Chimney and Fireplace Service in Blaine, Minnesota
Blaine's median home was built in 1996 and more than 4 in 10 went up after 2000, so the fireplace is usually gas. We inspect it for free.
Blaine split off from Anoka as a township in 1877 and became a city in 1954, named after Senator James G. Blaine of Maine. It had 1,694 residents in 1950 and 70,222 in 2020, and Wikipedia notes that for several years it led the metro in new home construction. Large parts of the city, The Lakes, Knoll Creek, Club West and Pleasure Creek among them, were built on former peat sod farms that were sand-mined first.
Census ACS (2024 five-year) figures back that up: a median year built of 1996, about 43 percent of homes from 2000 or later, and gas heating about 88 percent of occupied homes, the highest share in our area. About two-thirds are single-family detached houses. Expect direct-vent gas fireplaces, gas inserts and factory-built units with chase tops, and very little old brick.
The coldest part of the metro
The nearest NOAA station is Andover 1N, just northwest of Blaine. Its 1991–2020 normals show about 172 nights a year at or below freezing, about 39 nights at or below zero and 8,283 heating degree days, against 7,399 at MSP. By our arithmetic on those normals, Blaine sees roughly 90 days a year that freeze at night and thaw by day.
Gas fireplaces work harder here, and so do their vents. Snow drifts against wall terminations, ice forms on the vent cap, and frost collects inside the chase when the cover leaks. Keep wall vents clear after every snowfall.
Common Blaine repairs
Most calls here are a gas fireplace that won't light or stay lit, or a chase cover that has started to leak. Typical part prices: igniter $90 to $150, pilot assembly $100 to $350, thermocouple $150 to $350, thermopile or gas valve $150 to $300. A new chase cover typically runs $300 to $700.
- Pilot that dies in deep cold
- Glass fogging or white film
- Rust on the chase lid or flue collar
- Wall vent blocked by drifted snow
Permits and safety
Brooklyn Park, across the Mississippi, lists gas fireplaces, wood stoves and chimney liners among its mechanical-permit jobs. We check what Blaine requires before scheduling. Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. 299F.51) also calls for a working carbon monoxide alarm within 10 feet of every bedroom, which we check while we are there.
Where we work in Blaine
The Lakes · Sunrise Lake · Knoll Creek · Club West · Pleasure Creek · Near TPC Twin Cities · National Sports Center area · Laddie Lake
FAQ
Blaine chimney questions
Why does my Blaine gas fireplace shut off on the coldest nights?
Common causes are a weak thermocouple or thermopile, a dirty pilot, or ice and snow at the outside vent. Clear the vent first. If that does not fix it, we diagnose it at the free inspection; typical parts run $90 to $350.
Do newer homes in Blaine need a chimney inspection?
Yes. NFPA 211 calls for a yearly inspection of chimneys, fireplaces and vents, including gas units. A chase cover can also start leaking within 20 years. Our inspection is free.
How much is a chimney sweep in Blaine?
We price it at the free inspection, once we see the unit and flue, and give you a written price before any work.
When can you come to Blaine?
Sunday through Friday in 3-hour windows: 8 to 11, 11 to 2 or 2 to 5. We are closed Saturday and call ahead to confirm.
Book online
Book in Blaine. The inspection is free.
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.