Talk about a thorough chimney inspection! Do not try this at home…instead, call the professionals at 2nd Generation Chimney’s for inspection, cleaning & sweeping, chimney repair, fireplace replacement and insurance claim restoration. You can count on the Pixley name to do it right!
Chimney Inspection At It’s Finest
May 18th, 2012Golden Valley Wood Burning Tips: What NOT to Burn in your Fireplace or Wood Stove
May 14th, 2012In addition to proper ventilation and annual chimney inspections in Golden Valley, burning the right type of fuel in your wood burning application is part of preventing chimney fires and other safety hazards. Making sure that you have installed interior and exterior spark arresters is also important in protecting your home and your property from potential fires created by embers.
If you have questions about choosing firewood, check our blog archives for more information on how to select and store your firewood. You can always call 2nd Generation Chimneys any time, and our fireplace and chimney experts will be glad to answer any further questions you might have.
In the meantime, here are some of the more common items that should NOT be burned in a fireplace or wood stove:
- Cardboard and Garbage: While this may seem obvious, many people think that burning trash and paper products, such as cardboard and magazines , is safe because they do not burn too hot; however, these products are typically treated with toxic chemicals that can be released into the air you breathe when you burn them.
- Treated Wood and Construction Materials: Like household garbage and cardboard, pressure-treated wood contains harmful chemicals that are released when burned, particularly stained or water-treated wood from decks or landscaping and rail road ties. This applies to construction scraps, such as plywood, particle board, gypsum board, press board, or any material that contains glue.
- Ocean Driftwood: When ocean driftwood is burned, it can release the sea salt and minerals that will turn into corrosive and toxic gases, which are harmful to your health and can damage your flue lining.
- Green or Moldy Wood: Wet or “green” wood causes excess smoking, creosote buildup, foul odors, and could potentially cause illness if the wood contains bacteria, mold, mildew, or other fungi.
- Christmas Trees or Evergreens: While all wood will create some creosote buildup, evergreens and trees that contain sap or heavy amounts of resin can create excess creosote. If you choose to burn this type of wood, be sure that you have your chimney cleaned and inspected at least once a year, if not twice a year.
We also get many questions about burning artificial logs. Most fire safety experts agree that while these are convenient, they should only be used to start a fire if you do not have proper kindling. In addition, they should be burned in an open fireplace, and one at a time.
If you use fire starters, make sure you are careful about stirring the fire before they have completely burned, since moving them around could cause the fire to get too hot or out of control. Always read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before you start the fire.
Don’t hesitate to give the fireplace experts at 2nd Generation Chimneys a call any time you have questions or concerns.
$40 Off Chimney Clean and Video
May 11th, 2012Take advantage of this fantastic offer! $40 Off a Chimney Clean with Video inspection. Give us a call today!
Spring Chimney Cleaning and Inspection Deals
May 7th, 2012If you used your fireplace a lot this winter it is definitely time to inspect and clean your chimney. By keeping your chimney clean, you will ensure your family’s safety and the integrity of your chimney. Anytime a household goes a few years without chimney inspection or cleaning the risk of poor ventilation, chimney fires, and creosote build up increases significantly. Take advantage of 2nd Generation Chimney’s terrific deals right now to improve your home’s safety and overal chimney functionality.
One of the three great deals 2nd Generations is putting on right now is a chimney inspection and cleaning for only $119, after buying a damper.
If you want a picture perfect idea of the inside of your chimney, take advantage of our $40 savings on chimney video inspection and cleaning.
For more great deals on chimney cleanings and inspections please visit 2nd Genertaion Chimney’s promotion page.
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
May 5th, 2012In celebration of the Cinco de Mayo holiday, here’s a fun recipe to try:
Cheese-Stuffed Jalepenos:
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, cut into 2-inch x 1/2-inch x 1/4-inch strips
- 15 jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded
- 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup real bacon bits
Directions
- Place a cheese strip in each pepper half; sprinkle with bread crumbs and bacon.
- Grill peppers, covered, over medium-hot heat for 4-6 minutes or until peppers are tender and cheese is melted. Serve warm. Yield: 2-1/2 dozen.
Mendota Heights Wood Burning Tips: How to Select and Store Firewood
April 30th, 2012If you have a wood-burning fireplace insert in Mendota Heights home, selecting the right type of wood and storing it properly will help keep your chimney clean and increase the efficiency of your fireplace or wood stove. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Selecting Firewood
Unless you have a pellet stove, there are many types of wood to choose from. While most people opt for premium hardwoods, lighter woods—such as maple or elm—are more plentiful and will burn faster, which makes them good for shorter, hotter fires or for kindling. Regardless of what type of wood you burn, make sure it is well-seasoned. Properly seasoned firewood is wood that has been cut and dried out as much as possible. Trees retain moisture even after they’ve died, so you want to make sure your firewood is cut at least 6 months to a year before you use it. The shorter the pieces are cut the better seasoned your wood will be.
