Rochester chimney service: Dano's Chimney Sweep for area code 507

Chimneys and homes in the 507 area

The 507/924 territory covers southern Minnesota, from Rochester, Winona, Owatonna, Austin and Red Wing to Mankato, Faribault, Albert Lea and Worthington. It is an old housing stock: of about 364,000 homes and apartments, roughly 61% were built before 1980 and 22% before 1940, and the median home dates from the 1970s. About 74% are single-family detached houses.

Rochester is the county seat of Olmsted County and the third most populous city in Minnesota, home of Mayo Clinic, on the south fork of the Zumbro River.

Winters are long and cold. NOAA's 1991–2020 normals for Rochester International Airport, MN show about 7,856 heating degree days a year, a January average of 14.7°F, and about 53.1 inches of snow. Repeated freezing and thawing is hard on brick, mortar and chimney crowns, which is why crown repair, repointing and chimney caps come up so often on older homes.

Census figures put utility gas as the main heating fuel in about 59% of occupied homes and propane in about 19%. Wood is the main heat in about 1.8%; most fireplaces here are used for comfort rather than everyday heat. The area falls in IECC climate zone 6A (89%), 5A (11%). Whatever the fuel, NFPA 211, the national standard for chimneys, fireplaces and vents, calls for a yearly inspection.

Sources: Census ACS 2018–2022 (B25034, B25040, B25024); NOAA Climate Normals 1991–2020, Rochester International Airport, MN (USW00014925); IECC 2021 climate zones by county (PNNL-33270); NFPA 211; Wikipedia: Rochester, Minnesota.