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

A Short History of the Fireplace

Monday, March 11th, 2024
cat-fireplace-hearth

The fireplace seems like something that has always been a part of homes. Even if not every home today has a fireplace, we know there was a time when the hearth was the main source of heat for homes. 

Fireplaces have a long history, some of which might surprise you. Today, we want to share some of the milestones in the history of what is still one of the most effective and energy efficient ways to heat a home.

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What You Need to Know About Your Chimney Flue

Monday, January 15th, 2024
chimney

Have you ever wondered about the different components that make your fireplace not only a warm and cozy spot in your house, but also keep it working safely? One crucial element you should be aware of is the chimney flue.

The flue is an important part of any chimney inspection in Minneapolis, MN that we perform, and we’d like to take some time to examine this key part of your fireplace and chimney. The more knowledge you have, the better you’ll be able to take care of your fireplace and understand when to schedule service for it. 

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Get a Chimney Inspection for the New Year!

Monday, January 1st, 2024
coffee-fireplace-woman

January is a month when people get their lives into regular shape after a busy conclusion of the year. Suddenly, we have “normal” weeks and weekends with less crowding our schedules, and that’s a good time to get to some basics about arranging for the new year and taking care of various bookkeeping and planning jobs. 

Some of the jobs you may look into doing during the start of the new year will be for home maintenance. We’d like to suggest that one of these maintenance jobs you get done—if you didn’t do it at the end of the year—is a chimney inspection in Minneapolis, MN.

Don’t worry about getting a ladder, flashlight, and old clothes. This isn’t a job you can do yourself. Although you can spot major troubles with your chimney and call for repairs, a full annual inspection requires licensed professionals with the best tools and training. 2nd Generation Chimneys is your best resource for your yearly chimney inspection.

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Top Reasons to Have a Fireplace in Your Home

Monday, December 18th, 2023
fireplace-at-Christmas-with-trees-and-stockings

It’s the holiday season, and that means you’ve probably seen a flood of images of people relaxing in rooms lit with the warm glow of a yuletide blaze in a fireplace. It’s one of the classic images of the winter holidays.

Maybe you’re thinking to yourself, “I’d really like that experience here in my home, and turning on a video fireplace from YouTube on the living room television screen just isn’t the same.” 

We’re glad you showed up here, because we’re the experts when it comes to fireplace installation in Minneapolis, MN. We handle installing wood inserts, wood stoves, electric inserts, and electric fireplaces. We know what fireplaces can bring to a home, and here’s our list of the top reasons you should think about getting a fireplace.

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Here Are Risks You Need to Know About Your Chimney

Monday, December 4th, 2023
chimney-cap

Using a fireplace in a home is one of the great joys of the winter season, and we’re certain you’re looking forward to spending time with your family around the roaring hearth. But before we get too deep into the fireplace season, we want to talk to you about some of the dangers that might lurk in your chimney.

Chimneys and fireplaces need special attention, and it’s our job to provide our customers with the best in chimney inspections and chimney cleaning in Minneapolis, MN to ensure they can stay safe and cozy each year.

Let’s look at several of the common issues that might make your chimney unsafe and the best ways to deal with them or prevent them.

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The Power of Spark Arrestors for Fireplaces

Monday, November 20th, 2023
gas-fireplace-insert

Imagine a family gathered around the fireplace on a chilly evening. A stray spark flies out from the fireplace. Potentially, it can start a fire in the house. Or imagine sparks going up the chimney, flying out and landing on the roof, possibly starting the house on fire.

What can stop these scenarios from happening? They’re called spark arrestors, and when it comes to the safety of your home and the enjoyment of a warm fireplace, they play a crucial role. 

There are two different types of spark arrestors: exterior and interior. The combination of these two kinds of spark arrestors creates a dynamic duo that helps to provide the best protection for your home and loved ones, stopping sparks from getting inside your house and stopping them from escaping the house.

Let’s look closer at both types of spark arrestors and their role in fireplace safety. We’ll examine their different features and how they work. If you’re looking for better fireplace safety and need spark arrestor installation in Minneapolis, MN, we’re the experienced contractor to trust with the job.

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Do I Need a Chimney Inspection If I Rarely Use My Fireplace?

Monday, September 11th, 2023
chimney-needs-repair

Although fireplaces are wonderful luxuries to have in a home, there are some cases where people simply don’t use them often. Maybe they use them for a few special occasions, but otherwise the fireplace remains cold through most of the year.

Does this mean that regular inspections and maintenance for the chimney are optional? Why invest in professional inspection service if there’s rarely any fire burning in the hearth or smoke wafting up the chimney?

If you’re in a situation where you have a fireplace that you use sparingly, we want to encourage you to still regularly arrange for professional inspections. We’ll explain why below.

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Animals That Can Get in Your Chimney

Monday, August 28th, 2023
stork-nest-on-chimney

Chimney cleaning in Minneapolis, MN is a job we recommend homeowners have scheduled regularly, especially for wood-burning fireplaces that leave behind creosote. But creosote isn’t the only reason you may need to have chimney cleaning: animals often get inside chimneys to nest.

Animals will not only create blockages, they can also be dangerous—and removing them often must be left to expert chimney cleaners. We have a lot of experience with the types of critters that like to set up homes inside Minnesota chimneys. Here are the most common ones that might choose your chimney for a temporary home.

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Can I Do My Own Chimney Cleaning?

Monday, August 14th, 2023
chimney-trees

On this site, we emphasize the importance of having regular chimney and chimney flue cleaning in Minneapolis, MN. We recommend a yearly cleaning along with a Level 1 chimney inspection to ensure the chimney is free of buildup of creosote and anything that may block it, and to check for possible damage and wear that needs repairs.

But are professionals like ours really necessary? You might wonder if you can clean the chimney yourself. Maybe you can find an online video tutorial. With a face mask, a set of old clothes, tarps on the ground, a few scrubbers on long handles, and a bit of elbow grease, you should be able to get the job done. Right…?

Although we encourage you to handle some chimney maintenance tasks on your own, the actual job of cleaning a chimney is something to leave to the professionals. We’ll explain why below.

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Yes, Gas Fireplaces Need Regular Inspections

Monday, July 17th, 2023
chimney

We’ve often talked about the importance of having regular fireplace and chimney inspections for any home that has a fireplace. Standard Level 1 inspections make sure a chimney can vent properly and that there isn’t a potentially dangerous buildup of creosote that can lead to a fire.

However, we’ve often found that people who have gas fireplaces rather than wood-burning fireplaces think they don’t need these regular inspections. After all, gas fireplaces burn cleanly, without the concern of the buildup of creosote and soot, so why would they require routine inspections from professionals?

The answer is in the title: gas fireplaces absolutely need to have regular inspections. We’ll explain why a routine fireplace and chimney inspection in Plymouth, MN is necessary even if you aren’t burning wood logs in the fireplace.

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