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

Minneapolis Chimney Tip: What to Expect for a Chimney Relining Service

Monday, January 14th, 2013

Are you in need of a Minneapolis chimney relining service? Call 2nd Generation Chimneys. If you have a damaged chimney liner, it can cause a number of safety hazards, whether you heat with a fireplace, wood stove, or gas furnace. A chimney relining service is a cost-effective way to prevent these hazards, but you should always hire a certified chimney technician to install any type of flue liner. The technician will make sure you get the right type and size for your particular chimney and heating system.

If you have recently upgraded your heating system, or if there’s been a chimney fire in your home, you will most likely need to have your flue liner replaced.  A damaged liner or excess amounts of creosote can cause a fire as well. While there are many warning signs that your liner is damaged or needs to be cleaned, the one major sign of dangerous amounts of creosote is if you smell a very strong, bad odor. If you have a wood-burning fireplace or wood stove, an extremely smoky fire could mean that there’s a blockage in the chimney or that you are burning the wrong type of wood.  Be sure to call for an annual chimney inspection if you have not done so this year. We provide thorough inspections and will let you know if it is time to replace your flue liner.

To prepare for a flue lining replacement, you should not build a fire 24 hours prior to the service. You should also cover the ashes or clean them out before the technician begins working. We use floor coverings and other methods of protecting your furnishings. For stainless steel liners, they will need to be cut to the proper size and installed inside the existing flue.

Call the Minneapolis chimney experts at 2nd Generation if you have further questions or would like to schedule a chimney inspection and sweeping.

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Why Do I Need an Inspection for an Insurance Claim?

Monday, January 7th, 2013

Enjoying a fire in the fireplace in your living room is one of the most soothing, enjoyable experiences available in your Minneapolis home. However, certain precautions must be made to ensure that your fireplace is safe to operate. Make sure that you can use your fireplace safely and with confidence by calling 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. today.

At 2nd Generation Chimneys we work hard to guarantee that our clients’ fireplaces and chimneys are as safe and efficient as possible. It is up to you, though, to call us and schedule the services you need for your chimney. In addition to keeping your chimney clean and safe our inspection services may also be necessary when you need to file an insurance claim.

Sometimes a chimney fire or other occurrences will lead to damage in your chimney, and that damage will require professional repair services. Most homeowners will find that their insurance covers these damages. However, you need the help of a qualified chimney service technician to ensure that your insurance claim process goes as smoothly as possible.

An expert on our team will document any damage that your chimney has incurred as well as the date that it was first discovered. The circumstances of the discovery will also be documented. Usually this occurs during routine chimney maintenance service, making this situation just one more reason to keep up to date with chimney maintenance.

While damages from chimney fires or lightning strikes may be covered by your insurance it is less likely that problems including general wear and tear or clogs will be covered. Issues stemming from poor maintenance practices will not be covered by your insurance company. Make sure that you do not wind up with damages to the chimney in your home due to a lack of regular, professional maintenance.

Whether you are concerned about the operation of your chimney, safety or insurance issues, professional chimney maintenance service is a must. There is no better way to protect your Minneapolis home from damage and dangerous situations stemming from your chimney. Contact 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. to learn more.

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Holiday Hours

Saturday, December 22nd, 2012

From all of us here at 2nd Generation Chimneys, we would like to wish you and your family a happy holiday weekend. Just a reminder, we will be closed and enjoying our families on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas while we are out! Enjoy the snow and stay safe and warm.

 

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Minneapolis Fireplace and Chimney Tip: How to Maintain Efficiency for Your Fireplace or Wood Stove Throughout the Winter

Monday, December 10th, 2012

Are you looking for ways to maintain efficiency while heating your Minneapolis area home with a fireplace or wood stove this winter? At 2nd Generation Chimneys, we can help you heat your home more efficiently with a few tips from our chimney and fireplace experts. You can always call us if you would like to know more about saving energy in your home.

Upgrade Your Damper and Chimney Cap

Whether you heat your home with a fireplace or wood stove, there’s potential for air loss through the chimney. You can prevent this with the right damper and chimney cap. The damper will help keep the warm air inside and the cold air out when you aren’t using your fireplace or wood stove. This will help with efficiency and prevent backdraft.

A sturdy chimney cap will also protect the inside of your flue and your flue liner from moisture issues. A chimney screen can also prevent flying sparks from creating a fire and keep animals out of your chimney. Lastly, burning the right kind of wood can also help with efficiency since it prevents excess creosote build-up.

Improve the Overall Efficiency of Your Home

There are many small tasks you can do to make your home more efficient overall. Adding insulation, sealing off air leaks, and upgrading the components of your heating system are some of the main ways homeowners can lower energy costs. Getting your fireplace, wood stove, and chimney inspected by a professional chimney technician will also help.

Whether you are looking for a new damper, chimney cap, or you need to schedule your next chimney inspection, call the Minneapolis chimney and fireplace experts at 2nd Generation Chimneys any time. Contact 2nd Generation Chimneys today!