If you have purchased seasoned wood instead of cutting your own firewood, there are a few ways to tell if it has been properly seasoned. First, look at the ends of the pieces. Are the ends darker, or do they have cracks and splits? Those are good indicators of well-seasoned wood. Secondly, check the weight. Seasoned wood is a lot lighter than green wood, which is dense because of the water retained inside the wood. Lastly, you can always buy the wood well in advance, and properly store it for several months before you plan to burn it. If you end up burning slightly damp wood there will be a significant amount of smoke and you should consider getting your chimney swept and cleaned
Storing Firewood
Even if you’ve bought well-seasoned firewood, you will want to store it properly to prevent it from getting wet. Burning green wood creates more creosote buildup and, therefore, more potential for chimney fires. If the wood is too saturated, you may not get it to burn at all. Always store wood off of the ground and underneath a protective cover. If you are storing it on a porch, make sure there’s a roof over it or that it is in a sunny location and that you cover it with a tarp in inclement weather.
Ideally, you should store wood in a shed with a sturdy roof but that has openings or loose sides to allow air flow and help the wood stay dry should any moisture get trapped in the wood through the openings. A tightly-closed space could promote mold growth if the wood has retained any moisture. If you are trying to season the wood, proper air circulation is an important part of the drying process. Properly seasoned wood should last up to four years if it is stored correctly.
Feel free to call one of the chimney specialists at 2nd Generation Chimneys if you have further questions about choosing or storing your firewood for the wood-burning appliance in your Mendota Heights home.
Thank You For Your Feedback
April 27th, 2012We want to hear from you! In an effort to always provide the most outstanding service, 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. invites you to take our online Satisfaction Survey and let us know how we are doing.
Here is a recent comment from a happy customer:
“My experience with 2nd Generation Chimneys has always been exceptional. As far as I know, they are the most knowledgeable people in the chimney business. There is a reason I keep going back, I am a customer for life.”
- Don C.
Thank you, Don!
Safety Tips for Fridley Residents: Clothes Dryer Ventilation
April 23rd, 2012It’s important to perform air duct cleaning in Fridley for many reasons. Increasing the efficiency of your HVAC system and lowering your utility bills are a few of them, but safety is the best reason to keep your vents clean, particularly your clothes dryer vent.
Clothes dryers are one of the leading causes of house fires each year. Homes that do not perform dryer vent cleaning or receive improper installation are usually the cause. Protect your home with these maintenance and safety tips.
Even if you clean out the lint trap after each use, lint can still get trapped in the exhaust vent and cause a fire hazard or a potential carbon monoxide leak with gas dryers. Maintaining proper ventilation for a clothes dryer includes cleaning out the exhaust duct and hose. To do this, you just need to unplug your dryer and detach the hose, which can be removed with common household tools. If you already do this regularly and find an abnormal amount of lint and debris, call an HVAC technician to inspect it. There could be something in the duct system blocking the ventilation for your dryer.
At least once a year, you should also have a qualified technician inspect and clean your exhaust duct and make sure you have the proper style hose. If you have a foil or vinyl hose, you should replace it with a flexible metal one that is fireproof. You might want to consider installing a dryer box, which protects the flexible hose and saves space.
Dryers that aren’t properly installed or put in areas that could create hazards are often found in older homes; however, some newer homes are built with designs that create longer ventilation paths and more potential for debris to get trapped inside the ducts.
Don’t wait until a hidden safety issue turns into a fire or carbon monoxide hazard in your Fridley home. Call 2nd Generation Chimneys to inspect and clean your exhaust hose and duct today!
Spring Newsletter
April 20th, 2012Check out our Spring Newsletter for informative articles, along with promotions, a highlighted client testimonial, a “did you know” fact, and a delicious spring recipe for you to try!
Why Should You Have Water Repellant on Your Minneapolis Chimney?
April 16th, 2012In Minneapolis there are a lot of myths about water repellants and when they are useful or not useful for a chimney. The truth is that almost all chimneys should have some sort of chimney sealant and resurfacing applied to them to avoid easily preventable water damage that can not only destroy the chimney face but pose a danger to you and your family.
What Water Repellant Does
Water repellant is used to seal up the masonry on the outside of your chimney. This is necessary because of the constant freeze and thaw cycles that a chimney goes through each winter. Water is absorbed by the mortar and bricks and then freezes in cold temperatures. This weakens the bricks and when it thaws, the bricks crumble or break free. It might take months or even years, but eventually extensive chimney repairs will be needed.
A properly selected water repellant stops this from happening by blocking up to 99% of the moisture that enters the mortar joints and bricks and keeping the chimney dry both inside and out.
The Problem with Some Water Repellants
The problem and the reason many people are hesitant to use water repellants is that they can also trap water inside the chimney if the wrong ones are applied. Sealers that form a film on the masonry, bond to the masonry or don’t allow enough air to breathe through the masonry risk sealing moisture inside the chimney and causing even more damage.
The right ones will penetrate deep into the chimney and bond with the masonry on a chemical level, blocking moisture without blocking everything, thereby stopping water from entering and leaving.
Water Repellants are Important
Chimneys will be subjected to all forms of weather – from rain to snow to sleet and wind – and that means they will deteriorate over time if not treated. To give your chimney the protection it needs and reduce the need for repairs, make sure you have someone you trust use the right kind of water repellant for your chimney. Call 2nd Generation Chimneys with any questions.
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