Tag: Chimney cap in Dayton MN [post_name]

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 Sealing & Resurfacing

The fireplace is a beautiful and functional part of your home, but it is also potentially dangerous. Without proper cleaning and maintenance, your fireplace and chimney could turn into major fire hazards. Hiring professional chimney cleaners can help keep your family safe. Chimney inspectors and cleaners can visit your home regularly for routine maintenance and repairs. Chimney Hazards It is simple enough to keep your fireplace clean and in good shape, but your chimney is another matter. It might be more difficult to tell if your chimney has structural damage or physical blockages within its shaft without the appropriate tools. One common problem with traditional chimneys is the build-up of creosote. This substance, produced by burning wood and coal in fireplaces, is highly flammable. Creosote is usually dark brown or black in appearance, and can appear dry and flaky, tar-like and sticky, or shiny and hard depending on the type of fuel you burn and the amount of condensation that occurs inside your chimney. Allowing creosote to build up inside your chimney may result in dangerous chimney fires. These can be slow-burning fires that cause severe damage to your chimney's internal structure. The only way to detect these fires is the low, rumbling sound (similar to the sound a low-flying plane makes) coming from the chimney. They may also be dangerous, explosive fires that even your neighbors will probably see and hear. Even modern gas chimneys that do not use wood or coal for fuel have their own share of problems. Rust, corrosion, and other forms of natural deterioration can still pose risks like carbon monoxide leaks. Old chimneys made of stone or bricks often require reinforcement or rebuilding. These are prone to crumbling during earthquakes or eroding during rainstorms, especially if part of its structure wore out over the years. Preventing Chimney Problems Keeping your chimney clean and repairing structural problems as soon as they start developing is the best way to prevent chimney fires and other complications. Hire experts providing chimney cleaning services in your area for these tasks. You can perform minor repairs yourself, but it is usually better to call on chimney cleaning professionals to make sure every part of your chimney is in good shape. Companies offering chimney cleaning often offer chimney repairs and inspection as well. Inspections come in three levels: Level I for standard annual inspections, Level II for more in-depth inspections of the chimney and the rooms close to it, and Level III for thorough examinations after a Level I or II reveals physical obstructions or structural damage. Level III inspections determine the type of repairs your chimney requires. Finding Professional Cleaners Many companies and individuals offer chimney cleaning or chimney repair in Long Island, but you should not just hire the first ones you see. Check out their licenses and insurance coverage first. Their cleaning licenses prove their efficiency, while insurance coverage helps you deal with accidents that may occur during the cleaning, inspection, or repair process.

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

Common Chimney Repairs

Water that enters the home can cause many problems from unsightly stains to unhealthy mold growth. Tracking the source of water entry should always be a process of elimination, beginning with the least expensive repair. When you are beginning to diagnose the problem, be looking for tell-tale signs of water entry, such as loose mortar joints, cracked brick, or a shifting foundation. All of these areas and more can allow water to enter into your home, making the diagnosis and correction of water problems very difficult. Any obvious cracks in the brick are a starting point for inspecting points of entry of water. You can check to see if cracks are your issue by waiting for the interior to dry completely and begin spraying your chimney with water from the foundation up, gradually moving to see if, at a certain height on the chimney, moisture begins to appear in the home once more. If you come to diagnose your problem at a particular height on the chimney, you should seal the cracks with a brick sealant, repair any loose mortar joints between the brick, and apply a water repellent to the entire chimney. Choosing the right water repellent is sometimes half the battle. Be sure that your water repellent will not trap vapors inside the brick, as this would only worsen your problem. Utilizing water repellents, like those manufactured by ChimneySavers, which form a semi permeable membrane over the brick is ideal. Such water repellents will allow vapors that naturally occur in small percentages in the brick to escape will still preventing new precipitation from entering the home. If the integrity of the brick seems sound, and the foundation seems to be proper, you may want to inspect your flashing. ChimneySavers has an interesting product called FlashSeal, a flexible flashing sealant with an easy brush-on application, specially formulated to seal your flashing and prevent water entry. This sealant forms a permanently flexible membrane such that it will not cause damage to the roof or the flashing as fluctuations in temperature cause the materials to expand and contract. Temperature changes between day and night and from season to season cause shingles, flashing, and even brick to expand and contract on a molecular level. Sealants must be flexible or else they will cause damage to the shifting particles of the roof. One gallon of FlashSeal covers approximately 28 sq. ft. Apply the product with a brush and only in temperatures above 45 degrees Fahrenheit. This product, FlashSeal, permanently adheres to most materials; metal flashing, asphalt shingles, brick, etc. This product is another option in the process of elimination to diagnose exactly where water is penetrating your home.  

