A properly sized chimney is designed to pull air, smoke, and other byproducts up and away from the home. Unfortunately, homeowners often call us to complain about a chimney that sends smoke back into the home, either initially at startup or constantly as you attempt to use the fireplace. The source of the trouble can be a surprising number of issues, and we’ve listed a few of them here. If you’re having trouble with your chimney, be sure to contact your local chimney and fireplace experts.
2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘chimney repair’
Smoke from the Chimney: 5 Possible Reasons for Drafting Issues
Monday, December 7th, 2015Is It Time for a Chimney Inspection?
Tuesday, October 27th, 2015Your chimney may seem to be in good condition from the outside, but looks can be deceiving. It’s likely that your chimney has some amount of wear and tear from the previous year’s use and a period of no use over the summer months. Whether that’s a small amount of creosote built up inside of the chimney or damage to the masonry, it could mean a fire risk in your home.
Is Your Chimney Finally Out of Commission?
Monday, October 12th, 2015You may have been told by a home inspector that your chimney should be capped and remain unused. A damaged chimney cannot properly vent hazardous combustion byproducts away from the home, such as carbon monoxide. Cracks in the chimney liner or in the masonry can also allow fire to spread to the home quickly, which is why an impaired chimney should never be used. However, when you get in touch with a chimney professional, you may find that there are a couple of options available to you.
What You Need to Know about Creosote
Monday, July 27th, 2015Did you know that chimney fires are one of the leading causes of home fires in the U.S.? Many people who don’t know the facts about their chimneys neglect to schedule regular services to keep them in good shape, and this can lead to some dangerous circumstances. We think any homeowner who uses a chimney should know more about creosote, one of the most unsafe substances found in homes.
Repairing Your Masonry Chimney: It’s Not Just for Looks
Monday, July 6th, 2015A masonry chimney—one constructed of masonry materials like brick and mortar—adds an elegant touch to any home. The masonry gives a vintage feel to the house, but it may experience some wear and tear over time, especially when exposed to water. Some people choose to repair their chimneys in order to update the look and feel of their homes. However, you should know that there is more to chimney repair than aesthetics (or, looks).
3 of the Most Common Chimney Repairs
Monday, June 15th, 2015At this time of year, your mind may be far away from the troubles of winter. But if you’re not considering services for your chimney now, it may be too late when the cold weather returns. This is the perfect time to schedule any repairs you may need or to get an inspection so that you can feel confident using your chimney and fireplace in the winter. Right now, it’s a lot easier to get an appointment on your own time, and it is important for your family’s safety. Here are 3 common repairs technicians are happy to make for you this spring or summer.
Signs Your Chimney Needs Repair
Friday, February 27th, 2015You can’t have a safe or effective fire in your home’s fireplace without a safe, effective chimney. As such, if you are a homeowner who uses your fireplace, whether for a simple, occasional fire or for every day heat, it’s important to be aware of the signs that your chimney may need repair. It’s just as important to hire experts to repair your chimney should it need repair. The fireplace and chimney experts at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc., bring two generations’ worth of experience and expertise to every job we do, so if you have fireplace needs, including repair, call us today!
Chimney Repair Signs
Here are some items to be aware of when it comes to chimney repair:
- Crumbling mortar – mortar is the cement or other binding substance that holds the stones or bricks of your chimney and fireplace together. If you can see that the mortar is crumbling, or can physically crumble it with your fingers, there is likely a moisture problem with your chimney. Crumbling mortar can lead to loose masonry, which can be very dangerous for your chimney.
- Loose flue tiles – loose flue tiles, also known as shaling, occurs when you find tiles that are specially-designed for the top of your flue in the lower parts of your chimney or even in the firebox. These tiles are very important for the safety of your chimney and need to be replaced before your next use.
- White powder on masonry – bricks sometimes develop a white, powdery substance on their surface that can be easily brushed off. Many people take this as normal, but it isn’t. That white powder is there because moisture that has gotten inside the brick and pushed the salt of the brick to the surface. There is a name to this phenomenon, and it is called Moisture isn’t good for any kind of masonry, so if you are seeing efflorescence, it’s time to call for an expert.
Whether you use your fireplace for occasional ambience or every day for additional heat, your chimney needs to be safe and effective.
If you are seeing the signs that your chimney in Roseville needs repair, Call Us Today! 612.922.9600 or 1-888-PIXLEYS
What to Do if You Spot Cracks in Your Chimney
Friday, May 9th, 2014One the eeriest sights you can see is to come across a wilderness spot where a town stood many years ago. The homes will have long rotted or burned away, but the tall brick and masonry chimneys continue to stand, making a forest of stacks marking the spots where people once lived. This is evidence of the durability of a well-constructed chimney.
However… chimneys are not invincible. Although the brick and masonry may keep the chimney standing upright, the combination of heat and moisture they often encounter—especially in a place with cold and snowy winters like Minnesota—can lead to cracking along the chimney interior. We’ll look into what you should do if you encounter this in your home’s chimney. Our maintenance program is also a great way to spot issues such as cracks in your chimney.
When you know it’s time for chimney repair in Minneapolis, MN, call the experienced and CSIA-certified team at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc.
