Central Texas Chimney & Fireplace Repairs: Trust Ables Top Hat for Quality Service

Is your fireback cracking? You may have a cracked chimney crown, damaged or missing flashing, water-damaged bricks, missing mortar in the chimney, a damaged or missing chimney cap, or maybe some wood simply fell against it too hard…phew, that’s a lot of possibilities!

Does your whole house smell like smoke? Another issue with lots of possible answers – it may be caused by a damaged damper, a rough or damaged smoke chamber, an improper grate in your fireplace, air pressure issues throughout the house, improper construction of your fireplace, tree branches near the chimney opening, or even issues with the construction and insulation of your house.

Some common repairs and fixes are shown below, but there may be many other methods of remedying your problem (including trimming trees, parging your smoke chamber, extending your flue, and more).

Whatever issues you’re experiencing, we will work with you to provide the best solutions to your problems.

What Chimney & Fireplace Repairs Do We Offer?

Our experienced technicians are able to help with a wide range of chimney and fireplace repair needs:

Chimney Crown Repair

The crown is one of the most important – yet most vulnerable – parts of your chimney. Generally made of concrete or mortar, the crown (the top of a masonry chimney) is responsible for protecting your entire system from rain, moisture, and sleet.

Now, original masonry chimney crowns were typically made with common mortar that is lucky to last a few years before chipping, cracking, and being destroyed by weather. From the blazing Texas sun, rain, freezing, and erosion, small cracks soon turn into large cracks…and as the rain soaks in, any number of things can go wrong, like home damage, fireplace deterioration, and even flooding in your living space.

Depending on the severity of the damage, some cracks can be sealed and protected, while large cracks or missing sections may call for a whole new chimney top to be installed to ensure that your entire chimney system and home are protected from the threat of water damage.

Chimney Cap Installation

A chimney cap is absolutely essential to the long-term health of your chimney system. Without a cap, water, sleet, animals, debris, and more have direct access to your flue and fireplace. Additionally, sparks may float out of the chimney and land on your roof or other combustibles.

Some enterprising homeowners opt to cover the chimney with a screen or grate to keep animals and debris out. And sure – while a heavy gauge screen is usually effective for that, it does nothing to protect your flue and fireplace from the ravages of rain and other precipitation. These risks can be almost entirely eliminated with the installation of a high-quality stainless steel chimney cap to preserve your chimney system’s health for the future.

Fireplace Damper Repair

As chimney systems age, dampers are usually the first to go. The throat damper’s delicate mechanisms are threatened by rain and moisture from above and heat and smoke from below. Even at their best, older dampers are only reasonably effective at preventing your house’s cool or warm air from escaping up the chimney. With repeated exposure to heat, moisture, and time, the dampers rust and warp and fail to effectively seal the fireplace.

To solve this problem, we are able to install a variety of energy-saving top-sealing dampers. Like a normal throat damper, these dampers are conveniently opened and closed from inside the fireplace.

These highly effective dampers can do a lot: improve your home’s efficiency and energy bills, prevent cold drafts and bad smells from coming down your chimney, prevent debris and precipitation from entering the chimney, block animal entry, and improve the air temperature in rooms around the chimney.

Masonry Waterproofing

Chimneys spend their life exposed to the elements. The Brick Industry Association recommends special attention and maintenance to prevent water penetration and subsequent damage.

Without this attention, sponge-like bricks and improper or defective mortar joints will soak up water and wick that moisture inside the chimney. From rain and precipitation to wind and Texas heat, chimneys often suffer from water damage which leads to erosion and spalling…which can lead to further problems throughout your entire system. Fortunately, a few simple preventive measures can eliminate the need for costly repairs and rebuilds.

We prevent water penetration in your chimney with a special water repellent specifically designed for chimneys. Studies show that this water repellent reduces water penetration into the chimney by 99.9%, and unlike most products, this is 100% vapor-permeable to allow water vapors to escape from the brick when the chimney is in use or dries out.

Chimney Relining

Some flues are in such bad shape that they must be relined to be used. This may be because of cracks or gaps in the flue that allow harmful carbon monoxide gas to leak into your house or expose combustibles and framing to dangerous heat.

Additionally, if you have a new fireplace insert installed, you must have a lining that matches the insert’s exhaust port size. An insert venting into a too-large flue is inefficient, finicky, and a severe fire hazard… As the smoke exhausts from the insert, it lingers in the larger chimney and leaves massive deposits of soot and creosote on the cooler chimney and smoke chamber walls. The danger is hidden – until a chimney fire erupts.

The solution for any of these problems is to reline your chimney. Generally speaking, the reline will consist of placing a flexible stainless steel tube inside your chimney and connecting it to your fireplace or insert. Depending on your situation and the type of chimney system you have, there are a variety of specific options to ensure you have the best protection for your home and family.

Fireback Repair

Major cracks in your firebox and fireback can quickly become a dangerous situation. Your fireback plays a key part in keeping your fireplace operating safely, and it should be able to withstand the extremes of fireplace heat.

In a masonry fireplace, cracks in the fireback can be caused by several factors, but water leaks is a common culprit. Water leaking into the fireplace combines with ash and soot to create a caustic lye-like mixture that eats away at the mortar. Without the mortar holding the bricks together, the fireplace will, quite literally, fall apart.

In a factory-built system, the firebacks are a lot thinner. Due to their thinness, they’re very susceptible to being damaged by wood falling down or being carelessly thrown in the fireplace. With a damaged fireback, framing studs and other combustible materials around the fireplace are dangerously exposed to the fire’s heat.

Each type of fireplace will have its own requirements and repair options, ranging from replacing factory-built panels to potentially rebuilding the masonry firebox.

What Are Common Gas Fireplace Repair Services?

There’s no denying gas fireplaces excel in convenience and efficiency, but that doesn’t mean they won’t experience issues from time to time. Fortunately, we offer a long list of gas fireplace repair services for those in Temple, Killeen, and anywhere else surrounding. If you’re experiencing any of the following issues, give us a call:

• The pilot light won’t stay lit or refuses to ignite.
• The ignition system fails to start the fireplace or delays ignition.
• The gas valve is stuck, leaking, or malfunctioning.
• The thermocouple or thermopile fails, preventing the pilot light from staying on.
• Gas is leaking around the fireplace or in the gas lines.
• You’re experiencing uneven flames, low flame output, or complete burner failure.
• The fan or blower makes noise or isn’t circulating air efficiently.
• The remote control or wall switch doesn’t operate the fireplace.
• The glass doors are cracked or discolored.
• The gas logs have shifted or become damaged.
• There’s excessive soot buildup on logs, burners, or the glass.
• Blocked, leaking, or damaged vents are leading to improper exhaust.
• You’re experiencing Issues with temperature control or inconsistent gas flow.

Call Us Out for Chimney Damage Solutions in Killeen, Temple & More

At Ables Top Hat, we understand the importance of a well-maintained chimney and fireplace in keeping your home safer and more comfortable. Our skilled technicians are committed to providing the highest level of service and craftsmanship, ensuring that every repair meets our rigorous standards of quality.

Trust us with your chimney and fireplace repairs and join the many satisfied customers in Central Texas who have made Ables Top Hat their go-to provider for dependable, expert service. Contact us today to schedule an appointment, and let us help you keep your home warmer and safer all year round.