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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

Diagnose Your Chimney's Leaking Problem

Hydraulic Lime Mortar On a Chimney Cap? As a company, we are committed to the challenge of using sustainable building methods in our historic restoration projects. Sometimes we are asked specific technical questions as to how these two objectives are reconcilable-how can we use historic methods over modern techniques to stand the test of time? Recently, we received just such a question: "I am committed to using the sustainable and historically accurate natural hydraulic lime mortar on my chimney cap, but how will the natural lime mortar hold up in the long run?" This is a valid question. After all, Portland is harder than natural lime mortar, right? So although it is historically accurate, how is it sustainable to use a softer material on a chimney, one of the hardest to reach places and one of the most vulnerable spots on your historic house? Shouldn't your chimney, of all places have a durable and water proof cap? Beautiful homes, that have been meticulously maintained, have often been found to have small plants growing out of the chimney. First let's consider a few of the attacks a chimney has to endure. The most obvious is the extreme exposure to all forms of moisture: rain, snow, dew and frost. Constantly varying temperatures throughout the year, from cold winter nights to scorching hot summer days add an additional assault on the chimney-the constant expansion and contraction takes its toll. In the dead of winter, when the furnace kicks on and 400 plus degree air suddenly hits a 15 degree chimney flue, then what happens? The resulting pressure has an effect much like putting an untempered glass into a hot oven: it cracks. This expanding and contracting phenomenon has another destructive effect; the clay liner which your chimney is built with will expand upward as it heats up then contract back down as it cools. This effect may further compromise your chimney's structural integrity. As if this was not enough, a surprising attack comes from another part of nature. A chimney is a natural resting place for birds. We have seen the corrosive effect that bird droppings have on the integrity of a chimney cap. While we won't attempt to address all of these issues here, we will address the basic way that we apply a chimney cap. Needless to say, the chimney has a very difficult and challenging life and it would be advisable for the responsible homeowner to inspect a chimney for integrity-much as he would inspect his gutters for leaks. Just as a leaky gutter will ultimately wreak havoc on any masonry construction, a leaky chimney will do the same. Add the chimney cap to the schedule of five year maintenance checks. Eventually, you may have to repair it, or even replace it completely. As I like to say, a chimney cap replaced in time can save nine. So, now let's go back to the historical use of hydraulic lime mortar on the chimney cap instead of Portland. Portland is harder and water proof right? Doesn't that mean it will last longer, and need fewer repairs? It's a good theory. But there are more destructive forces at work on a chimney cap than just moisture. Recall our description of one of the most destructive attacks: thermal expansion and contraction from the flue gasses as they heat a very cold chimney. Portland may be harder, but hardness doesn't handle that kind of expansion very well, it cracks easily and once it cracks it doesn't heal. Earlier, we raised a concern that natural lime mortar is softer, right? But now we see that the softness is a positive thing because it will permit more movement than Portland. If it does crack, it heals itself! This is how it works chemically: the content of natural free lime actually attracts to itself and thus it self-heals, sealing the crack. The tried and true method we use to apply a chimney cap is as follows: We apply three coats of mortar. The first two coats consist of two parts course concrete sand, one part 3.5 natural hydraulic lime mortar, and one handful of natural hair or fiberglass. The third and final coat we apply is proportioned as follows: two and one half parts sand, one part 3.5 natural lime mortar, this final coat has a bit more sand; no fiberglass or hair. This method will allow the first two coats to act as a stronger mixture-the fiberglass acts as a rebar of sorts-and the final layer seals the fibrous ends so they won't act as a wick for water absorption; we don't want a conduit for moisture. For a few weeks after the new chimney cap has been applied, it should be covered from moisture-depending on the temperatures-and should be kept damp in hot temperatures. While the exact method of applying a new chimney cap may vary extensively, we have found that our method works quite well and lasts for many years. It is our commitment to balance the use of natural and sustainable products, while enabling the use of historically accurate products and procedures.

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

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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Chimney Sealing & Resurfacing


Chimney Services MN