Our Company Blog

Now Sweeping Chimneys in the Land of Television

Atlas Chimney has some exciting news that we would like to share with you! Our owner, Chris Hess, has spent some time working on the set of actor Pierce Brosnan’s new AMC series, “The Son.” He’s doing this to make sure the four chimneys in his television home are working safely and efficiently. We are truly honored to add this incredible experience. Also, we want you to know that you can receive the same excellent service that is provided to “The Son.” We would like to tell you a bit more about this show and the chimney maintenance services provided.

A Multi-Generational Family Saga in the Heart of Texas

“The Son” is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning and best-selling novel by Philipp Meyer. It tells the story of Eli McCullough, who is portrayed by Pierce Brosnan, and his family over a period of 150 years. Set in Texas, the series tells the story of how McCullough goes from a hard-working family man to a calculating and paranoid killer. McCullough builds his ranch into a business. This includes oil fields which bring him incredible wealth. Unfortunately he makes some enemies along the way, including his rich Spanish neighbor, Pedro Garcia. They use flashbacks of McCullough’s youth. This includes the Comanche war chief Toshaway who inspired his ambition. By doing this, the series shows exactly how McCullough creates his powerful family dynasty.

An Acclaimed AMC-Original Series

Comprising of 10, 1 hour-long episodes, “The Son” has received great reviews from both viewers and critics. Fans of the book will be happy to learn that the author, Philipp Meyer, also worked on writing the teleplays for the series. Also starring Henry Garrett, Zach McClarnon, and Paola Nuñez, “The Son” has been renewed for a second season! The series debuted on April 8, 2017. However, you can still watch every episode on AMC’s website.

The Best Chimney Maintenance Service in the Austin Area

Selected as the official chimney sweeper of “The Son” from our reputation in Austin, Atlas Chimney provides superior customer service to every one of our customers. All of our chimney sweeps have been trained and certified by professional organizations. This includes the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). You can trust us to remove every bit of creosote when we sweep your chimney to prevent it from becoming a dangerous fire hazard. During our professional chimney inspections, we make sure that there are no flue blockages or any type of damage that could put your family and your home in danger.

If you live in the Austin area, contact us at Atlas Chimney for all of your chimney and fireplace maintenance, repair, and installation needs. We promise to provide you with the same excellent service we give to Pierce Brosnan!

Three Benefits of a Top-Seal Damper

Do you have an older traditional masonry fireplace? If so, you most likely have a throat damper. Located directly above the firebox, a throat damper can be problematic. Typically made of iron or another metal, throat dampers can be difficult to open and close. This can be bad for your wallet and the energy efficiency in your home. These older dampers can become stuck in an open position. Consequently, allowing heated and cooled inside air to escape out of the chimney.

According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), a more economical solution is to have a top-mounted damper installed. Atlas Chimney offers sales and professional installation services of top-sealing dampers! Now, we would like to tell you about three benefits of this type of damper.

An Energy and Money Saver

Not only can a throat damper get stuck in an open position, but it also has a hard time sealing off the firebox tightly enough. A top-sealing damper is equipped with a silicone rubber gasket which provides an airtight seal on the top of your chimney. Atlas Chimney knows that you will see a decrease in your utilities bills after we install a top-mounted damper on your chimney. In addition, your home will be much more energy efficient as well.

A Multi-Functioning Chimney Component

One of the best things about top-seal dampers is they serve more than one purpose. When your top-mounted damper is closed, it acts as a chimney cap. When our customers need a new chimney cap, we always suggest installing a top-seal damper as a replacement. We can also show you top-sealing dampers that are equipped with mesh metal sides. These will keep out birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other wild animals – even when the damper is open!

Easy-to-Use Damper

An older throat damper can become very difficult to open and close. Corrosion damage can make this type of damper hard to operate. You may also have to stick your head through the firebox to get to the damper! Opening and closing a top-seal damper is simple. A chain from the damper drops down into the chimney and is attached to a lever or knob located on the side of your fireplace. So, no matter what type of handle is used with your model of a top-sealing damper, we assure you that it will be very easy to operate.

Want to make your home more energy efficient? Contact us at Atlas Chimney to learn more about top-seal dampers!