Tag: Fireplace cleaning in Dayton MN

This a tougher question than it sounds. The simple answer is: The National Fire Protection Association Standard 211 says, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary.” This is the national safety standard and is the correct way to approach the problem. It takes into account the fact that even if you don’t use your Fireplace Repair
 much, animals may build nests in the flue or there may be other types of deterioration that could make the chimney unsafe to use.
​
The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends that open masonry fireplaces should be swept at 1/8″ of sooty buildup, and sooner if there is any glaze present in the system. This is considered to be enough fuel buildup to cause a chimney fire capable of damaging the chimney or spreading to the home. Factory-built fireplaces should be swept when any appreciable buildup occurs. The logic is that the deposit is quite acidic and can shorten the life of the fireplace. Fireplace Repair
 Dayton MN 

Fireplace Repair
 Dayton MN, fast, affordable & reliable

Chimney Caps - The Pros And Cons

Chimney caps come in many different sizes, shapes and materials. So which one is right for you and why should you get one? These two questions are the most commonly asked questions home owners ask me regarding chimney cap installations. These may seem like simple questions, How ever they are from simple answers I will explain the answers to both of these questions in laymen terms. Chimneys come in many sizes and shapes. To further make the issue more complex the flue that raises out the top of your crown also may vary in the height. So the first step is to find out what proper size cap you need. A common mistake is to install a cap that mounts onto the chimney flue. These are commonly sold at Home Depot and Lowes. These caps are only suitable for single flue. Even still the lid of the chimney cap must over extend over your chimney in such a way that when it rains the rain falls off to the sides of your chimney and not on the top of your crown. If you refuse to follow my advice and install one of these Home Depot Specials, When it rains the water will fall in a more focused way on specific spot on your crown. This will speed up the wear and tear. To make matters even worse in some cases the water that falls now may actually fall down your flue. This is the worse thing that could happen as when your flue wears down you run the risk of carbon monoxide leakage inside your home or even a fire. Liners are the only solution to fix this problem when you have issues like this. A liner installation will run a cost from $1500 to $3,000 and up! The bottom line is in most cases you need a custom cap made for your chimney. This is not that pricey usually this runs a cost of about $400 give or take. When a chimney cap is installed properly it will protect your chimney crown for decades to come as well as your chimney flue from the elements. In addition to this you will never have to worry about small animals making a nest or home in your warm chimney. This is a common problem in New England. Every home should have a chimney cap on their chimney it is one of the best decisions you will ever make for you home.

Chimney Repair - The 5 Most Common Chimney Issues and How to Fix Them

There is nothing quite as comforting as a roaring fire on a cold winter day to warm your heart and your home. A fireplace is something your entire family can enjoy. But you need to make sure chimney repair and maintenance is done correctly in order to ensure your families safety. The Importance of Chimney Repair A chimney is designed to draw the smoke and gases produced by a fire up and safely out of your home. This is extremely important since some of these gases are dangerous. One of the most dangerous is carbon monoxide which in large enough doses can kill. A second important function of the chimney is to contain the excess heat from a fire until it can be vented to the outside air. Most of your home is combustible. If the chimney does not get this extremely hot air outside without leaks it can easily cause a fire in your home. This is why it is so important for you to make sure that any needed chimney repair is done correctly in order to keep you, your family and your home safe. Here are some important tips to ensure that your fireplace is working correctly and avoid some common chimney repair issues. Creosote Buildup Creosote is an oil that is produced when wood or other solids are set on fire. Over time the creosote can build up on the inside of your chimney. If there is too much buildup it can ignite and cause a fire in your chimney. Blockage Another common chimney repair issue is having a blockage in the flue of your chimney. This can be caused by debris from material dislodging in your chimney or even by animal nests. Blockages, even small ones affect the efficiency of your chimney in getting smoke, gases and heat out of your home. Cracks Or Holes In The Flue Some of the gases from a fire are quite corrosive and over time can damage your chimney flue and create the potential for blockages or even allow dangerous gases to seep into your home. Make sure that your flue gets an annual inspection to ensure that it is working correctly. Brickwork Problems Another problem is caused if the flue starts to leak and erode the masonry and brickwork around the exterior and require extensive chimney repair work. Too much of this can cause major structural damage which will make your chimney repair much more expensive. Chimney Cap and Chimney Crown The chimney cap and crown basically make up the roof of the chimney that surrounds the flue and keeps water and debris from getting into the chimney. If this is cracked or missing pieces it can allow water damage to the inside of the chimney and even damage the ability of the flue to channel gases and heat out of the home. This area also keeps animals, debris and weather out of your flue. Conclusion If you see any of these problems when you inspect your chimney, you need to see that any needed repair is made before the fireplace is used. While you may be able to fill small cracks, you should consult a professional for any larger issue. It is always recommended that you have your chimney cleaned, inspected and any needed chimney repair work done at least once a year to ensure its safe operation. To ensure the safety of your family make sure that you have carbon monoxide detectors in your home. These should be placed on each floor or at a minimum on the floor where your family sleeps. Check them regularly to make sure they are working properly to protect your family from even low levels of carbon monoxide. By taking care of any needed chimney repair as soon as you see it the costs for the repairs will be much less than if you let the problem get larger. Make sure that your chimney is inspected regularly and it will give you years of safe use.