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What Type of Liner is Right for my Particular Heating System?

Monday, November 26th, 2012

If you have a chimney in your home in Minneapolis, you’ve probably heard about linings for it. If you’re like most people, you may have questions about the different types of liners and which one is right for your home. At 2nd Generation Chimneys, we’ve installed countless liners for our customers in the Minneapolis area. We thought it would be helpful if we put together a checklist so that you can get an idea of what type of liner is good for your home.

You should always consult with a professional heating contractor to take on a chimney lining job. This type of project should never be done on your own. The efficiency of your chimney and the safety of your home are at stake with this kind of work. Contact us today!

What Type of Fireplace Do You Have?

The first question that your heating contractor will ask you is what type of fireplace you have. Whether you have a wood, gas or oil fireplace will dictate the number of options that are available to you.

Types of Chimney Liners

There are a few types of common chimney lining materials.

  • Clay – Clay is a great liner for chimneys and has a lifespan of about 80 years. They are cheap and work well with wood-burning fireplaces. However, they run into trouble with gas fireplaces because they can’t contain the combustion gasses.
  • Metal – There are two types of metal liners: stainless steel and aluminum. These types of liners are typically installed when upgrading and repairing chimneys. Stainless steel liners are more robust and can be used with just about any type of fireplace. Aluminum liners can only be used with certain types of gas fireplaces.
  • Concrete – With this type of liner, heat resistant concrete is poured down the chimney into a mold. This is another robust and durable chimney liner that can be used with most types of fireplaces. However, this liner is permanent and can’t be removed without tearing down the entire chimney.

Benefits of Chimney Liners

Chimney liners feature several important benefits. First, they improve the efficiency of your fireplace. By allowing smoke and fumes to exhaust more quickly, you can increase the efficiency of your system. Second, they improve the safety of your home by not allowing dangerous gasses to come back into your home.

If you have any questions about which chimney liner is right for your home in Minneapolis, contact the experts at 2nd Generation Chimney. We have years of experience offering chimney lining services in the Minneapolis area. We can help you pick out the right one and install it for you correctly.

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Documentation Is Key!

Friday, November 16th, 2012

The chimney repair experts at 2nd Generation Chimneys know that the only way to be certain that your chimney is clear of debris or damage is if you can see it with your own eyes. This is why we use the Chim-Scan to photograph our chimney inspection work. This device also allows us to scope your chimney for visual assistance that cannot be attained with the use of a flashlight or natural sunlight. Check out the images below and to “see” the difference:

 

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Minneapolis Tip: Why Your Dryer Vents Need to be Cleaned

Monday, October 29th, 2012

When your dryer buzzes to let you know that it has finished drying your clothes, do you always remember to change the dryer filter? We do most of the time. But what about all of the lint that that doesn’t get trapped by the filter? That lint gets sent out through your dryer vent to the outside. Over time, that lint can build up and start to clog your dryer vents. When that happens, a whole bunch of things can potentially happen to your dryer. In this blog post, we explore some of the reasons why you should have your dryer vents cleaned in Minneapolis.

Safety

This may come as a shock to some people, but each year there are approximately 15,000 house fires resulting from dryer lint. As your vents become more and more clogged with lint, it gets closer and closer to the heating element inside your dryer. Lint is extremely flammable and when it gets too hot or if it touches that heating element, it can ignite very quickly. Proper cleaning of your dryer vents could potentially reduce the chance that you experience a fire in your home as a result of dryer lint.

Faster Dry Times

The dryer vent is your dryer’s exhaust vent. If it becomes clogged with lint, it can’t let out of the moisture that it is removing from you clothes. With much of that moisture staying inside your dryer, the dryer will have to run longer to get your clothes dry. With proper cleaning, you can make sure that your dryer continues to operate as efficiently and as quickly as possible.

More Efficient

When your dryer’s vents become clogged, it has to work harder to push the air and moisture out. This increases the energy demand from your dryer and lowers its efficiency. Cleaning your dryer’s vents regularly will keep it operating and peak efficiency and keep your utility bills in check.

Longer Dryer Life

If you dryer has to work harder to dry your clothes and force the exhaust air through a clogged vent, it will put a lot of strain on your dryer’s fan. This extra stress can cause it to wear out faster than normal. With regular maintenance, you may be able to extend the life of your dryer.

If you have any questions about your dryer or your dryer’s venting system, give the professionals at 2nd Generation Chimney today. We’ve been offering fast and reliable dryer services in Minneapolis for many years.

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We Sweep Chimneys!

Friday, October 26th, 2012

2nd Generation Chimneys is out and about in your neighborhood sweeping chimneys and getting households ready for the winter season. Our crew is ready for you, so give us a call today and we will come prepared for all your chimney needs. 1-888-PIXLEYS

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St Paul Heating FAQ: How Do Wood-Burning Fireplaces and Stoves Compare to Other Types of Heating Systems?

Monday, October 22nd, 2012

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.

Fireplaces

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 and Pellet Stoves

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.

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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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