Our Company Blog

How Do Gas Fireplaces Work?

Whether you’ve already invested in a gas fireplace or you’re simply considering the option, it’s important to know the facts of how they operate. Fortunately for residents of Tullahoma, Winchester, and the surrounding towns and cities, the highly qualified team at A-1 Chimney Specialist is here to help. Learn more about gas fireplaces below, then give us a call with any questions.

Increased Efficiency

Gas fireplaces are highly efficient. Wood-burning options offer a classic and a timeless aesthetic. However, when it comes to energy savings and more guaranteed heat, gas units are the best. So, how does this work? Well, a lot of the heat in wood-burning fireplaces gets absorbed into the masonry or escapes out of the chimney. The fire itself also requires a lot of upkeep and must be regularly refueled. This is a lot of work for less efficient results. Gas-fueled units, on the other hand, work to provide way more heat into your living space. This results in a more comfortable environment and lower monthly heating bills.

Ease Of Use

Gas fireplaces provide more heat throughout the cold months, and they are very easy to use. If storing logs, hauling wood, building and maintaining fires, and scooping out ash doesn’t sound like an ideal way to spend your winter, then you should invest in a gas fireplace.

With the flip of a switch or the push of a button, you get nice, warm flames that your friends and family can enjoy night after night. There is no mess, no clean-up, and no extra hassle with a gas unit. For busy homeowners, you can enjoy the comfort of a cozy fire without having to work hard for it. Take the plunge and talk to our team of experts today.

Achieving A More Streamlined Look

Homeowners today want the more streamlined looks throughout their homes. While many masonry/wood-burning fireplaces look great in modern homes, there are a lot of families want something more simple. If you’re adding a fireplace to your home, then gas may be the way to go. There’s more flexibility in placement options, and it doesn’t require much space.

Importance Of Regular Professional Upkeep

It’s important to ensure your gas fireplace is always running as efficiently as possible, and we can help with that! Our technicians are CSIA trained and certified, so you can rest easy knowing you have the best to help with your chimney. We’ll inspect, maintain, and repair any issues that come our way. Call us at 931-967-3595 today!

Why Waterproofing With ChimneySaver Works

Finding out your masonry chimney is experiencing water damage can be frustrating news to hear. Once cracks, holes, clogs, and more have started to occur, your entire structure will break down in a hurry, forcing you to shell out hundreds in repair work and replacement parts. Fortunately, there are ways to stop harmful moisture dead in its tracks, and the team at A-1 Chimney Specialist is ready to help you out!

Why Waterproofing Is Necessary

Water serves as one of the biggest threats to your chimney’s overall structure, and it can do all kinds of damage in a relatively short amount of time. Waterproofing provides a way to seal out excess water, ensuring it doesn’t seep into your brickwork and trigger various types of deterioration and wear and tear.

Along with this, you’ll face the freeze/thaw process, which occurs during the colder months that will soon be here. Once we get below freezing, any preabsorbed water will freeze and expand. This forces your brickwork to expand right along with it! Obviously this isn’t a good situation, but unfortunately things get worse. When temps go back up, your brickwork then settles, putting a lot of extra pressure on your structure as a whole.

As you can imagine, this whole process doesn’t do your chimney any favors, and it’s vital to do everything possible to prevent its occurrence. Waterproofing will block off any water from entering, so you can go into your burning season feeling as stress-free as possible!

Why Our Products Are Better

So, what makes our products better than other paints and sealers? Well, any brand will highlight it’s ability to keep water out, and many do a fine job of doing just that. But what about the already absorbed moisture that is still stuck inside your brickwork and mortar? That’s where ChimneySaver goes above and beyond. It’s completely vapor-permeable, so any moisture that’s already trapped inside your system won’t get stuck and continue to cause problems.

The masonry’s porous nature also allows necessary fumes and vapors to escape from your fireplace, and some products block its ability to do this. This is a necessary step for keeping your home safer and for ensuring everything runs as efficiently as its supposed to throughout the burning season. If these gases are blocked off, you’ll face some real trouble!

This is one area where you’ll want to invest in the best team from the very start, and you won’t find any crew better than the CSIA certified sweeps at A-1 Chimney Specialist. We care about every homeowner we serve, and we’ll do everything possible to ensure you remain completely satisfied.

What Else Can We Help With?

Once your system is waterproofed and protected, be sure to ask about scheduling your inspections, sweepings, and repairs through us, as well. Your system will be runner better and safer than ever, and you’ll gain the peace of mind you deserve. Why wait? Count on us for it all!

The Different Ways We Can Reline Your Chimney

Knowing the function and purpose of your chimney liner is important, and getting a faulty liner repaired as soon as possible makes a big difference in keeping your home safer. Learn more about chimney liners from our team, then keep reading to discover the various ways we can restore or reline yours, should things be breaking down. Our CSIA-certified experts know their stuff!

What Do Chimney Liners Do?

Chimney liners are vital for maintaining an efficient and well-functioning fireplace. They need to be fitted just right to ensure proper air flow, less creosote accumulation, and added safety from potentially harmful gases, like carbon monoxide. Along with this, they protect combustible materials in your home from catching fire, which is a likely possibility when a proper barrier is not in place.

Liners also ensure the acidic gases produced in your fireplace can’t eat away at your brickwork and mortar. This compromises the structural integrity of your entire system, and it makes you much more vulnerable to water damage, gas leaks, settlements, collapses, and more.

