Chimney Flashing: Protect Your Chimney from Spring Showers
Have you checked your chimney flashing this year? Or have it professionally checked by a certified chimney technician? After a humid, wet and cold winter and spring, it’s possible that your chimney flashing experienced some damage. Currently, Illinois is experiencing friendlier spring temperatures but as the saying goes: May flowers bring spring showers! Not many talk about the damage these spring showers can cause to your chimney flashing. If you haven’t yet checked your chimney flashing, now is the time before the summer’s hot, humid weather sets in. Any damages to your chimney flashing can create water leaks which turn into water damage inside your home. You can check for basic signs of damaged chimney flashing yourself, but it’s best to leave the inspection and repairs to Superior Chimney certified professionals.
What is Chimney Flashing?
In most chimneys made of masonry, there’s a layer of sheet metal installed between the roof and the chimney itself. This sheet of metal prevents water leaking into your house. Flashing can be made of aluminum, copper, steel or stainless steel. Flashing is made of 3 parts, all which must be installed correctly with waterproofing materials. If any of these parts are installed incorrectly, the flashing will break and cause water leaks. It’s not so easy to determine chimney flashing damage. After all, the flashing is located on the roof, so it’s easy to miss potential damages. A leak in the flashing is one of the most common causes of water leaks inside the home, so it’s important that you check the chimney flashing by contacting a certified chimney professional at Superior Chimney.
Signs to Repair Chimney Flashing
Here are 6 ways you can look for signs of problems with the chimney flashing.
1. Water stains on the ceiling around the chimney.
2. Water stains or molding in the attic.
3. Puddles in the fireplace.
4. Dripping water in the chimney. It’s easy to hear after a big spring storm.
5. Rust stains on the flashing. Condensation trapped in the metal flashing will cause rust stains and weaken the sealant properties of the flashing.
6. Discoloration of the bricks around the flashing.
These damages can be very serious if left untreated. Chimney leaks are usually not difficult to repair, but leaving them untouched can create structural damage. Leakage can create wood rot in your ceiling, which can weaken and fall, not the mention the insects that love to feast on damp or wet wood. Leakage can occur all year round, as snow and ice cause as much damage to the porous exterior of the chimney and the metal flashing as a spring rain storm.
What’s Next?
If there is any potential damage, it’s best to call a certified chimney professional as soon as you can. The buildup of damages can create serious issues down the line if not repaired in a timely manner. Spring showers will continue to wear down the flashing, chimney and inside of your home. The professionals at Superior Chimney will help identify and repair any damages to your chimney flashing. The first step is to set up a chimney inspection with us to assess the fireplace, chimney and chimney flue. To set up a certified chimney inspection, call Superior Chimney today at 877-244-6349.
This post first appeared on https://www.superiorchimney.net
