Our Company Blog

The Stages of Chimney Damage

As the weather warms back up with the arrival of spring, it is a good idea to check out the condition of your exterior masonry chimney. It is important to spot masonry damage in its early stages because of how the bricks and mortar joints can deteriorate if the damage is neglected. For over 25 years, Atlas Chimney has provided top-quality professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation services to the Austin area, and we have seen what can happen when homeowners ignore masonry chimney damage.

We would like to tell you more about the stages of this type of chimney damage to help you avoid expensive and extensive chimney repair needs. It is our top priority to be sure that your chimney works at its highest levels of efficiency and safety.

What is the biggest cause of masonry chimney damage?

According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), water penetration is responsible for causing the most damage to masonry chimneys. Since your chimney is constantly exposed to the elements of weather, it is essential to ensure that it is protected against water from rain and melted ice and snow throughout the year. The reason why water can do so much damage to your chimney has to do with how masonry materials absorb moisture. The bricks and mortar joints of your chimney are naturally porous, and water can become trapped within the masonry materials. During the winter, this trapped moisture will freeze and expand inside the bricks and mortar joints every time the temperature drops below the freezing point.

When the weather warms back up, the force of the water thawing can be strong enough to cause the masonry materials to crack and break apart. Atlas Chimney recommends that you take a look at your exterior chimney after a period of freezing temperatures to check for damaged bricks and mortar joints. Having this type of damage repaired in a timely manner is crucial to avoid further deterioration of your masonry chimney.

What are the risks of procrastinating masonry chimney repairs?

When water penetration damage leaves behind cracks and gaps in your masonry chimney, you are at a much higher risk for water leaking into your home. This can lead to corrosion of the damper, liner, and other metal components of your chimney and fireplace system, rotting of the adjacent wooden framework of your home, and many other types of damage to your home. One of the most serious issues that you could face is structural damage. Neglected masonry damage can worsen quickly, especially during the winter, and your chimney could be at risk of collapse. If you notice any loose or missing bricks and mortar joints from your masonry chimney, you should contact us at Atlas Chimney as soon as possible to schedule an appointment for an inspection with one of our CSIA-certified chimney professionals.

We will make sure that the structure of your masonry chimney is restored, and we can rebuild your chimney if necessary. We have years of experience with providing professional masonry chimney repair and construction services, and you can count on us to go above and beyond to do the best possible job with your chimney. Our technicians use masonry techniques like tuckpointing to properly repair damaged bricks and mortar joints so that the struçture of your chimney is safe and sound again.

How can I prevent this type of chimney damage?

Fortunately, Atlas Chimney specializes in preventing water penetration damage to masonry chimneys, and we provide several types of professional preventive services, including chimney cap installation and flashing construction and repair. You can trust our team to give you an honest and fair estimate of the best ways to keep water penetration from damaging your masonry chimney. Over our years of taking care of chimneys in the Austin area, we have learned a lot about preventing water damage, and we strongly recommend that you have your masonry chimney professionally waterproofed. This preventive service can protect your chimney for at least a decade, which makes it a great home maintenance investment.

We are proud to use ChimneySaver waterproofing products because they are the best available. Specifically made for masonry chimneys, these waterproofing formulas are 100 percent vapor permeable so you will not have to worry about further damage to the bricks and mortar joints from trapped gases trying to escape. After we have waterproofed your chimney, your chimney has the ultimate protection against deterioration from water penetration.

Catching chimney damage in its earliest stages is important for homeowners to avoid possible safety hazards and chimney rebuilding costs. If you have noticed cracked, loose, or missing bricks and mortar joints on your masonry chimney, contact us today at Atlas Chimney to schedule an appointment for a professional chimney inspection. Our CSIA-certified team is here to help you with all of your professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation needs.

When Researching Chimney Sweeps, Don’t Forget to Check Online Reviews

Over the past several decades, technology has gone through some incredible changes that have transformed the way that we live our lives. When Atlas Chimney first began serving the Austin, Texas area, we depended on referrals from our customers to their family, friends, and neighbors who were looking for excellent comprehensive professional chimney services. More than 25 years have gone by since we opened for business, and although some of our new customers have found us from that kind of recommendation from our established clients, more and more people hire us to take care of their chimney and fireplace needs after reading the reviews of our services on Google, Yelp, and other online sources. In fact, recent surveys have suggested that the majority of consumers trust online reviews as much as they do personal recommendations. We would like to take the chance to tell you more about why you should consider online reviews when you are researching chimney sweeps to hire to perform maintenance, repair, and installation services in your home.

Where can I find online reviews of chimney sweeping businesses?

One of the most comprehensive sources of business reviews that you can access via the Internet is Google. Not only does this search engine giant provide consumers with opportunities to write their own reviews, but it also includes reviews that have been left by customers on other websites and social media platforms. Simply type “professional chimney sweeps near me” into the search bar, and you will be given a listing of the companies that are located nearest to your home as well as customer reviews of these companies. Yelp is another great online resource for doing research on available chimney sweeps in your area. With online communities set up in every major city in the country, this website allows its members to share their experiences with just about every type of business in that area. With a user-friendly interface, it is simple to search for the exact type of service that you need and find ratings and reviews about companies that provide that service. You can also download review apps to your smartphone so that you can access reviews when you are away from your computer. Social media platforms like Facebook also provide users with the ability to review and recommend businesses directly from their home pages. These online reviews can be easily found by searching on that platform as well as on various search engine websites.

Why should I consider online reviews when researching chimney sweeps?

When you have recently moved to a new area, it can be challenging to find the best chimney sweep to hire to perform important maintenance tasks such as the annual inspection service. If you do not have friends or family who live in this area to ask for recommendations, reading online reviews of the local chimney companies is an excellent way to know who is the right chimney sweep for your home. Unfortunately, scam artists commonly use chimney sweeping as a way to make money at the expense of homeowners, but thanks to online reviews, this type of dishonest scheme can be easily exposed. Another advantage of checking online reviews when researching chimney sweeps is being able to see how the business handles negative experiences. When someone leaves Atlas Chimney a negative review online, our owner Chris Hess takes the time to reach out to that customer to make amends. We want to go the extra mile to make sure unhappy customers are satisfied with our services. Although it may seem impossible to please everyone, it is important to note how a business responds to negativity.

What is another source to find information about professional chimney sweeps?

When you are looking for a chimney sweep to hire to provide a service in your home, you should always check to see if they have been certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Founded in 1983, the CSIA is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to educating, training, and certifying chimney and venting system professionals. Known as the leading expert in the chimney and fireplace industry, the CSIA also promotes public awareness of the best safety practices to follow when operating chimney and fireplace systems. Atlas Chimney is proud to have a team that has received this professional credential. Not only do chimney professionals have to pass a comprehensive examination to earn CSIA certifications, but they must also sign the CSIA Code of Ethics, which ensures that the chimney sweeps engage in honest and fair business practices on every job. You are guaranteed to be treated respectfully and decently by a CSIA-certified chimney sweep.

Hiring a professional chimney sweep does not have to be a challenge. By reading online reviews of sweeps in your area, you can easily find the best professional for your home. If you live in the Austin, Texas area, Atlas Chimney is here for any professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation need you may have. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our CSIA-certified professionals.