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There’s a romance to having a wood-burning fireplace, one of the oldest forms of home heating in the world. But perhaps you’ve discovered that you aren’t satisfied with your wood-burning fireplace. Have you noticed that you rarely use it because it’s cumbersome? Then you’re already on the path toward investing in changing your wood fireplace to a gas fireplace.
This is a choice many have made, and we have a list of the six top reasons to change to a gas fireplace.
An improvement to your chimney that you should consider having installed (if you don’t have one already) is a chimney cap. These covers on the top of your chimney won’t impede smoke exhaust, provided you have regular cleaning done, and can prevent some serious troubles that might lead to damage to your home or make it necessary to have expensive repairs done.
2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. performs chimney cap installation in Maple Grove, MN. We’ve seen first-hand the benefits homeowners can receive from a chimney cap. Here are the three main ones:
There are a few drawbacks to chimney caps as well, although most of these you can avoid with regular professional chimney maintenance. For example, caps can become clogged with soot and creosote, but routine chimney sweeping will eliminate this problem.
There are very few reasons not to get a chimney cap. As long as you take good care of your fireplace and chimney, the cap will not pose any serious trouble to the fireplace’s performance and will stop major problems that could plague it.
Contact 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. for chimney cap installation in Maple Grove, MN, as well as the maintenance, cleaning, sweeping, and repairs that will keep the cap—and your fireplace—in superb shape. Give us a call today to schedule your next chimney service in Maple Grove.
Whether you own a traditional fireplace, wood stove, or fireplace insert, installing a chimney cap on the chimney in your Maple Grove, MN home is important for several reasons. Call 2nd Generation for all your chimney needs.
One of the main benefits of a chimney cap is that it keeps moisture out of the inside of the chimney. While all fireplaces and wood stoves create some creosote build-up, adding moisture to excess build-up can create deterioration due to corrosion. Because the cap extends across the crown, it can also protect the crown from damage due to moisture, especially if your chimney masonry is in need of sealing.
You can also install a combination chimney screen and cap to prevent animals from nesting inside the flue liner. Chimneys are a favorite nesting site for small animals, such as birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and raccoons. Not only is animal infestation dangerous to the animals, but when they nest in your chimney, it prevents proper ventilation and airflow. We can also install metal screens designed to cover roof and attic vents to prevent animals from getting inside your home through these openings.
Chimney screens installed at the top of your chimney cap prevent flying sparks from catching nearby brush or trees on fire. Sparks can also set fire to your roof under the right conditions. When you install a cap and damper system, you can also save on your heating bills, in addition to preventing safety concerns.
While there are several options for chimney caps, call one of our fireplace and chimney experts to help you decide on the right one for your chimney. We can go over the different models that we sell and install. Remember, if you haven’t scheduled, your annual chimney cleaning and inspection, it’s never too late. We will inspect your cap, screen, and damper to ensure that they are doing their job.
Help protect your chimney and fireplace by calling 2nd Generation Chimneys of Maple Grove, MN today to schedule an appointment with one of our friendly technicians. Contact 2nd Generation Chimneys today!
Are you thinking of switching your heating system over to a wood-burning fireplace or wood stove? When comparing wood-burning applications to heating systems that run on gas or electricity, you’ll want to consider the benefits and drawbacks of both. At 2nd Generation Chimneys, we clean, repair, and inspect traditional fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, and gas log fireplace inserts. We’ve put together some factors to consider if you are thinking that you might like to install a new fireplace or stove.
In addition to the aesthetics of a warm fire, a fireplace can be a great source of heat if you are heating a small home. Depending on the price of wood, a traditional fireplace can be an inexpensive way to heat a given area within the home. If you want to install a gas log insert, then you’ll need to factor in the cost of the extra gas piping. Any type of fireplace should be inspected every year according to the CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) standards, so this is also something to keep in mind.
In addition to routine chimney cleanings and inspections, you will also have to think about storage space for wood, and the effort involved in starting a fire every day during the winter. Wood needs to be stored in a dry area, and you should only burn seasoned wood, which means that the wood has been completely dried out for at least six months. Other factors include clearance for the chimney, the square footage of the area that you need to heat, and how well your home is insulated. There will be some heat loss due to the use of a chimney, but if your damper, chimney cap, and masonry are all in good condition, there will be less air loss and better efficiency.
Wood stoves are a little more efficient than an open fireplace, and depending on the type and model you choose, you can get up to 50,000 BTUs with some wood stoves. There are many different designs, and they can be installed as a freestanding wood stove or inserted into an existing fireplace (depending on height and condition of the chimney flue).
If you are considering a switching to pellet fuel, keep in mind that there are many different heating applications that use pellets. Freestanding pellet stoves are the most common type, and wood pellets are a highly efficient and renewable fuel. In addition, pellet stoves are relatively effortless since they only need to be refueled about once a day. However, there’s more maintenance a regular wood-burning application due to the moving parts in the feeding arm.
Call the St Paul fireplace and chimney experts at 2nd Generation if you would like to learn more.
Making use of your Minneapolis home’s fireplace is a great way to relax. Even if you use it only infrequently, though, it is important to have your fireplace and chimney professionally inspected annually. Not only does this keep your chimney working properly and safely, it also allows professional chimney sweeps to discover any existing or developing problems within your chimney. At 2nd Generation Chimneys we want you to feel confident when using your home’s fireplace. Here’s some information about common chimney problems and conditions that can be discovered and dealt with by a professional service company.
When properly maintained your fireplace is a perfectly safe, enjoyable way to relax and heat your home. Annual professional maintenance will alleviate any concern you have about the functionality of your chimney. If you have any cause to suspect a problem with your chimney’s structure or operation, or if you’d just like more information, call the Minneapolis chimney professionals at 2nd Generation Chimneys.