Chimney sweep for Woodbury homes, from right next door in Cottage Grove
Woodbury borders Cottage Grove to the north, so we are close for sweeps, inspections, chimney repair and dryer vent cleaning. Most Woodbury homes are newer than Cottage Grove's, and the work reflects that: more gas fireplaces, more metal chimneys, longer dryer vents.
What Woodbury's growth means for its fireplaces
Woodbury's first suburban development, Woodbury Heights, broke ground in 1955. The city then grew from 20,075 people in 1990 to 46,463 in 2000 and 75,102 in 2020, according to census figures. A large share of its homes were built in those decades, when factory-built fireplaces and gas units became the norm in new construction.
Factory-built fireplaces use a metal chimney inside a framed chase, topped by a metal chase cover and cap. The common problems are different from brick: rusted chase covers that pond water and drip into the firebox, caps that blow loose, and gas venting that gets blocked by nests. These units also have to be serviced with the manufacturer's parts and clearances, not improvised fixes.
Dryer vents in two-story homes
Newer two-story homes often put the laundry upstairs. That can mean a long dryer vent with elbows that exits through the roof or a high wall. Long runs build up lint faster and are hard to reach from the ground, so they are worth cleaning every year.
Older Woodbury homes
Homes from the 1950s through the 1970s, closer to the Cottage Grove line, are more likely to have a masonry chimney. Those need the same crown, mortar and flue tile checks as the ramblers south of the border.
Common Woodbury requests
- Gas fireplace and insert vent inspection
- Chase cover and cap replacement
- Second-floor and roof dryer vent cleaning
- Level 2 inspection when buying a home
Woodbury chimney questions
Does a gas fireplace in Woodbury need yearly service?
It should be inspected once a year. The NFPA 211 standard covers vents as well as chimneys. Gas units do not build up creosote like wood, but vents get blocked and caps, gaskets and glass seals wear out.
Why is water dripping into my factory-built fireplace?
The most common cause is a rusted or flat metal chase cover on top of the chimney chase. Water pools on it, rusts through and runs down the chimney. A new sloped cover with a proper storm collar usually fixes it.
How far is Cottage Grove from Woodbury?
They share a border. Cottage Grove is directly south of Woodbury in Washington County, so Woodbury is part of our regular service area.
Book chimney service in Woodbury
Cottage Grove and the east metro