Our Company Blog

Make Sure Your Hearth Is Ready for the Holidays

Believe it or not, the holiday season is just around the corner. Now is the time to be making all of the necessary preparations for this busy time of year so that you can relax once the holidays arrive. When you have a fireplace, it is most likely one of your main focal points in your home. Your holiday guests will enjoy spending time with you by the hearth, which means you need to be sure it is ready for the season. For residents of the Austin, TX area, Atlas Chimney is ready to help you with all of your professional fireplace and chimney needs. We would like to give you a few tips to make sure your hearth looks its best and will be safe all holiday season long.

Schedule an appointment for your annual professional chimney sweeping and inspection.

The last thing you want to happen during the holidays is a chimney fire, which is why it is so important to have your chimney professionally swept and inspected before the season begins. You can trust Atlas Chimney to remove every bit of flammable creosote from the inner chimney walls to reduce the risk of a chimney fire. We will also make sure during our inspection of your chimney there is no damage present that could cause your fireplace to be unsafe to use during the holidays and the rest of the winter season.

Do not overload the mantel with holiday decorations made of flammable materials.

While you may love the look of stockings hanging from the mantel, Consumer Safety warns of placing these holiday decor staples in front of your fireplace. Other types of decorations that should not be placed on the mantel include garlands and paper decorations. If you insist on decorating your hearth with stockings, make sure you have another place to hang them when the fireplace is in use to prevent an accidental fire from starting.

Keep children and pets safe around the fireplace.

If you do not have kids or pets of your own, you may have some visiting your home over the holidays. You want to make sure your hearth is safe for them by placing a screen in front of the fireplace opening. This will protect young children and pets, who can be very curious about the flames burning in the fireplace. You will also keep toddlers who are just learning how to walk safe from stumbling and falling upon a stone or brick hearth.

Contact Us

Get your hearth ready for this holiday season! Contact us today at Atlas Chimney to make an appointment for your annual professional chimney maintenance services.

Replacing Your Prefab Fireplace

Your fireplace is likely part of a prefabricated or factory-built system if your home was built in the last half of the 20th century. The majority of these systems are made from metal, according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), and they come as a complete unit, including the firebox, chimney, flashing, and other parts. You may also have heard prefab fireplaces referred to as Heatilators, a very well-known brand. A prefab fireplace is not built to last forever, and should be replaced once it shows signs of aging. Atlas Chimney’s technicians have years of experience removing old and damaged prefab fireplace systems and replacing them with a long lasting traditional masonry chimney and fireplace system or a new prefab system. Here are a couple of signs that can alert you that it is time to replace your Heatilator or another prefab fireplace.

Cracked Firebox Refractory Panels

The metal walls of the prefab chimney firebox and system can suffer from rusting and other corrosive damage. Once the smallest cracks appear in one of the refractory panels of the firebox, your safety is at risk. The extreme heat produced by a fire can transfer to the wooden structure surrounding the prefab system, igniting a fire. While Atlas Chimney can replace your cracked refractory panels in the firebox, you should consider replacing the entire system. If it is over 10 to 15 years old, system replacement is the safest route. Atlas Chimney can talk to you about the choices you have if you decide to replace your prefab system.

Occurrence of Chimney Fire or Other Destructive Event

Unfortunately, chimney fires in prefabricated systems can easily happen when operated incorrectly. If used excessively, a prefab fireplace can cause a chimney fire, especially if there is any debris in the chimney. The chimney cap and chase cover can also crack from corrosion, allowing wild animals access into the chimney to build nests. Other disasters that can cause serious damage include earthquakes, lightning strikes, and strong wind storms.

Is it time to replace your Heatilator or another prefabricated fireplace system? Contact us at Atlas Chimney to schedule an appointment for a professional chimney inspection. You can trust our CSIA-certified chimney technicians to make an honest recommendation about your prefabricated chimney system.