Chimney sweep in Bloomington, MN Chimney service built around Bloomington's postwar homes
We repair, sweep and inspect chimneys all across Bloomington, Minnesota's fourth-largest city. Its population grew from 3,647 in 1940 to 50,498 in 1960, during the post-World War II housing boom. A large share of its chimneys come from that era and are now well past middle age.
A boom suburb with chimneys aging together
Bloomington was built as a postwar suburb tied to the Minneapolis street grid. A 1940s plan called for low-cost, low-density homes, each with its own well and septic system. The first land-use plan began in 1956, when I-35W and Metropolitan Stadium were going in.
When a whole city goes up at once, its chimneys also wear out at about the same time. Many postwar chimneys were built with a mortar-and-brick crown that cracks as it ages. Water then gets into the top courses of brick. After enough winters, those bricks spall, mortar falls out and the chimney can start to lean.
When the furnace or water heater changes
In many homes from this period, the chimney vents more than the fireplace. It also carries exhaust from a gas furnace or water heater. When an old furnace is swapped for a high-efficiency one, the water heater may be left alone in a flue that is now far too big for it.
A flue that is too large stays cold. Exhaust cools inside it, water condenses, and acid eats at the mortar and clay liner. The fix is usually a properly sized stainless steel liner. We measure the appliance and the flue, then size the liner to match.
Small repairs keep big ones away
Most postwar chimney problems start small. A new crown, a cap and fresh flashing are much smaller jobs than rebuilding the top of a stack. Waterproofing the brick after repairs can also slow future damage. A yearly sweep and look lets us catch issues while they are still easy to fix.
For Bloomington's older homes
- Crown rebuilds on postwar masonry chimneys
- Liner sizing after a furnace upgrade
- Tuckpointing loose or missing mortar
- Caps and flashing to stop leaks
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.
Bloomington homeowners often ask
Which Bloomington ZIP codes do you serve?
All six: 55420, 55425, 55431, 55435, 55437 and 55438. That includes East and West Bloomington, the Penn-American District, the Normandale Lake District and the South Loop District.
I just replaced my furnace in a postwar Bloomington house. Should the chimney be checked?
Yes. If the water heater still vents into the old chimney, the flue may now be too big for it. That can cause condensation and backdrafting. A quick inspection shows whether you need a new liner.
Should I get a chimney inspection before buying a house in Bloomington?
It is a smart step, especially for a home from the postwar boom. A Level 2 inspection uses a camera to look inside the flue, so you know about cracked liners or crown damage before you close.
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
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