

Monday, October 10th, 2022

Hoping to use your home’s fireplace and chimney soon? It is a great way to add some much-enjoyed warmth to your home, not to mention making the room itself seem that much cozier.

The problem is, you might be avoiding doing this. Why? Because there is something in your chimney that smells.

A smelly chimney is a problem. Thankfully though, it is also a problem that has a solution. Read on to find out more about what your nose might be picking up on and when you contact us to address the smell.

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Make Sure Your Chimney Is Ready

Monday, September 26th, 2022

The fall season is officially here. That means that it is only going to get colder by the day. If you haven’t already, you are likely going to be using your fireplace and chimney on a somewhat regular basis to keep your home a bit warmer.

Our question is this: is your chimney ready to be used? All too often we see homeowners through Minneapolis and St. Paul start up their fireplace and encounter the trouble created by a dirty chimney.

Avoid the hassle. Use your chimney without worry this season by scheduling a chimney inspection and cleaning in Minneapolis. We’ll explain more about this service below.

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Why You Want To Get Any Creosote Out Of Your Chimney

Monday, August 15th, 2022
chimney

If you saw that you have a lot of debris coating the sides of a pipe in your home, you’d likely start planning to have that pipe cleaned to avoid clogs and addressed bad smells. The same thought process should apply to your chimney.

While your chimney doesn’t get as much use as your kitchen drain, it is responsible for venting out smoke and soot that doesn’t belong in your home. And these substances can leave behind a residue known as creosote that can actually create problems with that venting process.

Let’s examine what you need to know about creosote and why it is so important to get the substance out of your chimney.

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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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