The chimney blog
Answers to what Twin Cities homeowners ask us most, with Minnesota code, real winter numbers and price ranges.
Does Minnesota require a metal liner for a gas furnace or water heater in a brick chimney?What Minn. R. 1346.5501 says about metal liners in brick chimneys that vent a gas furnace or water heater, which liners qualify, and what relining costs.
What happens to the water heater when a new furnace stops using the chimney?A new side-vented furnace can leave the water heater alone in an oversized brick flue. What IFGC 501.15 says about resizing, and how the fix works in Twin Cities homes.
Is the winter leak in my ceiling an ice dam or the chimney?Water on the ceiling after a thaw can be an ice dam or a leaking chimney. Where the stain shows, what UMN Extension says about ice dams, and what each repair costs.
How does Minnesota's freeze-thaw cycle damage a chimney crown?Why the concrete crown on top of a brick chimney in the metro cracks, how often MSP swings across freezing, and when to repair or replace.
Do I need approval to repair a chimney in a Minneapolis or St. Paul historic district?St. Paul requires a permit for any tuckpointing in a Historic Preservation Area, and Minneapolis reviews work on historic properties. What to expect first.
How should I answer the fireplace question on a Minnesota seller's disclosure?The standard Minnesota seller's disclosure asks whether the fireplace, fireplace mechanisms, wood stove and CO detector are in working order. How an inspection helps.
Why does my gas fireplace go out when it gets really cold?Why a gas fireplace drops its pilot or shuts off when Minnesota temperatures fall below zero, which parts usually cause it, and what each repair costs.
Where do carbon monoxide alarms have to go in a Minnesota home with a fireplace?Minn. Stat. 299F.51 requires a working CO alarm within 10 feet of every sleeping room. Where to add more when you have a fireplace, stove or gas insert.
Why is my chase cover rusting, and does it need to be replaced?Homes in Maple Grove, Blaine, Woodbury and Lakeville often have a factory-built fireplace in a sided chase. Why the metal top rusts and leaks, and the cost.
What causes cracks in a stucco chimney, and how is it repaired?Why stucco-covered chimneys on older Twin Cities houses crack and hold water, what is usually hiding behind the stucco, and what repair costs.
Book online
Choose a day. We'll bring the ladder.
Free inspection in a 3-hour arrival window: 8 to 11, 11 to 2, or 2 to 5, Sunday through Friday. We phone to confirm before we come.