Our Company Blog

Why You Should Schedule Your Chimney Inspection in the Spring

National fire safety organizations like the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommend having your fireplace and chimney professionally swept and inspected annually to be sure the system works safely and efficiently. Many homeowners wait to have these chimney maintenance services done in the fall, but Atlas Chimney recommends that you take care of these tasks in the spring. We would like to tell you more about why you should schedule your chimney inspection in the spring.

You can easily get the appointment you need.

When you wait until the fall to have your chimney maintenance tasks performed, you could have a hard time scheduling your appointment on the date and time you need. In the fall, the CSIA-certified chimney sweeps at Atlas Chimney are extremely busy sweeping and inspecting chimneys all across the Austin area. In fact, fall is our busiest season. Since someone needs to be at your home when we sweep and inspect your chimney, it can be difficult to find the best time to schedule this appointment. You will have a much easier time getting the appointment you need in the spring since we will not have such a packed calendar.

You can have winter-related damage repaired in a timely manner.

One of the reasons the CSIA claims that water is the greatest enemy of masonry chimneys has to do with spalling damage. Since masonry materials naturally absorb water, there can be moisture trapped within the bricks and mortar. Whenever the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, that trapped water will freeze and expand inside the masonry materials. This water will thaw as the weather warms up, and its force can cause the bricks and mortar joints to crack and even break apart. The longer you wait to have this damage repaired, more water leaks can occur and lead to even more deterioration. Having your chimney professionally inspected in the spring allows you to have this damage repaired in a timely manner, which can prevent serious water leaks from appearing.

You will not have to worry about chimney odors during the summer.

Before Atlas Chimney inspects your chimney, we will professionally sweep it to remove all of the creosote that has accumulated inside your chimney. Not only is creosote dangerously flammable, but it can produce a strong, unpleasant odor, especially during hot and humid summer weather. When you have your chimney maintenance services done in the spring, you will not have to worry about dealing with stinky smells coming from your chimney.

Don’t wait until the fall to schedule your chimney maintenance tasks. Contact us at Atlas Chimney to have your chimney inspected this spring.

We Can Do Masonry Repairs

For some repairs, you need a specialist to get the job done properly. Just because someone is qualified to sweep a chimney does not automatically mean he can perform masonry repairs. When you have cracked, loose, or missing bricks and mortar joints in your chimney, you need an experienced mason to restore its stability. At Atlas Chimney, we have chimney technicians with decades of experience in masonry construction and repairs, and you can trust us to do the best job possible. We would like to tell you more about the types of masonry repair services we provide and why you may need them.

Why would I need masonry repair services from Atlas Chimney?

The exterior of your chimney is constantly exposed to the elements, which causes the bricks and mortar to weaken and erode. Water is so destructive to masonry materials. Even though we do not have to deal with freezing cold weather here in the Austin area very often, your chimney also suffers from spalling damage when the temperature does drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. This means any water trapped in the bricks and mortar will freeze and expand. When the weather warms back up, this water thaws back out, and its force causes the masonry materials to crack, break apart, and possibly even come loose and fall from the chimney structure. If left unrepaired, spalling damage can lead to serious structural problems.

Although the weather is responsible for a majority of masonry damage, there are other reasons you may need masonry repairs, which include age, settling, insects, and other environmental conditions. Whatever the cause of the damage, Atlas Chimney has the skills and experience to fix it to restore your chimney.

What kinds of masonry repair services does Atlas Chimney provide?

To replace cracked, chipped, and missing bricks and mortar joints, we use a masonry technique that is known as tuckpointing. An age-old practice, tuckpointing involves the use of pointed tools to tuck mortar in between the bricks. Since we will be replacing old mortar, we take great care to ensure the new mortar will match the existing mortar in color, strength, and composition. We guarantee the repair work will be undetectable and will never look like a patch-up job. Another masonry repair service we provide deals with your firebox. The bricks and mortar in this area are exposed to extremely high temperatures, which can create cracks and gaps inside the firebox. This damage can be dangerous as the surrounding walls will be exposed to high heat, and this can pose a fire hazard. Atlas Chimney can use our masonry skills to replace the damaged masonry materials in the firebox and make your fireplace even safer than it was before.

Have you noticed missing bricks from your chimney this spring? Contact us at Atlas Chimney to schedule a chimney inspection today.