Fireplace Repair
 Locally serviced and operated in Dayton MN

Chimney Caps And Why You Should Have One On Your Chimney

Chimney caps have various functions. Almost all the flues require caps or terminations to protect the crown from rains to go inside. Rain can damage the fireplace and even ruin walls. These caps keep the birds away from building nests within chimneys. Moreover, This addition to your chimney is very important for metal chimneys because they are made up of two or three metal layers and have embedded air between them. In the absence of a custom flue cap, water and moisture can destroy metal. Mostly, caps are installed at the time of installation by the manufacturers. This is the best time to install the product because you don't need to check its size and shape moreover, It is usually made from the same brand and provide best protection to your home. Sometimes, you may require installing a new custom cap onto your flue when you face wind problems or draft, worn out caps and unavailability of original manufacturer's product. If you are facing high intensity of wind problems then your best choice will be of vacuum caps that are specially designed to help you in your draft (wind) problems. Professional sweeps can best describe your needs and can provide you with a custom solution. The best option about your new cap is to use the same brand as of your installed chimneys. Custom caps are alternative option in the absence of branded caps from the manufacturer of your metal flue. Some of the metal flues are of "air cooled" by venting them on the top. Be certain, not to close the venting slots of these metal flue solutions because that can lead to the house fire. You must choose special caps for these products that assure proper cooling. Cons of Chimney Caps: An improperly designed cap can lead to draft restriction and can reduce the draft. Caps with small screening become blocked due to creosote and soot after heavy use. Clogging of screen in caps leads to reduce performance of your fireplace. Sometimes, Creosote can collect into the caps that can run down outside of your chimney structure. This leakage can cause discoloration. occasionally caps can also blow off or can even destroy in heavy winds. Replacement or reinstallation of a new cap can cause additional expenditures to you. Pros of Chimney Caps: Chimney caps avoid from birds and raccoons to build nests into your walls. These caps protect your flues from moisture & rains to get inside your chimney and also keep the smell away from your home. These caps protect the crowns and shed ice from them and extend the life span of crowns. Moreover, these caps increase the draft especially in the region of heavy winds. In a nutshell, Chimney caps are very important for your chimneys and are available in various sizes including 8" x 8", 12" x 12" and 8" x 12" and are also available in other customized sizes, as well.  

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Fireplace Repair


Chimney Services MN

This a tougher question than it sounds. The simple answer is: The National Fire Protection Association Standard 211 says, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary.” This is the national safety standard and is the correct way to approach the problem. It takes into account the fact that even if you don’t use your Chimney Sealing & Resurfacing
 much, animals may build nests in the flue or there may be other types of deterioration that could make the chimney unsafe to use.
​
The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends that open masonry fireplaces should be swept at 1/8″ of sooty buildup, and sooner if there is any glaze present in the system. This is considered to be enough fuel buildup to cause a chimney fire capable of damaging the chimney or spreading to the home. Factory-built fireplaces should be swept when any appreciable buildup occurs. The logic is that the deposit is quite acidic and can shorten the life of the fireplace. Chimney Sealing & Resurfacing
 Dayton MN 

