Our Company Blog

Is It Time for a Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning?

When you own a home, you are responsible for ensuring that there are no safety hazards present, and in order to do that, you must follow a regular maintenance routine. Part of that routine includes scheduling certified professionals to take care of some of the tasks. Atlas Chimney is proud to be able to help homeowners in the Austin area prevent accidental fires and other dangers with our professional services. Not only do we provide annual chimney sweepings and inspections, but we also clean dryer vent systems. You may not realize that your dryer vent should be professionally cleaned every year, but statistics have proven that clogged dryer vents are responsible for the majority of the thousands of clothes dryer fires that happen each year in the United States. We would like to tell you more about why it is so important to schedule an appointment for an annual professional dryer vent cleaning.

Prevent Accidential Fires

In 2012, the US Fire Administration (USFA) released a report that stated approximately 2,900 residential fires are caused by clothes dryers each year, and these fires result in five deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property losses. Most of these fires are caused by dirty dryer vents, which is why it is so crucial to have your vent professionally cleaned every year. Your dryer produces a lot of lint with each load of clothes, and some of that lint ends up trapped inside the vent. Over time, the accumulation of lint can get large enough to clog the vent, which makes your dryer overheat. Since lint is so flammable, the high temperatures can easily ignite it and lead to an accidental fire. Atlas Chimney makes sure to remove every bit of lint to ensure your dryer vent is not a fire hazard.

Prolong the Life of Your Dryer

Overheating is rough on this appliance and its components and can cause them to wear out and break down prematurely. Clothes dryer repairs can be very expensive. The heating element is one of the parts that can have problems, and sometimes it may be more economical to replace the entire appliance than to repair that particular part. After a professional dryer vent cleaning from Atlas Chimney, your dryer will work more efficiently and keep it running for years without breaking down.

Decreases Your Monthly Utility Bills

One of the signs that your dryer vent is clogged is when your clothes are still damp after a complete drying cycle. Having to run your dryer twice as long to dry one load of clothes can make your utility bills go up every month. Not only will your clothes dry more quickly, but you should also notice a decrease in these bills after Atlas Chimney has cleaned the dryer vent.

Avoid an accidental dryer fire from occurring in your home. Contact us at Atlas Chimney today to schedule an appointment for our professional dryer vent cleaning.

Does Your Chimney Need Relining?

What is one of the reasons the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommend having your chimney professionally inspected every year? Its to check the condition of one of its most important components – the liner. According to the CSIA, you need a good quality chimney liner to protect the combustible parts of your home from the extreme heat that transfers through the flue. In addition, keep the masonry materials from being exposed to corrosive gases.

A chimney liner also provides a correctly sized flue to match your heating appliance. This is so that it will function safely and efficiently. Over time, your liner can suffer from cracking, spalling, and other types of damage that can create gaps and voids. This can lead to hazardous situations, which include carbon monoxide leaks. Atlas Chimney provides professional chimney relining services to the residents of the Austin area. So, now we would like to tell you more about the options we have to restore the integrity of this essential chimney component.

HEATSHIELD

Do you have an older masonry chimney with a traditional fireplace? If so, you most likely have a clay tile liner inside the flue. This type of chimney liner is strong and durable, but the tiles can crack and break apart after years of usage. Repairing this type of liner used to be pricey and time consuming. That is, until a few decades ago, when HeatShield was introduced to the chimney industry.

This revolutionary product is a cerfractory sealant material that we have been trained and certified to apply. We apply it to the inside of your chimney with specialized tools that can restore the condition of your clay tile liner. With HeatShield, we can repair damaged joints and fill in any gaps and voids. We can also reline the entire chimney with its CeCure Sleeve Relining System. Atlas will inspect the condition of your existing clay tile liner. Afterwards, we will be able to recommend which HeatShield system is the best one for your chimney.

OLYMPIA STAINLESS STEEL CHIMNEY LINERS

Considering updating your traditional fireplace into a more energy efficient heating appliance by installing a new gas fireplace insert? To be sure this insert works at its highest efficiency, Atlas Chimney recommends also installing a new stainless steel chimney liner along with the appliance. Most masonry chimneys are much larger than fireplace inserts. This size difference can result in safety and efficiency problems. This type of liner works with all fuel types of hearth appliances. We are proud to sell and install Olympia stainless steel liners. This brand is our favorite because of its durability and strength. Your chimney will be protected for many years after we install an Olympia liner.

Is it time to reline your chimney? Contact us at Atlas Chimney today to schedule an appointment for your annual chimney inspection. Our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps will check the condition of your liner. If we find any damage, we can make recommendations for the type of relining service you need!