Chimney sweep in Minnetonka, MN for mid-century masonry fireplaces and older flues
Much of Minnetonka went up between the 1950s and the 1980s, and the chimneys in those houses are decades old. Brickstone Chimney Sweep sweeps them, inspects the flue, relines it when it needs it and cleans the dryer vent. Call and give us a rough age for the house.
How do I know if an older Minnetonka chimney is still safe to use?
Have the flue looked at from the inside. Age alone does not condemn a chimney, but a camera shows what a flashlight cannot.
Building in Minnetonka took off after the war and ran strong through the 1960s, so many chimneys here have decades of winters behind them. Mortar softens, flue tiles crack and old fireboxes shift. None of that shows from the living room.
We start with a sweep, then look up the flue. Step up to a Level 2 chimney inspection and a camera travels the flue while we check the attic and the framing nearby. You hear what we see, and whether the next fire needs a repair first.
Does a mid-century fireplace need a new flue liner?
Sometimes. A flue that was never lined, or a liner that has cracked, lets heat and soot reach the brick and the house framing.
If the camera shows a cracked tile or bare brick inside, a stainless steel liner gives the smoke a sealed path to the top. It also suits a new wood insert or a gas appliance that needs a flue sized for it. See chimney liner installation for what the work involves.
When the flue is sound, we say so and leave it alone. A clean sweep is the whole job.
What does a chimney sweep do in a Minnetonka home that burns wood?
Cleans the firebox, damper and flue, then checks the parts you cannot see from the floor.
We brush the flue from the bottom, vacuum the debris and look over the damper, smoke chamber and cap. Then we climb to the top for a close look at the crown and brick. After the chimney sweeping, we tell you in plain words what we found.
Minnetonka Mills, the old mill village on Minnehaha Creek, is the city's historic corner. If your home sits in one of the older parts of town, mention it on the phone. Older chimneys get a slower, closer look.
Can you clean the dryer vent while you are at the house?
Yes. Ask for both when you book, and we will clear the vent pipe from the dryer to the outside cap.
In a house with a long vent run, lint builds up at the bends and the dryer works harder for every load. A clean vent dries clothes faster. See dryer vent cleaning for the signs to watch for.
Questions from Minnetonka homeowners
Is it safe to light the fireplace in a house I just bought in Minnetonka?
Have the flue inspected first. A previous owner's last fire tells you nothing about the shape of the flue, and a Level 2 inspection shows it.
I am selling my Minnetonka house. Should I inspect the chimney before listing it?
It helps. An inspection gives you time to repair what turns up before a buyer's inspector finds it.
What does a flue liner do?
It is a smooth pipe inside the chimney that carries smoke and gases to the top. It protects the brick and the structure around it.
My fireplace has not been used in years. Can I still sweep it?
Yes, and that is a good first step. Dust, old nests and loose mortar sit in a flue that nobody lights. We clear it and look it over.
What does a Level 2 inspection show that a sweep alone does not?
A camera passes through the whole flue, so cracks, gaps and buildup out of sight become visible. We also check the attic and any framing around the chimney.
Do you also service gas fireplaces in Minnetonka?
Yes. See gas fireplace repair. A gas smell means everyone steps outdoors and calls the gas company or 911 from there.
Map of Minnetonka, MN
Minnetonka and the neighborhoods around it are all part of our area.
Services in Minnetonka
- 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 Minnetonka, MN
Minnetonka and the neighborhoods around it are all part of our area.
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