Chimney Sealing & Resurfacing
 Dayton MN, fast, affordable & reliable

Chimney Caps - The Pros And Cons

Inside and out, you can apply this beautiful design technique to any fireplace you might already have or are thinking of building. The greatest part about this design technique is the fact that you have so many creative options you'll have to really think about what you want before you get started. In one weekend, you can have the fireplace of your dreams. First of all, you'll be working with concrete. You'll have to learn how to work with concrete and you'll have to learn some concrete resurfacing techniques. But, it's on a small scale and you can literally make concrete look like anything. These techniques you can learn if you have any creative abilities, from doing the concrete to resurfacing. So, there's no need to feel alarmed. You can do it. Have fun with it! With colorant and the right mixture of overlay material, you can create such designs as pearl, marble, stone and brick. You can make concrete look like wood if you wanted. I have seen concrete resurfacing jobs that made a driveway look like a shiny basketball court. The more creative designs have been the remakes of famous paintings like the Sistine Chapel Ceiling by Michelangelo, The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, and Woman with a Guitar by Georges Braque. But, you'd have to be a master at concrete resurfacing to achieve that level of artistry. Let's just look at creating interesting designs that you can handle at your own level of artistry, wherever you are as an artist. Whether you are working on an indoor or an outdoor fireplace, the steps are the same when it comes to creating concrete surfaces. The only difference is the dimensions and I have to leave you to be able to measure and determine those on your own. Moving forward, I'm referring to steps you would take to create an outdoor fireplace from scratch. What You'll Need Concrete Plywood 2x4s Screws Polymer Trowel Hopper Gun Colorcoat Sealant Fireplace Insert Poor Slabs A basic fireplace structure would include a back, two sides and a chimney if needed. The back and the front should overlap the sides so that the corners are flush. The front could be a square opening which would mean you need a front facing slab across the bottom, one on each side and one across the top. Of course the design is up to your creative abilities. If you can do arches or some other unique design, have at it. Once you've determined the dimensions of the fireplace you want, you'll want to pour the slabs that will make up all sides of your fireplace. Using screws, build the pouring area with plywood and 2x4s in the dimensions of the slabs you will need. Reuse molds if you don't have enough wood for each slab and many of them are going to be the same size. It will take a little longer, but you'll be able to resurface each slab at a time rather than all at once. Pour the concrete and let it sit until dry. When the concrete is ready, unscrew the screws and pull the molds apart. Be careful not to break your concrete while you remove them from the mold. Resurface Steps When your concrete slabs are ready, you can begin the concrete resurfacing steps. They are not complex. But, they are different for the different designs you might want to attempt. Make ultra surface polymer. Spray polymer on each surface with a hopper gun. Trowel over the texture to finish. Apply your colorcoat application. Seal. When you are applying your colorcoat, that's the time to be creative. You can prepare surfaces with tape and make different colored sections. You can spot spray different colorcoats so that you can have a simple design like rustic spots mixed with forest green, tan spots mixed on a dark blue surface or whatever your style would be. It's all up to your creativity. When you seal, allow to cure for 3 days. Sealant will get in the texture of your concrete and keep water damage from happening. You'll want to use sealant on fireplace projects in your home as well. You never know when you need protection from water damage. Build the Fireplace Raise your slabs and begin putting them together. My method is to reinforce the concrete slabs with a wood structure that acts as the support. Attach the concrete slabs to the wood fireplace structure with stainless steel concrete screws screwed from the inside and only three quarters of the way through the concrete. Put the two sides in place before you put the back and the front in place. That way, you won't be fitting the two sides in between the front and the back, but the opposite. You install the back and then start on the sides. For the front, put the bottom slab in place across the bottom. Then, install the two sides in place and then the top. Your chimney is up to you. Put a slab across the top, put a roof on top of your outdoor fireplace, or build yourself whatever you want. It's a ventless fireplace so you don't need a chimney if you don't want one. You can build one though if it would make you happy. Install your fireplace insert and you are ready for a wonderful evening around the fireplace. You'll want to completely plan out your fireplace and make sure that you have the materials you need. So, make sure you consult construction books at your local hardware store. But, this project is completely doable by you and you'll have some fun creating your designs that will bring you enjoyment for a long time to come.

