Chimney sweep in Anoka, MN Chimney sweep and brick repair for historic Anoka
Anoka was settled in 1844 where the Rum River meets the Mississippi, and it is one of the oldest towns in the area. Some houses from the 1850s and 1860s still stand, and much of Main Street was rebuilt in brick after the 1884 fire. We care for old and newer chimneys across 55303.
Houses from Anoka's sawmill days
Anoka has been a river and sawmill town since its first dam and sawmill went up in 1853 and 1854. Several houses from that time are on the National Register, including the Shaw-Hammons House from 1852, the Woodbury House from 1857 and the Heman L. Ticknor House from 1867.
Chimneys this old were built for wood and coal, with soft lime mortar and often no flue liner at all. If a liner was added later, it may be clay tile that has since cracked. A cracked liner can let heat and smoke reach the wood framing around the chimney. Before an old fireplace goes back into use, the whole flue should be looked at from top to bottom. When a stove or insert goes in, a stainless steel liner sized to it is the usual answer. Our inspection page explains what we look for.
Brick from the 1884 rebuild
A fire in 1884 destroyed 86 buildings downtown, and the town rebuilt. Old brick needs gentle repair. Hard modern mortar can trap water in the brick, and the faces pop off after a few freeze and thaw cycles. That damage is hard to undo once it starts. We use a softer mortar that matches the old work. See our chimney repair page for more.
The east side after 1939
A 1939 tornado destroyed homes on the east side of town. So a house on the east side may be newer than its neighbors, and its chimney may be built differently. A newer house may have a different kind of flue, damper or even a factory-built fireplace, and each needs its own kind of check. We look at what is actually there rather than guessing from the address.
For Anoka's older houses
- Lime-rich mortar matched to old brick
- Top-to-bottom flue checks on unlined chimneys
- Stainless relining for stoves and inserts
- Crown and cap repair on river-town chimneys
If your home is on the National Register, ask the City of Anoka about exterior work rules before major chimney changes.
Fall is the busy season
Fall is when most people remember the chimney. Book your sweep and inspection before the first cold night, not after it.
Anoka fireplace and chimney questions
My Anoka house dates to the 1800s. Is the fireplace safe to use?
Not until the full flue has been inspected. Old chimneys often have no liner, cracked tile, loose mortar or blockages from nests and debris. A camera inspection shows what is inside before you light a fire.
Can you repair the brick on a chimney near Main Street or Third Avenue South?
Yes. On older brick we rebuild crowns and repoint joints with a soft mortar that suits the original brick, so the chimney keeps shedding water the way it was built to.
When should I book a sweep in Anoka?
Anoka calls itself the Halloween Capital of the World, and October is a good reminder for the chimney too. Booking in late summer or early fall gets the flue cleaned before the first cold night. Book online any time.
What you can count on
- Yearly inspection to NFPA 211The fire code standard for chimneys, fireplaces and vents
- A clean living roomDrop cloths, the opening sealed, a vacuum running the whole time
- A straight answerWe show you what we found, and repairs are your call
- Arrival windows you pickBook online and we call before we arrive