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

What Is the Firebox in a Fireplace?

Monday, October 9th, 2023
fireplace-brick-fire

How much do you know about your fireplace? It’s okay if you don’t know or if you’ve never heard of a firebox before. But knowing more about it will help you better understand the importance of fireplace maintenance and repair. 

The firebox is truly the “heart” of a fireplace, and it’s essential both for a fireplace to work and to stay safe. Below we’ll explain the firebox in more detail, offer some safety tips, and list some signs that you may need to call us for a fireplace inspection in Bloomington, MN and possible fireplace repairs.

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What Sets Professional Chimney Sweeps Apart

Monday, September 25th, 2023
Family_and_House_Outdoors_iStock_000024453448_Large_800x532

If you have a fireplace in your home, you’ll need to have it routinely cleaned. This is an essential job because it helps keep the chimney working both effectively and safely. Allowing too much buildup to develop in a chimney will lead to bad venting and fire hazards.

But when it’s time for chimney cleaning in Bloomington, MN, who do you hire for the job? You have several options, but only one is the correct on:

  1. Get out some drop cloths, put on an old T-shirt, grab a broom and a ladder, and do it yourself.
  2. Find someone offering super-low prices to do the job.
  3. Hire professional chimney sweeps with proper certification.

The correct answer is “C.” We’ll explain why professional chimney sweeps stand apart from DIY and amateurs. Why they are the only people to consider hiring for your regular chimney and fireplace cleaning needs.

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Choosing a Fireplace: What You Should Know

Monday, November 22nd, 2021

If you were about the choose a new paint color for your home or a new refrigerator for your kitchen, would you make this decision without discussing it in depth? Probably not! The same should apply to a fireplace selection.

We get the idea that a fireplace is a fireplace. But, much like a refrigerator or, more appropriately, a heater, there is more than one of these systems to choose from. And you deserve a fireplace that suits your needs in every way possible.

We provide fireplace installation in Bloomington, MN to guarantee that you are able to enjoy your new fireplace for as long as possible. Let’s discuss how you can make sure that the fireplace you select is the exact one you want.

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Why You Should Add a Chimney Cap to Your Chimney

Monday, November 8th, 2021
chimney

A chimney is meant to serve as an exit route for any of the byproducts created by your fireplace, from ash to combustion gases. With this in mind, it may seem a little counterintuitive to put a cap on your chimney. Wouldn’t that mess with the flow of things out of your home? What’s the point of adding a cap to your chimney anyways?

Our team of technicians is here to give you the answers you need to make an informed decision. Whether you are new to having a fireplace and chimney, or you just haven’t heard about chimney caps before, we are here to help. Let’s dive in to discuss how chimney caps can be helpful in keeping your chimney in good shape.

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Don’t Let Your Fireplace Fall Apart

Monday, January 18th, 2021
fireplace-fire-burning

Everyone has their own design styles for their home. Maybe you look a more modern look in your home or perhaps you opt for vintage decor. Whatever you choose, you deserve to have a fireplace that works with your style rather than against it. With that said, a fireplace that seems to be falling apart is NOT a great way to give your home that “vintage” feel. In fact, it can be dangerous.

Whether it is a gas fireplace insert or a traditional wood-burning fireplace, if you notice that it looks like your fireplace could turn into a pile of bricks with a strong breeze, you should be concerned. You’ll want to schedule a fireplace inspection in Bloomington, MN to have a professional assess this part of your home and put together a plan to restore it before it puts you in danger.

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Should You Go For a Gas Fireplace?

Monday, January 4th, 2021
fire-book-open

Have you ever gotten into one of those debates with a friend over whether physical books or a digital reader was better? They both accomplish the same goal (letting you read that new book) but many people maintain that the experience is very different. We can get into discussions just like this about wood-burning and gas fireplaces.

When you are getting ready to schedule a fireplace installation in Bloomington, MN, you may find yourself faced with this same debate. Which option is better? Most people have their own opinions. But we aren’t here to debate, we’re here to help you learn more about the option you may know the least about: gas fireplaces.

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Bloomington Chimney Q/A: Why is it Important to Have My Chimney Serviced and Inspected After a Chimney Fire?

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

Hopefully, you have never experience a chimney fire in Bloomington and won’t ever have to. But if you own a home with a fireplace (and use it), the risks of a chimney fire are there and it isn’t important to know what to do after one happens.

Once the fire is out and you have called your insurance company, you may think it is fine to just start using your fireplace again. It is not! You must have your chimney inspected and serviced before using your fireplace again. There are at least four crucial things to be checked for and resolved during this process:

  1. Creosote buildup
    Creosote that is left behind from the fire can clog the up the chimney, presenting a risk for smoke and carbon monoxide to back up into the home. Creosote can also be fuel for a future chimney fire, so any buildup must be removed.
  1. Damage to the chimney
    The fire may have damaged the chimney, especially the smoke shelf, chimney liner or flue tiles. These must be replaced if they are damaged.
  1. Smoke damage
    In addition to damage from the fire directly, there may be smoke damage inside the chimney which will prevent it from working properly and safely.
  1. Proper ventilation
    Any damage or buildup inside the chimney can cause improper ventilation, either in the form of too little clearance for gases to escape up the chimney or leaks that allow gases to ventilate outwards into the home. As mentioned in #1, this can cause smoke and carbon monoxide to get into your house.

In short, getting a quick inspection and potentially chimney repairs after a fire is a matter of safety and health. You want to reduce the risk of further unsafe events, such as carbon monoxide leaks, another chimney fire or even a collapse.

Hopefully you never have to deal with a chimney fire, but if you do, do not skip this important step in the aftermath.  Please contact 2nd Generation Chimney if you have any questions about this.

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Why is it Important to Have My Chimney Serviced and Inspected After a Chimney Fire in Anoka?

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Hopefully, you have never experience a chimney fire in Anoka and won’t ever have to get a chimney inspection. But if you own a home with a fireplace (and use it), the risks of a chimney fire are there and it isn’t important to know what to do after one happens.

Once the fire is out and you have called your insurance company, you may think it is fine to just start using your fireplace again. It is not! You must have your chimney inspected and potentially get chimney repairs before using your fireplace again. There are at least four crucial things to be checked for and resolved during this process:

  1. Creosote buildup
    Creosote that is left behind from the fire can clog the up the chimney, presenting a risk for smoke and carbon monoxide to back up into the home. Creosote can also be fuel for a future chimney fire, so any buildup must be removed.
  1. Damage to the chimney
    The fire may have damaged the chimney, especially the smoke shelf, chimney liner or flue tiles. These must be replaced if they are damaged.
  1. Smoke damage
    In addition to damage from the fire directly, there may be smoke damage inside the chimney which will prevent it from working properly and safely.
  1. Proper ventilation
    Any damage or buildup inside the chimney can cause improper ventilation, either in the form of too little clearance for gases to escape up the chimney or leaks that allow gases to ventilate outwards into the home. As mentioned in #1, this can cause smoke and carbon monoxide to get into your house.

In short, getting your chimney inspected after a fire is a matter of safety and health. You want to reduce the risk of further unsafe events, such as carbon monoxide leaks, another chimney fire or even a collapse.

Hopefully you never have to deal with a chimney fire, but if you do, do not skip this important step in the aftermath.  Contact 2nd Generation Chimneys Inc with any questions or concerns.

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