A chimney is no more dangerous to your home or your family than any other heating system you might have installed. However, just like a furnace or a boiler, a chimney needs to have regular inspections to keep it safe. You should schedule regular chimney sweeping service every year. As part of it, your chimney technician will provide a Level 1 inspection to make sure that your chimney is in excellent shape. Level 2 and Level 3 inspections may be necessary for chimneys that have sustained damage or received recent upgrades. Your chimney sweep will tell you which level you need.

But which chimney sweep do you need? You can call 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. today to receive inspectors with all the qualifications necessary to give you the chimney inspection in Minneapolis, MN that will keep your fireplace safe and pleasant all year round.

3 qualities to look for in a chimney inspection service

• Superintendents certified by the CSIA: This is the key quality to look for in a chimney inspection company. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) is a non-profit educational organization that has existed for 30 years promoting quality among chimney and venting professionals. Through rigorous testing, the CSIA certifies chimney sweeps and inspectors to perform the three levels of professional inspection. This is considered the industry standard and the first qualification you should look for in anyone who services your chimney.
• Certified by the CCP: Certified Chimney Professionals is the other important industry certification along with the CSIA. Like the CSIA, it demands the highest standards from the people it certifies, requiring passing a test and regular re-certification every two years.
• Extensive chimney services: A company that offers chimney inspections should have a wide range of services to offer chimney owners. This shows a company that has experience and can bring in hands-on knowledge that goes beyond traditional education. (It also means it’s easy for you to schedule repairs from them—no matter what the repair is.)

2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. is a comprehensive chimney and fireplace service that handles installation, repairs, masonry work, sweeping, and inspections.

We are certified with the CSIA and CCP, and receive 95% of our business from referrals. You can put your trust in us when it comes to your Chimney inspection in Minneapolis, MN.

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“You only need your chimney inspected every five years or so. They’re very durable.”

You might have received this advice about your home’s chimneys—but don’t believe it. A chimney left without an annual inspection and sweeping services can pose problems for your home that range from serious annoyances to serious hazards. To keep your chimney a charming and cozy part of your house during the winter, you should schedule regular inspection and sweeping. We’ll go over some of the benefits you’ll receive from these inspection visits.

2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. offers three levels of sweeping and chimney inspection in Minneapolis, MN to make it simple to find a plan that fits your chimney and budget.

Contact us today before the first winter logs go on the hearth.

Reduced fire hazard from creosote: Although a fireplace is designed to hold flames without causing danger, this safety will vanish if the chimney doesn’t receive regular inspection. Without routine checks and sweeping, your chimney will develop a dangerous build-up of creosote. Creosote is a black, shiny residue left over from burning logs. Creosote is extremely flammable, and if enough of it encrusts the inside of your chimney, it might only take a small spark to ignite it, leading to a fire that spreads into the upper floors of your home.

Stop animal infiltration: The cap on top of a chimney does the important task of preventing animals from entering. Birds in particular like to make nests inside chimneys, but rodents and raccoons frequently invade these spaces as well. Trying to “smoke out” these animals can backfire, so a regular inspection to keep the chimney cap intact against these nuisances is important.

Prevent structural collapse: You might imagine the solid construction materials of most chimneys will mean they have scant danger of falling apart. But mortar can crack, or the lining of your chimney wear away, and this can cause the chimney to collapse. Aside from the aesthetic problem this will cause, a collapsing chimney can allow smoke into other parts of the house, cause a toxic backflow from the fireplace, and create major fire hazards. Inspections will locate structural trouble and get it fixed.

Keep in mind that even though you associate a fireplace with pleasant family moments and cozy holiday charm, it still does the job of containing fire and can become a health hazard without the proper care. Keeping the chimney over your fireplace in good shape is key to fireplace safety, so make sure you sign up for chimney inspection in Minneapolis, MN. 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. will help keep your fireplace a joyful part of your household.

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