Chimney vs. Water
Every blog post, video and chimney professional will tell you water damage to a chimney is the worst and the most common damage your chimney will go through. Plants, our bodies and animals are made up of at least 70% water! Yet, our chimneys are not. Chimneys are heavily affected by rain, wind and everyday weather that we experience in the Chicagoland area. During our inspections, water damage to the chimney is the most common. It’s not always easy to spot, either. Sometimes, you can directly see it in the form of deteriorating masonry. Other times, your chimney professional might mention some rust or shaling inside the flue, or the metal pipe that runs directly from your fireplace to the outside. So, let’s see…Which of the below scenarios will the chimney win against water damage, and which will it will lose!
- Your chimney professional reports small cracks in the mortar on the outside of your chimney. It doesn’t sound too serious, it’s just a few cracks. Will the Chicagoland spring storms cause worse damage?
Unfortunately, the answer is yes. All it takes is a few cracks in the mortar caused by weather changes throughout the winter to start the deterioration process. As spring rolls into full force, you’ll see the cracks become bigger. High winds from dangerous storms with possible hail and powerful rain sit within the cracks, quickly eating away at the porous material. You’re in definite need of tuckpointing!
- You don’t need to use your fireplace anymore, because it’s getting warmer outside. When you’re closing up the fireplace, you notice a strange smell. It smells damp and musty. What happened?
This is a job for a chimney professional! If you’re noticing any musty smell coming from your chimney at any point of the year, it’s likely water has seeped into your chimney and settled. Mold and mildew began to grow. A chimney cap can prevent a lot of water from seeping into the chimney’s flue, but it doesn’t do a perfect job. Getting your chimney regularly inspected will help prevent mold and mildew growth.
- Your chimney professional recommended something called Chimney Saver. They applied this clear substance onto your chimney, and after a while, you’ve noticed your chimney looks dry and new! Did the chimney finally beat water?
Chimney Saver is a waterproofing agent. It’s designed to minimize masonry deterioration, prevent water penetration, and preserve any tuckpointing repairs that were made before application. In this case, yes, the chimney finally wins! Ask your Superior Chimney professional for additional information on applying Chimney Saver this spring, in preparation for the upcoming storm season.
Preparing For Water Damage from the Chimney
It looks like, without any prevention, water wins! With spring storms right around the corner, it’s the perfect time for water to start damaging the exterior and interior of your chimney. If you notice any cracks, deterioration, or musty smells already, it’s important to take care of these problems before they become worse. Care for any current water damage and protect it from the coming storms by calling Superior Chimney professionals for an inspection at 877-244-6349.
This post first appeared on https://www.superiorchimney.net