Chimney Repair - The 5 Most Common Chimney Issues and How to Fix Them

There is nothing quite as comforting as a roaring fire on a cold winter day to warm your heart and your home. A fireplace is something your entire family can enjoy. But you need to make sure chimney repair and maintenance is done correctly in order to ensure your families safety. The Importance of Chimney Repair A chimney is designed to draw the smoke and gases produced by a fire up and safely out of your home. This is extremely important since some of these gases are dangerous. One of the most dangerous is carbon monoxide which in large enough doses can kill. A second important function of the chimney is to contain the excess heat from a fire until it can be vented to the outside air. Most of your home is combustible. If the chimney does not get this extremely hot air outside without leaks it can easily cause a fire in your home. This is why it is so important for you to make sure that any needed chimney repair is done correctly in order to keep you, your family and your home safe. Here are some important tips to ensure that your fireplace is working correctly and avoid some common chimney repair issues. Creosote Buildup Creosote is an oil that is produced when wood or other solids are set on fire. Over time the creosote can build up on the inside of your chimney. If there is too much buildup it can ignite and cause a fire in your chimney. Blockage Another common chimney repair issue is having a blockage in the flue of your chimney. This can be caused by debris from material dislodging in your chimney or even by animal nests. Blockages, even small ones affect the efficiency of your chimney in getting smoke, gases and heat out of your home. Cracks Or Holes In The Flue Some of the gases from a fire are quite corrosive and over time can damage your chimney flue and create the potential for blockages or even allow dangerous gases to seep into your home. Make sure that your flue gets an annual inspection to ensure that it is working correctly. Brickwork Problems Another problem is caused if the flue starts to leak and erode the masonry and brickwork around the exterior and require extensive chimney repair work. Too much of this can cause major structural damage which will make your chimney repair much more expensive. Chimney Cap and Chimney Crown The chimney cap and crown basically make up the roof of the chimney that surrounds the flue and keeps water and debris from getting into the chimney. If this is cracked or missing pieces it can allow water damage to the inside of the chimney and even damage the ability of the flue to channel gases and heat out of the home. This area also keeps animals, debris and weather out of your flue. Conclusion If you see any of these problems when you inspect your chimney, you need to see that any needed repair is made before the fireplace is used. While you may be able to fill small cracks, you should consult a professional for any larger issue. It is always recommended that you have your chimney cleaned, inspected and any needed chimney repair work done at least once a year to ensure its safe operation. To ensure the safety of your family make sure that you have carbon monoxide detectors in your home. These should be placed on each floor or at a minimum on the floor where your family sleeps. Check them regularly to make sure they are working properly to protect your family from even low levels of carbon monoxide. By taking care of any needed chimney repair as soon as you see it the costs for the repairs will be much less than if you let the problem get larger. Make sure that your chimney is inspected regularly and it will give you years of safe use.

Chimney Sealing & Resurfacing
 Locally serviced and operated in Dayton MN

Chimney Repair - The 5 Most Common Chimney Issues and How to Fix Them

Metal chimneys usually come along with the cap and masonry chimneys have to be added one especially when the house owner finds it necessary. Apart from this it prevents birds from entering through the space, which they often do when they need to look for a safe place to build their nests. They can even enter the house if the fireplace door is left open. There are animals like squirrels, bats and raccoons that are also observed entering through the chimney, without a chimney cap. If the nesting material is not removed from the chimney, it will block the emission of carbon monoxide gas and will cause suffocation inside the house. Not only this, during rainy season rainwater will enter through this place and bring along unpleasant odors also. The embers and sparks are protected by chimney cap and they do not fly out and damage the roof or the surrounding areas. If you have been advised to put chimney liners to your masonry for the safety of your house and the fireplace, you must be thinking what exactly it is. It is always better to get your pipe installed by a professional and only then the manufacture will honor a guarantee for it. If your chimney is nice and straight, you should install a rigid stainless steel chimney liner for better performance. It is actually the best thing and will help you keep the chimney pots clean and maintained. It is very thick and durable. You can check out the different varieties of chimney liners available and install the one that best fits in with your design and material. With good chimney liners and chimney caps, you can make your house more safe and secure and will be able to use the fireplace more efficiently and without any hindrances.  

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Chimney Sealing & Resurfacing


Chimney Services MN