Chimney sweep in Eden Prairie, MN for the wood fireplace you light all winter and the dryer vent behind the wall
Brickstone Chimney Sweep sweeps wood-burning fireplaces in Eden Prairie, cleans dryer vents and inspects chimneys in homes built from the 1970s on. Tell us when the fireplace was last swept and where the laundry room sits, and we build the visit from that.
What builds up in a wood fireplace flue after a winter of fires?
Soot and creosote, a tar that sticks to the flue walls and burns hot if it ignites. A sweep takes it out before the next fire.
Eden Prairie filled in fast after the freeway and the big shopping center came through in the 1970s, and most of its houses date from then or later. A fireplace in one of those homes has been through decades of winters. Every fire leaves a thin layer behind. Over a season the layer thickens, and a thick layer is fuel.
Our sweep starts with a look at the firebox and damper, then brushes the whole flue from the bottom up and vacuums what falls. We finish by checking the cap and the top courses of the chimney from the roof. Chimney sweeping explains the visit step by step.
Does my dryer vent need cleaning if the lint trap stays empty?
Yes. The trap only catches part of the lint. The rest settles inside the vent pipe, and a clogged pipe makes the dryer hotter and slower.
When the laundry room sits on an upper floor or in a finished lower level, the vent runs a long way through walls and floors before it reaches the outside. Lint collects at the bends. Clothes that take two cycles to dry, a hot laundry room or a lint smell are the usual signs.
We clear the vent from the dryer back to the outside hood, hood included. Read more on dryer vent cleaning. If you smell something burning, turn the dryer off and unplug it. Smoke from the dryer means everyone goes outside and someone calls 911.
How big can a backyard fire be in Eden Prairie?
Three feet across and three feet high at most, set 25 feet from anything that can burn. The city requires no separate permit.
The city's recreational fire guidelines act as the permit. Burn only clean, dry wood at least an inch thick, and keep fires between 7 a.m. and midnight. Skip the fire when winds reach 15 miles per hour. Check the city's current guidelines before you light, since rules can change.
A fire in the yard and a fire in the living room are different jobs. The indoor one needs a clean flue each year, and that is the part we handle.
I just bought a house with a fireplace in Eden Prairie. What should I check first?
Ask for a Level 2 inspection before the first fire. You will learn what the flue looks like inside and what it needs.
The Preserve, in the southeast, began around 1970 as a planned community, and homes around Staring Lake Park and Purgatory Creek Park span several decades. A fireplace in a newer house is a different build from one on the next street over, so we look at what is actually there.
A Level 2 puts a camera inside the flue, and we also look at the attic and the spaces around the chimney. We walk you through what we see. Details are on chimney inspection.
Do you work on gas fireplaces in Eden Prairie too?
Yes. We clean and test the burner, igniter and pilot parts and service the glass and venting.
If a gas fireplace clicks without a flame or shuts itself off, call and describe it. See gas fireplace repair. If gas is ever in the air, walk everyone out of the house, then phone the gas company or 911.
Eden Prairie chimney and dryer vent questions
How often should an Eden Prairie wood fireplace be swept?
Once a year, ideally ahead of the season's first fire. If you burn often, ask us how the flue looks after a few months of use.
What does a chimney sweep visit cover from start to finish?
We check the firebox and damper, brush and vacuum the flue, look at the cap and top of the chimney, and report back on what we found. If something needs repair, you hear about it before work begins.
Is a chimney cap worth adding to a wood fireplace?
Yes. Mesh around the cap blocks rain, leaves and animals. See chimney cap installation.
How do I tell if my dryer vent is clogged?
Clothes stay damp after a full cycle, the dryer or laundry room runs hot, or you smell something warm and dusty. Any of these is a reason to book a cleaning.
What should I do with ashes from the fireplace?
Let them cool for days, then scoop them into a lidded metal bucket and park it on bare ground, well clear of the house, deck and garage.
Can the dryer vent be cleaned on the same trip as the sweep?
Yes. Ask for both and we book one visit for the two jobs.
Map of Eden Prairie, MN
Wherever you are in Eden Prairie, the crew comes to you.
Services in Eden Prairie
- Chimney sweeping
- Chimney inspection
- Chimney repair
- Gas fireplace repair
- Dryer vent cleaning
- Chimney caps
- Chimney liners
- Chimney leak repair
Minnesota River valley and the southwest metro
- Eden Prairie
- Minnetonka
- Prior Lake
- Savage
- Shakopee
Map of Eden Prairie, MN
Wherever you are in Eden Prairie, the crew comes to you.
What you can count on
- 10 years in the chimney tradeSweeping, inspection and repair on brick and factory-built chimneys
- Licensed and insuredBrickstone Chimney Sweep is licensed and insured
- Open every day, 8 AM to 8 PMCall any day of the week to set a time