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You May Not Think You Need a Chimney Inspection, but Here’s Why You Do

When you have to live on a limited budget, you are always looking for ways to save money on household expenses. Although itAtlas Chimney work van may seem like a good idea to cut back on professional home maintenance services, you could be setting yourself up for even more expensive repairs if you neglect certain tasks. One of these tasks is your annual professional chimney inspection service. You might be thinking that since you have not had any major issues with your fireplace over the past year that you do not really need to have your chimney professionally inspected; however, there could be hidden hazards lurking inside the walls of your chimney that could lead to larger problems that could jeopardize your safety. For over 25 years, Atlas Chimney has provided first class professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation services to the Austin area, and we have seen quite a bit of chimney damage that could have been avoided with regular inspection services. We would like to tell you more about why you need to have your chimney professionally swept and inspected every year by a certified chimney technician. You will also learn what you can expect from our team of chimney professionals when you hire us to inspect your chimney.

Decrease Risk of Accidental Fire

One of the most important reasons why an annual professional chimney inspection is needed has to do with the possibility of fire hazards being present inside your chimney. Damage that can lead to an accidental fire includes cracks and gaps in the chimney liner and/or firebox, large accumulations of creosote deposits, and flue blockages from debris. When Atlas Chimney inspects your chimney, you can depend on our professionals to closely examine every inch of the inside of the flue because we offer video inspection services that allow us to make sure there is no type of damage inside your chimney that could be a dangerous fire hazard. We are proud to be authorized to use the best video recording equipment in the chimney and venting industry, the Chim-Scan Closed Circuit Internal Evaluation System. When we provide our Level 2 and Level 3 chimney inspection services, our Chim-Scan services are included, but we can also use this closed-circuit video camera during a basic Level 1 inspection, if you would like us to add this service. We highly recommend our Chim-Scan video chimney inspection services because it can be the only way to see every inch of your interior chimney and have the peace of mind that no hazards are present inside the flue.

Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Although masonry chimneys are strong and durable enough to last for many years, the bricks and mortar joints can suffer from water penetration damage that can lead to deterioration that leaves cracks and gaps behind in the chimney structure. Not only can this type of masonry damage be the cause of structural problems, but it can also allow toxic combustion gases like carbon monoxide to enter your living spaces. Known as “the silent killer” as well as “the invisible killer,” carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, which means you could be breathing this deadly gas without even knowing it. Thousands of Americans become ill from carbon monoxide poisoning every year. Its symptoms are headache, fatigue, nausea, and congestion, and since these are very similar to the symptoms of the flu and the common cold, many cases of carbon monoxide poisoning go undiagnosed. This can be very serious as you could continue to breathe this toxic gas, and prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide can lead to organ failure and even death. You can count on Atlas Chimney to keep you and your family safe from becoming ill from this poisonous gas with our professional chimney inspection services. Our team of professionals have been trained and certified by the leader in our industry, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), and we know exactly what to look for when we are inspecting your chimney that could lead to hazardous situations in your home. Your safety is always our top priority.

No matter what type of damage we may find, you can expect Atlas Chimney to provide you with a detailed written explanation of the problem as well as photographs and video of the damage itself. If you need to file a claim with your home insurance company, we will give you exactly what you will need to give your agent. You can also depend on our professionals to provide you with an honest and fair estimate of the repair work that we can do to restore the safety and integrity of your chimney and fireplace system. We offer Olympia Chimney Stainless Steel Liner and HeatShield chimney relining services, chimney cap installation, and masonry repair services. We can also protect your chimney from water penetration damage with our professional waterproofing services.

To schedule your appointment for your annual professional chimney sweeping and inspection, contact us today at Atlas Chimney. We are here for all of your professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation needs.

The Silver Lining of Waiting

Before you light the first fire in your fireplace each year, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), the National Firecalendar with hourglass Protection Association (NFPA), and other national fire safety organizations recommend that you have your chimney professionally swept and inspected. The reason why this recommendation is made is to ensure that your chimney and fireplace system will work efficiently and safely throughout the winter. Without this professional chimney maintenance service appointment, it can be impossible to know whether or not there are hidden hazards lurking inside the chimney, such as cracks and gaps in the liner. Since the last thing that you need to deal with during the holidays is an accidental house fire caused by a damaged chimney liner, it is important to take care of this professional service before the fireplace season begins. For over 25 years, Atlas Chimney has been known across the Austin, TX region as the best source for professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation services in the area, and our team of trained and experienced professional chimney sweeps are so busy every fall preparing the chimneys of our customers that it can be difficult to schedule an appointment between September and the end of the year on a date that is convenient for you. We understand that it can be frustrating to wait to use your fireplace until we can sweep and inspect your chimney, so we would like to tell you about the silver lining of having to wait for your maintenance appointment with our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps. We will also share how you can avoid this waiting period next year.

What exactly is the silver lining of having to wait three more weeks until I can use my fireplace?

As we mentioned earlier, it is recommended to have your chimney professionally swept and inspected before lighting the first fire of the year, and this means that many homeowners are in need of professional chimney maintenance services every fall. For over 25 years, Atlas Chimney has had a waiting list for chimney sweep and inspection appointments that begin in September and typically continues throughout the rest of the year. Although we do understand why customers might feel frustrated by this waiting list, we very rarely hear that they will try another chimney sweeping company because they know that our service is worth the wait. They can count on our professional chimney sweeps giving their undivided attention to their chimneys because they know that we value their safety.

How can I avoid having to wait to have my chimney professionally swept and inspected by Atlas Chimney?

We recommend to our customers to forward schedule their annual chimney maintenance service appointments with us to be sure that their fireplaces will be ready to use on the first cool day of the year. After we have swept and inspected your chimney, we will give you the option to go ahead and reserve your appointment time for your next maintenance service. Another suggestion we have to avoid waiting to use your fireplace is to make your chimney sweeping appointment with us in the spring or summer. Since this is our off-season, it can be easier for busy customers to find an available appointment with us on a date that is most convenient for them. Scheduling during the spring and summer is also recommended if you plan to take care of any chimney repairs or make any changes to your chimney. We prefer to do masonry chimney construction and repair services during warmer weather, and you will have plenty of time to have the necessary work done before you want to use your fireplace again in the fall.

What can I expect from my annual professional chimney maintenance appointment with Atlas Chimney?

We are proud to guarantee a mess-free chimney sweeping service, and this is just one of the things that sets us apart from other chimney companies in the area. To protect your home from getting dirty during the appointment, we will place tarps around your fireplace and set up a vacuum that is specifically designed to ensure that no creosote, soot, or other debris enters your home during chimney sweepings. We will then use specialized tools, such as rotating brushes on extended rods, to scrub the inner walls of your chimney. Once we have finished sweeping, we will vacuum away the debris from the firebox and smoke shelf. If we find that creosote in your chimney has built up into a thick glaze on the interior walls, we can use special chemicals to remove this hazardous material and reduce the risk of a chimney fire. A basic Level 1 chimney inspection is included with our annual chimney sweeping service, and you can count on our CSIA-certified professionals to make sure there are no flue blockages or other types of issues that could cause your chimney to be unsafe to use.

Although the wait for a professional chimney maintenance appointment from Atlas Chimney can be frustrating, there is a silver lining of guaranteed excellent service from our qualified and experienced professional CSIA-certified chimney sweeps. Contact us today to schedule your appointment for your annual chimney sweeping and inspection.

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