Fireplace Maintenance Archives

Now Sweeping Chimneys in the Land of Television

Atlas Chimney has some exciting news that we would like to share with you! Our owner, Chris Hess, has spent some time working on the set of actor Pierce Brosnan’s new AMC series, “The Son.” He’s doing this to make sure the four chimneys in his television home are working safely and efficiently. We are truly honored to add this incredible experience. Also, we want you to know that you can receive the same excellent service that is provided to “The Son.” We would like to tell you a bit more about this show and the chimney maintenance services provided.

A Multi-Generational Family Saga in the Heart of Texas

“The Son” is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning and best-selling novel by Philipp Meyer. It tells the story of Eli McCullough, who is portrayed by Pierce Brosnan, and his family over a period of 150 years. Set in Texas, the series tells the story of how McCullough goes from a hard-working family man to a calculating and paranoid killer. McCullough builds his ranch into a business. This includes oil fields which bring him incredible wealth. Unfortunately he makes some enemies along the way, including his rich Spanish neighbor, Pedro Garcia. They use flashbacks of McCullough’s youth. This includes the Comanche war chief Toshaway who inspired his ambition. By doing this, the series shows exactly how McCullough creates his powerful family dynasty.

An Acclaimed AMC-Original Series

Comprising of 10, 1 hour-long episodes, “The Son” has received great reviews from both viewers and critics. Fans of the book will be happy to learn that the author, Philipp Meyer, also worked on writing the teleplays for the series. Also starring Henry Garrett, Zach McClarnon, and Paola Nuñez, “The Son” has been renewed for a second season! The series debuted on April 8, 2017. However, you can still watch every episode on AMC’s website.

The Best Chimney Maintenance Service in the Austin Area

Selected as the official chimney sweeper of “The Son” from our reputation in Austin, Atlas Chimney provides superior customer service to every one of our customers. All of our chimney sweeps have been trained and certified by professional organizations. This includes the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). You can trust us to remove every bit of creosote when we sweep your chimney to prevent it from becoming a dangerous fire hazard. During our professional chimney inspections, we make sure that there are no flue blockages or any type of damage that could put your family and your home in danger.

If you live in the Austin area, contact us at Atlas Chimney for all of your chimney and fireplace maintenance, repair, and installation needs. We promise to provide you with the same excellent service we give to Pierce Brosnan!

How a Rusty Damper Can Affect Your Electric Bill

If you want your chimney and fireplace season to work as well as possible, you need to be sure that each and every component is in good working condition. When you have problems with certain parts, such as the liner or damper, your chimney could possibly even be unsafe. Also, the efficiency issues caused by damaged chimney components can be quite costly. Atlas Chimney would like to talk to you more about dampers and how a rusty damper can affect your electric bill.

How A Rusty Damper Can Affect Your Electric Bill Image - Austin TX - Atlas Chimney

What exactly is a damper?

Situated directly above the firebox, a traditional throat damper is constructed from metal, ceramic, or other material that can tolerate the exposure to direct heat. Similar to a flap or door, a throat damper can be opened or closed. Another type of damper is the top-mounted damper, which is located at the very top of the chimney and can also serve as a chimney cap.

What does a damper do?

Even when your fireplace is not being used, your damper has a very important function, which is why you need to be sure it is in good working condition. When you are burning a fire in your fireplace, the damper should always be open to allow smoke, gases, and the other byproducts of combustion to escape out of the chimney. If the damper is closed, smoke and toxic gases will get forced back into your home through the fireplace. If there is no fire burning, your damper should always be closed to create energy efficiency by keeping warm air inside your home during the winter and cooled air inside during the summer. According to Do It Yourself, you can control the intensity of your fire by partially opening the damper to limit the amount of oxygen exposure to the fire.

What is the most common problem with throat dampers, and how does this issue affect my electric bill?

Although your damper may be constructed with a good quality metal, it can still suffer from corrosion over the years. Rust is the most common problem with throat dampers because it can cause issues opening and closing the damper. You can have difficulties adjusting and even moving a damper that has been corroded by rust. When your damper is stuck in the open position, it can cause your electric bill to be more expensive than usual. It can be challenging to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer when the damper cannot close correctly. To be sure your home is as energy efficient as possible, you should have your rusted damper repaired or replaced.

Atlas Chimney can help you with taking care of your rusty damper. Contact us to find out how we can reduce your electric bill by repairing or replacing a damaged throat damper.

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