Our Company Blog

Why Chimney Relining Is So Important

One of the most essential components of your chimney system is it’s liner. It needs to be in good condition so that your fireplace and chimney work safely and efficiently. Although most chimney liners are built to last for years, damage can occur over time. Cracks, gaps, and corrosion to the liner can allow toxic combustion gases like carbon monoxide to enter your living space. Since the liner is located inside your chimney, it can be difficult to know its condition.

In order to determine what kind of shape your liner is in, you need to have your chimney inspected by experienced professionals. Atlas Chimney is proud to provide comprehensive chimney services. These services include both professional inspections and relining services to the residents of the Austin area. We offer different chimney relining options like HeatShield repair and restoration and stainless steel liner installations. After we inspect your chimney, we can recommend the best way to reline your chimney to ensure your system functions effectively and safely. Because safety is our top priority, we would like to tell you exactly why chimney relining is so important.

Your chimney liner protects your home from the risk of an accidental fire.

One of the functions of a chimney liner is to protect the wood around your chimney. It shields it from the extremely high temperatures that are produced by your fireplace. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), the National Bureau of Standards tested the safety of masonry chimneys. Their findings? Unlined chimneys were extremely dangerous, because heat moved so quickly through the chimneys that any adjacent wooden parts caught fire. Sometimes in as little as three and a half hours! Your chimney liner keeps the combustible parts of your home safe from this heat transfer.

Your chimney liner protects the bricks and mortar of your chimney from corrosion damage.

Some of the byproducts of combustion are toxic and corrosive. When they are able to seep directly into the masonry materials of a chimney, erosion occurs. Without the protection of a liner, combustion gases will eat away at the bricks and mortar of your chimney. This can lead to a hazardous situation as the cracks and gaps created by the erosion can allow poisonous combustion gases like carbon monoxide to leak into your home.

Your chimney liner provides a properly sized flue for your specific heating appliance.

A popular option to increase the heating efficiency of your home? Install a wood-burning or gas fireplace insert into the existing opening of your older masonry fireplace. However, masonry chimneys are typically much larger than these inserts, and this size difference can cause performance and safety issues. To solve this sizing difference, Atlas Chimney can install a new stainless steel liner to provide a flue that correctly matches the size of the new heating appliance.

Make sure your chimney liner is in good condition so that you can enjoy safe, warm, and efficient fires this year. Contact us at Atlas Chimney to schedule an appointment for a chimney inspection before the arrival of winter.

Can Your Masonry Chimney Pass A Water Penetration Test?

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) has a stern warning for homeowners about the dangers of water penetration to the bricks and mortar of chimneys. They claim that water is the biggest enemy of masonry chimneys. They say this because of the amount of damage that water leaks can do to masonry materials like bricks and mortar. Keeping water out of your chimney is one of the most important maintenance tasks you have as a homeowner.

How do you protect your chimney from water leaks?

Atlas Chimney can help you protect your chimney from water penetration. Not only do we sell and install chimney components, such as chimney caps and flashing systems, we also provide chimney waterproofing services. These services will greatly reduce the amount of water damage to your masonry chimney. We are proud to say that the waterproofing formula we use allows masonry materials to pass a water penetration test. We would like to tell you more about this test, the type of damage water can do, and how we can prevent water leaks in your chimney.

What is a water penetration test?

Using a RILEM or Karsten tube, you can test to see exactly how much water is absorbed by masonry materials over a short amount of time. This YouTube video shows you how this quality control test can measure the rate of absorption of bricks and mortar joints. In the video, you will see exactly how a water repellent formula prevents water from being absorbed into a brick. Also, how quickly water absorbs into an untreated masonry material.

How does water penetration damage a chimney?

Since masonry materials like bricks and mortar are porous, moisture can get trapped inside these materials. Erosion damage from water absorption can happen all year long. However, the worst of this damage occurs in the winter. When the temperature falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the moisture inside the bricks and mortar freezes and expands. As the weather warms back up, the force of this water thawing can cause the masonry materials to crack and break apart. Repeated freeze/thaw cycles over the winter can lead to serious structural issues for your chimney.

How can Atlas Chimney keep water penetration from damaging my chimney?

Our CSIA certified chimney experts can inspect your chimney and make masonry repairs if we find any damage. Once repaired, we will apply a waterproofing formula that is 100 percent vapor permeable. This feature is important because, while the formula creates a barrier against water penetration, it will allow vapors to pass through. So now, they can no longer become trapped, which causes even more structural damage. After waterproofing your chimney, every brick and mortar joint will be able to successfully pass a RILEM tube water penetration test.

Protect your chimney from water penetration and freeze/thaw damage. Contact us today at Atlas Chimney to schedule an appointment for our waterproofing services!