Chimney sweep in Prior Lake, MN Chimney sweeping for homes around Upper and Lower Prior Lake
We clean, inspect and repair chimneys in Prior Lake, ZIP 55372. Lower Prior Lake alone covers 810 acres, and that open water sends hard wind at every chimney top along the shore. Most of the city grew after 1960, so plenty of its fireplaces have now seen decades of use.
Lake wind is hard on chimney tops
Prior Lake is the largest lake in the southern metro. The Dakota called it Bde Maya Tho, the Lake of the Blue Banks. Together, Lower Prior Lake, Upper Prior Lake and Spring Lake add up to more than 1,400 acres of water.
Wind coming across that much water drives rain and snow sideways. It hits the cap, the crown and the flashing first. A loose or rusted cap lets water and animals into the flue. A cracked crown lets water soak into the brick below, where winter freezing breaks it apart. On shoreline homes we check these parts closely and replace a cap with a sturdier one when the old one is worn out.
From summer resort to bedroom community
The Grainwood resort opened on the shore in 1879. Into the 1920s, Prior Lake was a farm town that also drew summer visitors to the lake. That changed after 1960, when the lake and Highway 13 made it a fast-growing suburb. The population went from 1,114 in 1970 to 7,284 in 1980.
A lot of homes went up in that decade. Their chimneys are now old enough that dampers stick, crowns crack and flashing pulls away from the roof. If a furnace or water heater still vents into a masonry chimney, the liner should match the new appliance. A flue sized for an old unit can fill with moisture.
Before the first fire of the season
A fireplace that sat idle all summer can hide a nest, leaves or a stuck damper. A sweep and a basic look before fall keep the first fire from filling the room with smoke. It also lets us catch damage the winter wind caused before more water gets in.
For Prior Lake homes
- Heavy-duty caps for windy shoreline lots
- Crown repair and sealing
- Flashing checks where the chimney meets the roof
- Liner checks on chimneys from the 1970s boom
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.
Prior Lake chimney FAQ
Does a house on the Upper or Lower Prior Lake shoreline need a special chimney cap?
It often needs a stronger one. Shoreline chimneys take more wind than homes set back from the water. We look for a cap with solid mounting and good mesh, and we make sure the crown under it sheds water.
My house was built during the 1970s growth. What tends to wear out first?
On masonry chimneys from that era, the crown and flashing usually go first, then the mortar near the top. On factory-built fireplaces, look for rust on the chase cover and wear on the firebox panels.
Do you work near Spring Lake and downtown Prior Lake too?
Yes. We serve the whole 55372 ZIP, including downtown Prior Lake and the part of Spring Lake inside city limits. Book online and tell us if your home is on the water.
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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