csia Archives - Atlas Chimney

When Researching Chimney Sweeps, Don’t Forget to Check Online Reviews

Over the past several decades, technology has gone through some incredible changes that have transformed the way that we live our lives. When Atlas Chimney first began serving the five stars Austin, Texas area, we depended on referrals from our customers to their family, friends, and neighbors who were looking for excellent comprehensive professional chimney services. More than 25 years have gone by since we opened for business, and although some of our new customers have found us from that kind of recommendation from our established clients, more and more people hire us to take care of their chimney and fireplace needs after reading the reviews of our services on Google, Yelp, and other online sources. In fact, recent surveys have suggested that the majority of consumers trust online reviews as much as they do personal recommendations. We would like to take the chance to tell you more about why you should consider online reviews when you are researching chimney sweeps to hire to perform maintenance, repair, and installation services in your home.

Where can I find online reviews of chimney sweeping businesses?

One of the most comprehensive sources of business reviews that you can access via the Internet is Google. Not only does this search engine giant provide consumers with opportunities to write their own reviews, but it also includes reviews that have been left by customers on other websites and social media platforms. Simply type “professional chimney sweeps near me” into the search bar, and you will be given a listing of the companies that are located nearest to your home as well as customer reviews of these companies. Yelp is another great online resource for doing research on available chimney sweeps in your area. With online communities set up in every major city in the country, this website allows its members to share their experiences with just about every type of business in that area. With a user-friendly interface, it is simple to search for the exact type of service that you need and find ratings and reviews about companies that provide that service. You can also download review apps to your smartphone so that you can access reviews when you are away from your computer. Social media platforms like Facebook also provide users with the ability to review and recommend businesses directly from their home pages. These online reviews can be easily found by searching on that platform as well as on various search engine websites.

Why should I consider online reviews when researching chimney sweeps?

When you have recently moved to a new area, it can be challenging to find the best chimney sweep to hire to perform important maintenance tasks such as the annual inspection service. If you do not have friends or family who live in this area to ask for recommendations, reading online reviews of the local chimney companies is an excellent way to know who is the right chimney sweep for your home. Unfortunately, scam artists commonly use chimney sweeping as a way to make money at the expense of homeowners, but thanks to online reviews, this type of dishonest scheme can be easily exposed. Another advantage of checking online reviews when researching chimney sweeps is being able to see how the business handles negative experiences. When someone leaves Atlas Chimney a negative review online, our owner Chris Hess takes the time to reach out to that customer to make amends. We want to go the extra mile to make sure unhappy customers are satisfied with our services. Although it may seem impossible to please everyone, it is important to note how a business responds to negativity.

What is another source to find information about professional chimney sweeps?

When you are looking for a chimney sweep to hire to provide a service in your home, you should always check to see if they have been certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Founded in 1983, the CSIA is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to educating, training, and certifying chimney and venting system professionals. Known as the leading expert in the chimney and fireplace industry, the CSIA also promotes public awareness of the best safety practices to follow when operating chimney and fireplace systems. Atlas Chimney is proud to have a team that has received this professional credential. Not only do chimney professionals have to pass a comprehensive examination to earn CSIA certifications, but they must also sign the CSIA Code of Ethics, which ensures that the chimney sweeps engage in honest and fair business practices on every job. You are guaranteed to be treated respectfully and decently by a CSIA-certified chimney sweep.

Hiring a professional chimney sweep does not have to be a challenge. By reading online reviews of sweeps in your area, you can easily find the best professional for your home. If you live in the Austin, Texas area, Atlas Chimney is here for any professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation need you may have. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our CSIA-certified professionals.

Is Your Chimney Leaking? Here’s How You Can Tell

One of the most common chimney problems, water leaks can lead to extensive damage to your home, especially if the leaks are neglected. Not only do water leaks cause house in rain problems to the masonry chimney structure itself, but you may also encounter issues with rusted metal components and rotted wooden parts of your house because of these leaks. For over 25 years, Atlas Chimney has specialized in taking care of the leaky chimneys of the Austin area, and you can trust our experienced team of qualified chimney professionals to properly fix the leaks and repair any damage caused by the leaks. Our chimney technicians have been trained and certified by the leader of our industry, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), and we are proud to provide the highest quality of professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation services to the area. To help you prevent experiencing extensive water leak damage to your chimney and your home, we would like to tell you how to tell your chimney is leaking as well as what you can expect from our professional chimney services.

How can I tell that my chimney is leaking?

You may think that a water leak in your chimney would be obvious, but the signs of a chimney leak can be more subtle than standing water on the floor of your firebox. If you notice stains on the ceiling and walls of the room where your fireplace is located, there is a very good chance that you have a leaky chimney. You may also notice wallpaper peeling away from and/or paint cracking off of the walls near your fireplace. Rusted metal components, such as the fireplace damper, and musty odors coming from the fireplace opening are other signs that your chimney has a water leak. On the exterior of your chimney, damaged bricks and mortar joints can alert you to a chimney leak issue, according to the CSIA.

Why is my chimney leaking?

As we mentioned above, Atlas Chimney has been taking care of leaky chimneys for over 25 years, and this means we have a lot of experience in finding the sources of chimney leaks. This experience allows us to be able to stop water leaks quickly and make the proper repairs. One of the most common reasons why a chimney leaks is damaged masonry. When the bricks and mortar joints of your chimney are cracked, crumbled, broken, loose, or missing, water from rain and melted ice and snow can easily enter into the chimney through the gaps and holes left behind by the damaged masonry. Unfortunately, this type of masonry damage can deteriorate quickly, especially during the winter, if it is left unrepaired. Another cause of chimney leaks has to do with the top of your chimney not being as protected as it should be by a chimney cap and a chimney crown. If your chimney is uncapped, or if your chimney cap is old and damaged, your chimney is at a much higher risk for water leaks. Your chimney should also have a chimney crown at its top, and when the crown is cracked and damaged, water can leak into the chimney. You could also have a problem with a leaky chimney if your flashing system has been damaged.

How can Atlas Chimney help me with my leaky chimney?

When our CSIA-certified chimney professionals arrive to your home, we will begin by inspecting your chimney to find the source of the leak. Once we have made the diagnosis, we will explain the problem to you and provide you with a fair and honest written estimate of the repairs that are necessary to stop the leak. If there is any masonry damage, you can depend on us to remove the damaged bricks and mortar joints and replace them with durable masonry materials. After we have fixed the leak and its damage, we can help you prevent more chimney leaks from occurring. Atlas Chimney is proud to provide the Austin area with the best chimney leak preventive services available, which include chimney cap sales and installation, chimney crown construction and repairs, flashing construction and repairs, and waterproofing. As we mentioned earlier, masonry deterioration can be accelerated during the winter, and the best defense against this type of chimney damage is to have your chimney professionally waterproofed. We only use waterproofing agents that are specifically made for chimneys so that your chimney can be protected from water leaks for at least a decade. Although the waterproofing treatment will form an invisible barrier against water penetration, the formulas that we use are 100 percent vapor permeable so that gases can escape without causing further masonry damage. We strongly recommend that you have your chimney professionally waterproofed to prolong the life of your masonry chimney.

If you suspect that your chimney is leaking, contact us today at Atlas Chimney to schedule an appointment for our professional chimney water leak services. You can count on our CSIA-certified chimney professionals to take care of your leaky chimney. We are here for any of your professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation needs.

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