Chimney sweep in Excelsior, MN for Victorian flues that were never meant for gas

Brickstone sweeps chimneys and installs liners in Excelsior. If your Victorian has a gas fireplace on an old brick flue, we check that the flue and the appliance suit each other. We drive over from Chanhassen. Call and we set a time.

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Putting a gas fireplace into an old brick chimney: what needs checking?

Excelsior has kept many Victorian-era houses, downtown and on the streets around it. Chimneys of that era were usually built for coal or wood. A gas insert or log set is a different kind of fire. It burns cooler, and the exhaust can condense inside a wide, unlined brick flue and eat at the mortar.

So before the first gas fire, we look at the flue. Is it sound? Is it the right size for the new unit? Is there a lining, and is it whole? Where the answer is no, a chimney liner gives the gas a snug, sealed path. If the gas unit is already in and misbehaving, our gas fireplace repair covers the burner, the pilot and the vent.

Water Street and Excelsior's historic homes

Excelsior is on the south shore of the lake, and its downtown Water Street district is on the National Register of Historic Places. The town is known for protecting its old character, with strict building codes. For you, that means one thing: check with the city before exterior work on a historic building, then ask us how to do the repair so it looks like it always did.

On old stacks, a cracked crown that lets water into the masonry is a frequent repair. We seal or rebuild the crown, replace failing flashing and repoint with mortar that suits the brick. See chimney repair for the steps.

Smoke in the room on a west wind

A fireplace that puffs back when the wind shifts has a reason. Usually it is one of three.

The cap

The wrong cap, or a clogged one, makes wind push down the flue.

The flue size

An oversized flue loses draft easily. A liner can tighten it.

Soot

A flue full of creosote chokes the draft. A sweep opens it again.

Where does a chimney sweep start with an old Excelsior chimney?

Start with an inspection. It shows the state of the flue, the crown, the brick and the cap, and it tells you whether you need a sweep, a repair or a liner. Then you can plan the work around your season and your budget. Call us with the address and what the fireplace has been doing, and we set a time.

Excelsior homeowner questions

Can you line the flue before I turn on a gas fireplace in my Excelsior Victorian?

Yes. We inspect the flue, then size and install a liner suited to the gas unit.

Why does my old fireplace smoke when the wind blows from the west?

Common causes are a clogged or poorly matched cap, a flue that is too wide, or soot buildup. We check all three on a visit.

Do you work on older homes near Water Street?

Yes. We sweep, inspect and repair chimneys on older homes downtown and on the streets around it.

Can a repair keep the original look of an Excelsior chimney?

That is the goal. We match brick, mortar and shape where we can, and we point out the choices.

Should I check with the city before repairing a chimney on a historic Excelsior home?

It is a smart step. The city protects its historic character, so ask City Hall about your address before exterior work.

How much does a crown crack matter?

A great deal over time. Water gets in, freezes and breaks the brick below. Sealing early prevents a larger repair.

Do you also serve Shorewood?

Yes. Shorewood borders Excelsior, and we work there too.

Map of Excelsior, MN

From one end of Excelsior to the other, call and we set a time.

Services in Excelsior

South Lake Minnetonka

All towns we serve

Map of Excelsior, MN

From one end of Excelsior to the other, call and we set a time.

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