Our Company Blog

The Benefits of a Chimney Cap

One of the most important components of a masonry chimney is the chimney cap. Not only does a chimney cap keep water out of the flue when it rains, but this essential chimney part also prevents wild animals and birds from getting inside the chimney to nest. For over 25 years, Atlas Chimney has provided superior professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation services to the Austin area, and we have seen what can happen to an uncapped chimney. We would like to tell you more about the benefits of a chimney cap.

PREVENTS WATER LEAKS

According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), a chimney cap is the most economical way that a homeowner can prevent water penetration damage. Located at the top of the chimney, a chimney cap protects your home from water leaks, and this can save you from having to spend money in the near future on expensive chimney masonry repair work. Without a chimney cap, your roof has an open hole that allows water to easily enter whenever it rains.

KEEPS WILD ANIMALS & BIRDS OUT

If you have ever dealt with a family of birds or squirrels nesting inside your chimney, you definitely know exactly how important it is to have a chimney cap professionally installed on the top of your chimney. At Atlas Chimney, you will find a wide variety of chimney caps that are equipped with metal mesh sides that serve to stop wild animals and birds from being able to get inside the chimney. We can show you the best caps to prevent animal invasions.

DECREASES FIRE HAZARDS

The metal mesh sides on chimney caps that keep birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other wild animals out of your home have another important function that benefits your home. These sides also stop hot sparks and embers from jumping out of the top of your chimney to possibly start a fire on your roof. This will also lower your risk of an accidental brush fire in your yard.

IMPROVES DRAFT

When you have problems with your chimney draft, it can be challenging to light a fire or to keep a fire going in your fireplace. If you would like to improve your chimney draft, Atlas Chimney can show you chimney caps that have been designed with side vents that can direct the wind into your chimney to help pull out smoke and other exhaust gases.

With so many benefits available, it is easy to see why a chimney cap is such an essential component of an efficient chimney system. Contact Atlas Chimney today to learn more about our professional chimney cap sales and installation services.

Common Chimney Draft Issues

Draft plays an important role in the operation of your fireplace and chimney system, and different factors can cause chimney draft issues. If your house smells smoky or if you have trouble with starting a fire, you are experiencing chimney draft problems. Since several things can cause these issues, it can be challenging to diagnose exactly what is wrong. Atlas Chimney is here to help solve your chimney draft issues. For over 25 years, we have been working on the chimneys of the residents of Central Texas, and we know how to diagnose and fix problems with drafts in chimneys. We would like to tell you a bit more about the symptoms of these issues, what causes them, and how we can correct the problems.

Difficulty Starting a Fire

If it takes you 30 minutes to an hour to get a good fire going in your fireplace, your flue could be too large for your heating appliance. You could also have leaks in the lower half of your chimney. According to Mother Earth News, the best solution for both of these problems is to reline the chimney. Atlas Chimney can install a new stainless steel liner that will provide a correctly-sized flue for your heating appliance. This will also help to seal off any leaks.

Smoke Fills the Room on Windy Days

In the best case scenario, wind helps the draft in your chimney to pull out exhaust gases from your home. However, the wind could be directed downward towards your chimney by part of your roof, another building, or a tree. Atlas Chimney can help with this issue by installing a chimney cap that has vents on its sides. These vents will direct the wind to improve your chimney draft and pull out the smoke and gases from combustion,

Unpleasant Odors in the Summer

The heat and humidity of the summer can worsen the odor of creosote, so if you have not had your chimney professionally swept since you last used your fireplace, you could have stinky creosote deposits inside your chimney. Chimney draft problems can force these odors back into your home. The most common reason for this smelly issue is that your house is preventing adequate airflow up the chimney because it is sealed too tightly for weatherization purposes. This problem can be solved by two simple solutions. You can crack open the window closest to your fireplace to give the chimney enough air to draft properly. You can also schedule your annual professional chimney sweeping in the spring or summer with Atlas Chimney, so our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified chimney sweeps can remove all of the creosote from your chimney before it starts smelling so strongly.

Have you noticed any of these symptoms with your fireplace? Contact us at Atlas Chimney so our certified sweeps can diagnose and solve your chimney draft problems.