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2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Andover’
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Friday, October 26th, 2012Minneapolis Chimney Tip: How to Maintain Proper Airflow in Your Chimney
Monday, October 15th, 2012Whether 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.
Reasons To Get a Chimney Inspection Before the Minneapolis Heating Season
Monday, September 24th, 2012The Minneapolis heating season is almost upon us and that means you need to start thinking of some of the basic maintenance tasks needed before you start using your heating equipment. This is especially true for your chimney, which is responsible for removing the exhaust from your heating system and maintaining steady ventilation throughout your entire home.
Just how important is it to clean your chimney on a timely basis each year? To start, consider the purpose of the chimney. A chimney is designed to remove large volumes of exhaust which means there will be a natural build up of creosote and soot on the flue liner in your chimney. A little bit of build up is normal but when it builds up extensively, such as over the course of a long, cold winter, it can be a problem. At first, it simply slows the flow of exhaust out of the chimney which can put unnecessary stress on your heating system.
However, with time, enough creosote or other debris such as bird’s nests, pests and other debris that got into your chimney over the course of the summer months can create real hazards, potentially even fire hazards.
The Benefits of Annual Chimney Inspection
A chimney inspection will do a few things. First, it ensures all of the creosote and soot build up is removed from your chimney before your heating system is turned on for the first time. Second it checks for damage done as a result of normal operation and any extreme weather since last spring. Finally, it removes other debris that could have built up in there between winters.
Chimney inspection and cleaning needs to be a normal part of your home’s heating maintenance. It is an important preventive step against potential problems and it ensures your chimney works efficiently throughout the coming heating season.
If your chimney has not been inspected in a couple years, contact 2nd Generation Chimneys of Minneapolis for a professional chimney inspection today.
The Importance of a Fully Functional Chimney Liner in Andover
Monday, June 11th, 2012During recent chimney cleaning appointments in Andover we have noticed a few homes that have a “single wythe” chimney style, which means they do not have a chimney liner or chimney flue. These single wythe chimneys only consist of a single layer of brick, which threatens the safety and structure of the entire chimney. Problems venting gases and smoke also quickly arise with these types of chimneys if there are any cracks or structural damage with the chimney. Sparks, ambers and hot smoke can easily escape from these cracks in single wythe chimneys as well.
In many cities across the country it is actually illegal to build a chimney without a chimney liner. There are so many benefits to having a chimney liner that it has become a mandatory aspect of chimneys.
Another old chimney building trend that we have noticed during chimney sweeping assignments is using one chimney column to vent chimney smoke and gases from combustion based heating equipment. This is never a good idea to do because the ventilation of a chimney is not built the same as the ventilation of a fireplace, so the ability for a chimney to remove harmful gases from a home will be reduced.
If you notice a reduction in your chimney’s ability to vent smoke or fumes out of your home it is time to call 2nd Generation Chimneys. We will inspect your entire chimney to determine what the problem is. Whether all you need is a quick chimney cleaning, or a few chimney repairs we will be able to help.