How to Prevent Water Damage in Your Chimney
Chimney water damage is one of the worst problems homeowners can run into. The Chimney Safety Institute of America says it best: “Water is your chimney’s biggest enemy, and a leaky chimney can lead to both interior and exterior deterioration and costly damage if neglected.” Finding water damage in your chimney can result in the deterioration of your chimney’s masonry, and it should not be ignored. Your chimney is made of mortar, brick, and stone, which all absorb water, making those materials easy to damage. This can result in your chimney falling, mold growing, or the warping of your floorboards. Luckily, you can avoid these costly, unsafe problems!
At Best Chimney Services, we’ve been committed to the safety and functionality of homeowners’ chimneys since 1989. Our chimney technicians are dedicated to ensuring you receive excellent, personalized services for your chimney concerns. Whether you’re dealing with chimney water damage or just need an annual chimney inspection, we’re here to help! Call us today to get the ball rolling. Until then, learn how to prevent water damage from occurring in your chimney.
Make Sure Your Chimney Crown Isn’t Damaged
A chimney crown is a slab of concrete that lives at the top of a brick chimney stack. The purpose of the chimney crown is to keep water out of your chimney. It’s your masonry’s first line of defense when faced with moisture. Therefore, if it’s damaged, water or snow can freely enter your chimney. A functioning chimney crown will provide water or snow with a downward slope exit away from the flue, to the edge of the crown. Give us a call to ensure your chimney crown isn’t damaged.
Ensure Your Chimney Cap Works (and That You Have One!)
A chimney cap, also known as a rain cover, is in charge of protecting the flue from collecting rainwater. Imagine it as an umbrella placed above your chimney crown. Your chimney cap will prevent water from entering the flue, where it prevents moisture and mold from building up in your home. The cap is also vital for preventing animals and birds from entering your chimney. Check out our chimney cap guide to learn more about this essential part of a chimney.
Repair Deteriorating Mortar and Brick
As we mentioned earlier, when water seeps into your chimney, it’s absorbed by your mortar and brick. Unfortunately, you can’t prevent harsh weather from deteriorating your chimney over a long period of time. However, there are steps you can take in order to make sure your mortar and brick are in the best condition they can be to avoid costly water damage. Visually check your mortar joints for unusual gaps or entry spots that would hold water—this is a sign that your mortar needs repair. If you don’t notice anything but are still concerned, don’t hesitate to call us! We can provide a thorough inspection of the masonry’s condition. We offer a range of masonry services to ensure your chimney’s masonry has a long life span.
Seal Your Chimney
This recommendation may sound obvious, but many homeowners aren’t aware of it. Sealing your chimney delays water damage over time by allowing water vapor to escape rather than get trapped and expand within the brick and mortar. Best Chimney Services offers professional-grade sealers that are 100% vapor permeable, which allows your chimney to breathe while staying protected. This is a great option for anyone with a brick chimney!
Book An Annual Chimney Inspection
All that’s left now is a chimney inspection! Book a chimney inspection at least once a year so that everything on this list can be checked by a licensed chimney technician. Our chimney technicians can verify whether or not these components are in proper working order and if they need repairs. They can also help identify any signs of water damage so you can avoid a major costly problem.
Contact Best Chimney Services to Protect Your Chimney
Don’t wait and let problems like chimney water damage get worse! We urge you to book an appointment with us so that we perform a routine chimney inspection to verify that all the components in your chimney are in working order. We want to hear about your concerns so that we can alleviate any problems before they cause damage to your home.
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