Bloomington, MN
Chimney Services in Bloomington
Every chimney service in Bloomington: sweeping, inspection, relining, and masonry repair by CSIA certified sweeps who know the 1950s-1960s housing stock.
Serving Bloomington
RankLocall Live Smoke
Mobile service across the Twin Cities metro. We work from a shop in Northeast Minneapolis and come to you; there is no showroom to visit.
twincities@heritagechimneymn.com
| Monday | 07:30-17:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 07:30-17:00 |
| Wednesday | 07:30-17:00 |
| Thursday | 07:30-17:00 |
| Friday | 07:30-16:00 |
| Saturday | 08:00-13:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Neighborhoods covered on this page
- East Bloomington
- West Bloomington
- Oak Grove
- Penn American
Where We Work in Bloomington
Bloomington's configured local landmarks include the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Bloomington's configured local landmarks include Normandale Lake. The configured Bloomington service area includes East Bloomington, a named neighborhood or district. The configured Bloomington service area includes West Bloomington, a named neighborhood or district. The configured Bloomington service area includes Oak Grove, a named neighborhood or district. The configured Bloomington service area includes Penn American, a named neighborhood or district. We cover every block, from the older rambler neighborhoods to the newer developments near the river valley.
The Bloomington Housing We Serve
Bloomington's dominant housing era is 1950s-1960s. Post-war ramblers with short interior masonry chimneys serving a furnace and a water heater. The recurring job here is not the fireplace, it is an orphaned water heater venting into a flue sized for a furnace that has since been replaced with a high-efficiency unit that vents out the side wall. That oversized flue is now chronically cold, which means chronic condensation and accelerated liner decay. We reline dozens of these every year, sizing the new liner to match what's actually venting through it now. The configured median year built in Bloomington is 1962.
When to Schedule Service
A continental climate with long, dry, very cold winters and warm humid summers. Heating season runs from early October into late April. And the first hard freeze usually lands in the second week of October. Book your inspection before that rush hits, ideally in late August or September. We're busy from October through December, lighter in January and February, then back to masonry projects once the ground thaws in May.
Permits and Code Compliance
The configured permit process names The city building or mechanical inspections department for the municipality as its permitting authority. Liner replacement, cap installation, and structural masonry work all require permits. We pull them, coordinate the inspection, and document everything to NFPA 211 standards. You get a complete record for your files and for any future buyer.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I have my chimney inspected in Bloomington?
NFPA 211 calls for annual inspection regardless of fuel type or usage frequency. That's especially true for the ramblers common here, where decades of furnace condensate have already degraded the original clay liner. An annual look catches small problems before they become expensive ones. We're booked heaviest September through November, so schedule early if you want a pre-heating-season slot.
What does a standard chimney cleaning cost?
A standard sweep for a single-flue system runs between $150 and $250, depending on access, liner condition, and the amount of buildup we're removing. If we find a cracked liner or other defect during the cleaning, we'll write up a separate estimate for repair. That's why we always start with a visual inspection before we start brushing: no surprises, no upselling, just the work that needs doing.
Do I need a permit to replace a chimney liner in Bloomington?
Yes. Liner replacement is a mechanical alteration that requires a permit from the city building or mechanical inspections department. We handle the permit application, coordinate the inspection once the liner is installed, and provide all the documentation you need for your records. The permit fee is separate from our labor and materials cost, and we'll include it in the written estimate so there's no confusion about the total
Why does my water heater chimney have white staining on the outside?
that's efflorescence, which means water is moving through the masonry and carrying dissolved salts. To the surface. In a rambler with an orphaned water heater, the flue is oversized for the load, stays cold, and condenses the water vapor in the exhaust. That condensate soaks into the clay liner, migrates outward, and eventually stains the brick. The fix is a properly sized stainless liner that keeps the flue warm and dry.