Is Your Prefab Fireplace Rusting Out?
If your home was built within the past several decades, you likely have a prefabricated, or prefab fireplace and chimney system. This type of system is also known as factory-built, as the chimney and the fireplace are manufactured to be installed and operated as one unit. One of the reasons why prefab fireplaces have grown in popularity is because they produce more heat than the traditional masonry fireplaces.
However, prefab units typically do not last as long as traditional units. A common problem with prefab fireplaces is that they suffer from corrosive damage that can possibly lead to safety hazards. At Atlas Chimney, your safety is our top priority. We would like to tell you more about the importance of having your rusted prefab fireplace repaired or replaced.
How does a prefab fireplace become rusted?
Since a prefab chimney consists of a metal pipe, it is typically concealed by a structure called a chase. Instead of having a masonry crown installed at its top, prefab chimneys have a chase cover to protect your home from water leaks. At Atlas Chimney, we have been working on the chimneys in the Austin area for over 25 years. We have seen our fair share of water damage caused by chase covers. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), water can even rust or deteriorate metal firebox assemblies. It can leak behind the louvers of prefab fireplaces.
Why is a rusted prefab fireplace a possible safety hazard?
You may have heard that prefab fireplaces are dangerous fire hazards. This is because of the cracking that occurs when the firebox refractory panels have been rusted. When these panels are cracked, the extreme heat that is produced by the fires in your prefab fireplace can easily transfer through the cracks to the combustible parts of your home to ignite a devastating house fire. You can count on Atlas Chimney to properly repair cracks in the firebox panels of your prefab fireplace. However, you should consider the age of your unit too. If your prefab fireplace is over 15 years old, we can replace the unit with a new prefab system.
Have you noticed cracks or other signs of rusting on your prefab fireplace? Don’t hesitate to contact us at Atlas Chimney. We will inspect your unit and take care of any repairs to ensure your utmost safety.