Our Company Blog

How Do I Know If My Chimney & Fireplace Need Care?

When you own a home, you take on many responsibilities! This includes maintaining the various systems that keep everything running smoothly in your daily life. Following a routine maintenance schedule is a great way to stay on top of your homeowner duties. However, keeping up with this schedule always adds the possibility of unexpected repair needs. Sometimes it can be easy to see what is causing certain problems in your home. Other times, it can be challenging to locate the problem. Many issues like a cracked chimney liner or flue blockage can be hidden within the walls of the chimney. That’s why its important to know the signs of chimney damage. Atlas Chimney would like to share a couple of signs that let you know that your chimney and fireplace need care.

DAMAGED CHIMNEY MASONRY

According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), water can do extensive and expensive damage to masonry chimneys. The exterior of your chimney is constantly exposed to the elements of weather. Bricks and mortar joints naturally absorb water from rain and melted ice and snow, causing spalling damage. Fortunately, this can be easily seen on the exterior of your chimney. Cracked, loose, or missing bricks and mortar joints is a clear sign of water damage – and should be repaired as soon as possible!

SMOKY FIREPLACE

Another sign that your chimney and fireplace need care? Smoke filling the room after you light a fire in the fireplace. This is telling you that something is not allowing your chimney to exhaust properly. A smoky fireplace can become very dangerous! It greatly increases the risk of the toxic gases and carbon monoxide leaking into your living spaces. Several things could be causing this exhaust problem, and Atlas Chimney will carefully check every possibility. We will check to see if there is debris blocking the chimney and also make sure the size of the flue matches your heating appliance – as this can cause improper drafting.

In addition, you should also be on the lookout to signs of a chimney water leak. Signs include a musty odor, peeling wallpaper, and stains on the ceiling and walls around where your fireplace is located. Have you noticed any of these signs of chimney problems? If so, contact us at Atlas Chimney to schedule an appointment for our chimney repair services!

How To Keep Animals Out Of Your Chimney

More and more trees are being cut down to make room for new real estate developments. In turn, this has forced birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other wild animals to find alternative nesting spots. One of these alternatives could be your chimney! These critters see chimneys as safe places to build nests for their families.  So, it is important to make sure your chimney is protected from any animal invasions. Not only is an animal living in your chimney annoying, but it can also cause damage to your chimney and even spread diseases into your home.

Many species of birds, including chimney swifts, are protected by federal law in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This prevents them from being removed from their nesting sites; meaning you will be sharing your home with them until they leave in the fall. Atlas Chimney can help you keep wild animals and birds out of your chimney! We would like to tell you more about the best way to keep this from happening to your home.

How can I keep birds, squirrels, bats, raccoons, and other animals out of my chimney?

According to the Humane Society of the United States, the best way to keep wild animals and birds from getting into your chimney is to be sure the chimney opening is protected. How? By professionally installing an animal-proof chimney cap on the top of the chimney! Without a chimney cap installed, your chimney is an open door for these critters. Make sure to select a chimney cap that is equipped with animal guards. These are mesh metal sides on the cap that will prevent birds and animals intrusion. Atlas Chimney sells a wide variety of this type of chimney cap. In addition, we also provide professional installation services so that your chimney is properly protected.

What are the other functions of a chimney cap?

A chimney cap serves several different functions. First, it keeps birds and wild animals out of your chimney. Second, it stops water from rain and melted ice from getting inside the flue. This is a very important function, since water penetration can cause extensive and expensive damage to your chimney and your home! A chimney cap can also help prevent accidental roof and brush fires from occurring. The mesh metal sides prevent hot sparks from jumping out of the top of the chimney, igniting a fire where they land. Additionally, if you are having chimney draft issues, certain types of chimney caps are equipped with special side vents that direct the wind to draft properly.

Is your chimney uncapped? If so, it is at a high risk for animal and bird invasions, as well as water penetration damage. Contact us at Atlas Chimney to learn more about keeping animals out of your chimney with our chimney cap sales and professional installation services!