Creosote is one of the most dangerous things you can find inside of a chimney. And yet, it builds up naturally as you burn a fire in your fireplace. There are steps you can take to lessen the buildup and impact of creosote, a black, tarlike substance that is highly combustible. And you should also know what to look for to tell if your creosote problem is out of control.
2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Minneapolis’
Checking Your Chimney for Creosote
Monday, May 30th, 2016Why Smoke Gets into Your Home When You Use the Fireplace
Monday, May 2nd, 2016You light a fire in your fireplace, assuming that you’ll feel more comfortable in no time. But shortly after you build a fire, smoke is sent through the fireplace and back to your home. This is a scary problem that often deserves professional attention in order to prevent fires and other health and safety issues. We’ve provided the list below so that you can ask yourself a few questions before you call in a technician, and know what to tell the chimney sweeps when they arrive.
Should You Worry about Vines Climbing Up the Chimney?
Monday, April 18th, 2016The look of vines climbing up a home’s walls can add beauty to the structure. A bit of color on your walls and on the roof is always a nice touch, and it add to the charm of nearly any home. However, there are some concerns you might not think of when it comes to the greenery on the side of your home. But our experts are often cautious about letting the growth get out of control, at least when it comes to your chimney.
What You Should Know about Structural Issues and Your Chimney
Tuesday, April 12th, 2016A fireplace adds warmth and beauty to the inside of your home, while a chimney gives a welcoming look to the outside of your building. Sometimes, chimneys are so old and worn, they can have structural damage on the outside that you may or may not notice. When you do notice the issue, however, you might think it adds even more of a vintage look and feel, with the occasional masonry damage just adding quirkiness to your home. However, there are some things you should know about your chimney and how structural damage can really affect you.
Creosote: Is This a Risk I Should Worry about with My Chimney?
Monday, March 28th, 2016A common misconception homeowners believe about their chimneys and fireplaces is that they require little to no maintenance. This can unfortunately be a very dangerous mistake to make. Creosote is a real threat, and can not only cause a chimney fire but can also have adverse effects on your health. This substance is a dark brown oil distilled from coal tar that builds up within your chimney.
7 Easy Safety Tips for Using a Fireplace
Monday, March 14th, 2016Fireplaces add a beautiful touch to any home, but despite the elegance it can add to your living room, it seems wasted if you never really use it. You deserve to get warm and cozy in front of a fireplace, but you also want to keep your family members safe. Here, we offer some of the easiest ways to be sure you’re using your chimney and fireplace in the safest possible way.
Why You Should Avoid a Cheap Chimney Sweep
Monday, February 22nd, 2016Cleaning out your chimney once every year (at least!) is so important for your health and wellness, and for the well-being of your home. This process could potentially save your home, as a buildup of debris in the chimney could actually cause a fire to ignite in the chimney and spread to your home.
Common Structural Problems with Chimneys
Tuesday, February 16th, 2016When you’re buying a home that is several decades old, you might assume that it’s in pretty good shape. After all, it’s lasted for this long without any problems, right? The worn look of an old chimney is not something every homeowner is concerned with, and it might give the home a rustic, vintage feel anyway. But structural issues with the chimney can actually cause you a lot of trouble, and it may even make your home unsafe.
3 Reasons You Should Budget for Chimney Cleaning
Monday, February 1st, 2016Maybe you’ve heard before that you should schedule chimney cleaning every year. But you just aren’t quite sure whether it’s in the budget for you this year. Think you can skip it just this once? We think you’re much better off spending the money for this service now than dealing with any potential consequences.