What you need to do when you see cracks in your chimney
First of all, do not use the fireplace. Until the issue is resolved, you can cause serious damage to your home if you light the fireplace. Cracks in the chimney liner will allow heat from the fire to escape to combustible material outside, possibly igniting a blaze. Stay safe and keep the hearth cold for the time being.
Next, you need to call for chimney repairs from certified chimney re-liners who also offer masonry services. Fixing cracks in chimneys isn’t a simple task that involves a layer of plaster. Fireplace repair technicians with the proper training and certification from the CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) and as professional chimney re-liners will tackle the job of restoring your chimney with repairs that will last.
The chimney re-liner is responsible for protecting the rest of the chimney and the materials outside it. If the liner has suffered too much damage, technicians can reline it. Other ways of repairing cracks include sealing and resurfacing, which will help waterproof the chimney to avoid more cracks in the future. (The most common cause for cracking is when moisture enters the bricks, then freezes and expands.) Skilled repair technicians will use tuck-pointing masonry repair to fix cracks while matching the original surface texture.
What you should not do when you see cracks in your chimney
You should never ignore a chimney crack—or any damage to a fireplace. Although chimneys are sturdy, they must remain in top shape to prevent them from allowing the escape of heat or blocking proper ventilation out of the flue.
The best work you can find for chimney repair in Minneapolis, MN will come from contractors with the proper experience and certification.
2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. has a staff of Certified Chimney Reliners with CSIA certification, so you know you’ll receive the finest quality repair work.
Treat Creosote Build-Up This Spring
Tuesday, April 8th, 2014Creosote is a byproduct of regular fireplace use: a tarry, flammable substance that coats the interior of your chimney. It’s very natural and as long as you have your fireplace maintained regularly, you shouldn’t have any problems with it. Eventually, however, creosote will build up to sufficient levels to constitute a fire hazard, and even when it doesn’t, it can block the flow of air through your chimney, severely reducing the effectiveness of your fireplace. In terms of chimney repair, St. Paul MN has the experts to handle creosote build-up.
If you need to treat creosote build-up, don’t hesitate to give the fireplace maintenance experts at 2nd Generation Chimneys a call. You’ll be glad you did!
Why Spring is Ideal For Treating Creosote
It’s tough scheduling fireplace cleaning in the winter, because it means giving your fireplace a rest during the coldest parts of the year (as well as opening your home to the frigid temperatures outside). As spring blooms, you’ll have the luxury of scheduling a cleaning session at your convenience. It also makes a golden opportunity to clean up any creosote that has built up since last fall, making your fireplace clean, safe and ready to go when the next heating season rolls around.
Furthermore, spring is an easier time than others to tackle creosote problems. Temperatures are warmer and yet the mugginess of summer hasn’t set in yet. Treating creosote is fairly simple, though it requires specialized brushes provided by chimney sweeps a well as the training and experience to make sure the creosote is all cleaned up.
All of which is a round-about way of saying that you should probably treat creosote build-up every spring, not just when you really need it. And if you’re looking to address issues related to chimney repair, St. Paul MN has ready-to-go experts in the form of 2nd Generation Chimneys. We’ve been in business since 2001 and have built a strong and successful company based on the quality of our referrals. That means quality work performed for satisfied customers, whether it’s creosote removal or something more substantial.
What Is a Top Sealing Damper?
Tuesday, January 28th, 2014If you’ve lived with a fireplace in your home, you are familiar with the damper. You keep it shut when the fireplace isn’t in use so that no extra heat from your home escapes up the chimney, and you open it when you light a fire so the exhaust fumes from the fire don’t flow into your home but instead vent safely to the outside.
However, you may not have heard of a “top sealing damper” or know if your fireplace even has one installed. We’ll take a look at this important component of fireplace venting in this post. When you need fireplace repair in Minneapolis, MN for a chimney damper or anything else, call the CSIA-certified technicians at 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc.
The Top Sealing Damper
As the name indicates, a top sealing damper is installed at the top of a chimney, as opposed to the standard damper that is in reach from the fireplace hearth. Pull-cables operate top sealing dampers, and when shut the dampers can completely close off the chimney top. This increases your protection against heat loss through the flue than with a standard damper alone. Top sealing dampers are 90% more efficient than standard throat dampers if they use a silicone rubber gasket for their seal.
An added benefit of a top sealing damper is that, with a screened cap, they provide protection from animals and debris such as branches and leaves from entering and blocking the chimney.
We highly recommend top sealing dampers for wood-burning fireplaces, so if your chimney does not have one, you should consider scheduling installation.
If you already have a top sealing damper, please make sure that you do not attempt to repair it yourself should it become stuck, loose, or develop leaking along its edges. Repairs require going up on the roof, and this is discouraged for all but professionals. Chimney sweeps have experience with these sorts of repairs, so call up a licensed professional service that does fireplace repair in Minneapolis, MN—before you try to find a tall ladder!
We Can Help You with Your Chimney and Fireplace
2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. has many years of work on chimneys of all kinds, from sweeping to repairing masonry. We are members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild and have properly certified-technicians with the Chimney Safety Institute of America. Call us for top sealing damper repairs and installation.