While some people think that structural damage to a masonry chimney seems charming, it’s a serious issue. That vintage chimney appearance may be dangerous. Structural damage to the bricks may allow a chimney fire in the flue to spread to the outside of your home.
2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. Blog: Archive for June, 2016
What Causes Structural Damage to Chimneys?
Monday, June 27th, 2016Is Your Fireplace Making Summer Cooling Costs Higher?
Monday, June 20th, 2016Your fireplace is great in the winter, but it has nothing to do with how comfortable you feel in the summer, right? Actually, a fireplace can affect your home cooling costs significantly, if it’s not properly maintained. If you don’t have a good damper in the chimney, you might be spending way more on air conditioning than you have to.
What Are Technicians Looking for When They Inspect a Chimney?
Monday, June 13th, 2016You might have heard recently that you need a chimney inspection for one reason or another, perhaps because you are making renovations, leaving a home, or purchasing a home. This will be an involved inspection that may even involve the use of video cameras. But it’s also important to get a routine inspection each year in order to prevent major repairs and, most importantly, potential fire hazards.
Why Does My Fireplace Smell?
Tuesday, June 7th, 2016Most people are not thinking about their fireplace and chimney in the spring and summertime. But if you notice an odor coming from your fireplace when it’s warm outside, then you certainly are. It’s actually a common problem but still something you should get fixed ASAP. This is partly for the sake of your guests, but also because your annoying fireplace odor could actually be dangerous.
Spring and Summer Chimney Problems: What Might Come Up
Monday, June 6th, 2016If you think that you can ignore your chimney and fireplace in the spring and summertime, think again. There are a number of problems that tend to come up in the summertime and spring, though some may be more noticeable than others. Here, we list some common problems, and why we think it’s so important to stay on top of chimney inspections and making sure your chimney is safe all year round.
What Can Happen in the Spring and Summer
In the off-period for your chimney and fireplace, new problems can still appear. Or, older problems can start to reveal themselves, especially if it’s been a long time since you’ve scheduled an inspection and cleaning. Here are some examples:
- Smells in the chimney – In the summer, smells from animal droppings or creosote become more obvious thanks to the humidity in the air.
- Excessive creosote – This is a dangerous problem you might start to notice in the summer, and it can allow a chimney fire to ignite and spread to your home. Have your chimney cleaned each and every year to eliminate this danger.
- Structural problems – Structural problems with the masonry of a chimney may help a fire to spread to the outside of a home. Some may think they add “charm” but remember than this charm could be short-lived.
- Unwanted guests – One common problem that comes up in warm weather is the presence of critters like rodents or birds in the chimney. While bird nest removal of some species may be illegal as long as the nest is active, you can call in a technician afterwards to help you prevent the problem in the future.
What You Should Do
We cannot reiterate this enough: work with a quality chimney and fireplace contractor to have your chimney cleaned out each and every year. And schedule inspections if you suspect a structural problem. It helps you feel better about your family’s safety. And you can be prepared to use your fireplace in the winter.
Call 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. for chimney cleaning and inspections in Minneapolis, MN.