Our Company Blog

Chimney Leaks This Winter

Although we may not get a lot of snow here in the Austin area, we can get heavy amounts of rainfall. You may think your chimney can tolerate all of this rain, but, according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), water can adversely affect masonry chimneys by causing expensive damage and deterioration. The bricks and mortar of your chimney are porous and easily absorb water. Once water has begun to penetrate into your chimney, you could end up with serious water leak problems. Atlas Chimney takes water very seriously, and we offer several repair and preventive methods to keep your chimney working safely and efficiently. We have years of experience in inspecting chimneys for water leaks, and we would like to tell you the most common reasons of how water gets into your chimney.

You do not have a chimney cap installed on top of your chimney.

Without a cap, your chimney is a wide open door for water from rain and melted snow. Even if you do have a chimney cap, it could be damaged if it is older, and water can easily get through any cracks or gaps. Atlas Chimney sells and installs a wide variety of chimney caps, and we can help you pick out the best type of cap for your chimney if you do not have one or your existing cap is damaged. Not only do these caps keep water out of your chimney, but they also prevent birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other wild animals from entering to nest inside your chimney.

Your chimney crown has been cracked.

Most masonry chimneys are equipped with a crown at the top, but the constant exposure to the elements of weather can damage these crowns. When the crown is cracked, water leaks into your chimney through these cracks. Atlas Chimney can repair cracked chimney crowns to prevent chimney water leaks, and we can also construct brand new crowns if your existing crown is damaged beyond repair. We know how to properly design chimney crowns so that they have a slight angle that allows water to run off instead of accumulating to cause erosion damage.

You do not have a flashing system, or your existing flashing has been damaged.

The area where your chimney meets your roof is one of the most common locations for chimney water leaks, which is why you need a flashing system to protect this vulnerable area. If your flashing is damaged, it cannot do a good job of keeping water out of your chimney. In fact, it can cause water from rain to rush into your home. Atlas Chimney can create and repair flashing systems to effectively seal out water. We take sheets of metal that have been cut according to the measurements around your chimney where it meets the roof and wrap them around your chimney in layers to prevent water penetration.

Even if you have these chimney components installed on your chimney, water can still leak inside through the bricks and mortar joints. Contact us at Atlas Chimney to schedule a water leak inspection and to find out how our waterproofing services can give even more protection to your chimney against water penetration.

The Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning

You want to be able to breathe good quality air in your own home, but if your air duct and HVAC systems are dirty, the quality of the air in your house may be worse than the quality of the air outside. What could be lurking inside your air ducts? Breathing irritants like mold, dust, pollen, mites, and bacteria can be in your system, and these things get circulated throughout your home whenever your heater or air conditioner is on. If you have never had your air ducts professionally cleaned, you may want to consider this service, especially if you or anyone in your household has allergies or respiratory problems. Atlas Chimney is proud to provide this service, and we use specialized tools, including brushes and vacuums, to remove all of those irritants from your air ducts. We would like to tell you about a couple of the benefits of air duct cleaning to show you how important this service can be.

Your indoor air quality will be significantly improved.

According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), up to 40 pounds of dust is created every year in a home with six rooms. All of this dust is taken into your air ducts via your HVAC system. On average, this dust and other irritants and contaminants circulate throughout your entire home about five to seven times each day. Even worse, these contaminants start to build up and accumulate inside your air ducts. For people who have allergy issues, autoimmune disorders, and respiratory problems, these irritants being circulated several times a day in the home can cause serious health concerns. Removing the accumulations of these contaminants can greatly improve the indoor air quality, and Atlas Chimney guarantees you will breathe much easier in your own home.

You will save money and energy.

Dirty vents can create a lot of efficiency problems. Whether it is your chimney, your dryer vents, or your air ducts, clogged vents can cause appliances to waste energy by working harder. The life of your HVAC system is shortened when it has to work overtime to compensate for dirty air ducts. With a clean air duct system, you will be able to enjoy comfortable air more quickly and easily and keep the temperature that you want. Your system does not have to use as much energy, and using less energy will reduce your heating and cooling bills.

Want to improve the quality of the air you breathe in your home? Contact us at Atlas Chimney to schedule an appointment for our professional air duct cleaning service.