What We Offer

Are you ready to have your liner repaired and restored? Well, we’re here for you! No matter what type of chimney you have, we have the tools and expertise to ensure the job gets done right. One material many homeowners invest in, due to its affordability and reliable nature, is a clay tile chimney liner. These types are very effective and will ensure added safety and extra efficiency. Keep in mind, though, that they must be regularly maintained in order to stand the test of time and keep things running well. They also aren’t typically the best fit for gas appliances, so you may want to consider an alternative if this is the case for you

Next up is a stainless steel option. As you may guess, these are the right choice for any homeowner looking for ultimate strength and durability. They don’t rust, they work well with any fuel type, and they come with a lifetime warranty. Talk with our experts right away if you think this is the right option for you. We’ll set you up right before burning season begins again!

Cast-in-place liners are another great option for those looking for something long-lasting and highly durable. In fact, these are typically a more permanent option for those who need an entire relining job done, and it will take some time to get everything set up. That being said, the seamless, streamlined results are well-worth the extra time and money spent. Questions? Contact us today.

Finally, for those simply looking to have their current liner repaired or resurfaced, we offer HeatShield. This produce is designed to fill in any cracks, holes, or other types of damage, so your chimney works better for you year after year. Our sweeps will double check any work we perform with our video inspection system, so you can rest easier knowing you’ve invested in a job well done!

Ready to get started? Don’t wait until fall. Call now at 931-967-3595 , so you’re all set! Our sweeps are ready to help you out.

Get Your Flashing Fixed Before It’s Too Late

Excess rainfall and flash floods are not something we’re strangers to in this part of the state, which is why the team at A-1 Chimney Specialist urges our customers to be prepared. Water damage can be devastating to a home and chimney as homeowners are forced to replace and repair various things throughout the household. That doesn’t even account for the sentimental items or important documents that simply cannot be replaced!

If you’re ready to stay ahead of the game, then count on our CSIA certified and highly experienced crew to set you up right. When it comes to making homes in our service areas safer, there’s nothing we take more seriously!

What Is Flashing?

Flashing is one piece of your chimney’s anatomy that needs to be in tip-top shape to ensure a safer and better protected home. So, what is it exactly? Well, flashing is a sheet of metal, lead, or copper that seals the area where the roof and chimney meet. It’s set in place to allow the two different materials to expand and contract at their own pace, without leaving any gaps for excess water to enter your home.

Our crew installs flashing in two parts: step flashing and counter flashing. Step flashing is L-shaped and installed with your shingles, and counter flashing is put on overtop the step flashing and is embedded into the masonry. With both of these pieces in place, you can guarantee water won’t be getting in any time soon!

Is Your Flashing Damaged?

As durable as our products are, that doesn’t mean they don’t face wear and tear from time to time. Curious animals can tear things apart, and strong winds are known for triggering issues, too. If your flashing has become loose, rusted, bent, or damaged in some other way, tell us about it right away! Putting it off could lead to a lot of costly repair work should heavy rains come around sooner than you think.

Always Trust A Professional

Many wonder if flashing is one of those projects they can take on themselves. We highly recommend trusting a professional to handle any and all of your flashing repair and installation work. There’s not really a one-size-fits-all option for flashing jobs. Every chimney is different and needs a different approach, so it takes a knowledgeable and skilled sweep to get everything fitted just right.

Needless to say, flashing that is installed incorrectly will only lead to more damages. If the seal isn’t tight, you’ll be facing more issues than you care to handle, and any money saved on do-it-yourself labor will be thrown down the drain for repair work and replacement parts. Count on our team from the very start, so you don’t have to stress about bad weather ruining your home and chimney. We’ll set everything up right, so you’re good to go, no matter what!

There’s no time to lose. Call today.

It’s Time To Get Your Dryer Vent Cleaned

Has your dryer been running inefficiently? Are you clothes taking way too long to dry? Has it been over a year since your last vent cleaning? If you answered yes to any of these, then it’s time to call in our team of experts to check things out. The team at A-1 Chimney Specialist are CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians, ready to serve our customer base to the fullest. If you need help, call right away!

Don’t Risk House Fires & Carbon Monoxide Exposure

The big issues with dirty dryer vents are your increased risk of experiencing a fire or gas leak. Fires can easily occur when the appliance overheats, which is much more likely to happen when things are clogged up. Lint is very flammable, so flames spread quickly, putting your entire household at risk. This has caused thousands of homeowners across the United States to shell out hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars in home repairs and reconstruction work.

Avoiding damage is a major reason to invest in a dryer vent cleaning, but the biggest benefit you’ll get is added safety for your family. Dryer vent fires can occur at any time, and you never know who may be in the house when flames start to spread. Why take any chances, when a simple solution is just a phone call away? Count on our team to get the job done right.

Along with the risk of fire hazards, you risk harmful gases entering your home. The biggest concern in this department is carbon monoxide exposure, which can be fatal if not addressed swiftly. Unfortunately, carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, so detecting it is impossible without a little help. We encourage all of our customers to put carbon monoxide detectors throughout their home, so any signs of trouble are evident right away.

Signs of exposure include nausea, vomiting, headaches, confusion, weakness, dizziness, and similar symptoms. If you notice any of these in you or loved ones, or if your carbon monoxide detectors start to go off, leave the home immediately and call the proper authorities for help.

Ensure Heightened Efficiency

Along with making your home much safer, clean dryer vents ensure your appliance runs more efficiently, too. No one wants to wait around all afternoon for one load of laundry to dry, and all that extra energy use can add up quickly on your monthly bills. Many assume the fault lies with the dryer itself, but it’s typically the vents that need addressing! We can get things running more smoothly, so you don’t have to deal with the stress any longer.

Call Now While Our Schedule Is Open

Don’t wait until fall to get us in. Call now, so we can get your vents inspected, cleaned, and ready to go in no time! Our busiest season is only a few months away, so getting your appointment scheduled today will guarantee you the quickest and most convenient results. And, while we’re at it, why not get your chimney inspection over with, too? We’re here to do it all! Reach out to our team now.