Chimney Repairs in the Winter
Is it crazy to think about chimney repairs in the winter? It’s cold and snowy outside and the rooftops are solid white, coated with a layer of ice. A homeowner called us with a concern about her home. She reported that a small stream of water was coming down the chimney and into the firebox. To keep the water from flooding the firebox, the homeowner placed a Tupperware container to collect the water. Not a good look. Can chimney repairs in the winter be done by a certified chimney technician?
Chimney Repairs in the Winter
Chimney repairs can be completed in the winter, although it depends on what type of chimney repair is needed. Let’s take a quick look at the different chimney repairs in our cold winter months.
Chimney Cap: If your chimney cap comes loose, or if the winter winds knocked it out of place or blew it off completely, our certified chimney technician can go up on the roof and take care of the chimney cap for you with a chimney cap replacement. Our technicians follow the guidelines for safety, especially in the winter months when roofing systems are the slipperiest.
Flashing: Flashing is the connector from the roofing system to the chimney. It is the barrier that protects water from finding its way into your home. However, if the flashing becomes loose or comes away from the roof and chimney, it is open season for the rain to come directly into your home and create chaos.
Chimney Crown: The chimney crown is the slab of cement that sits on top of the chimney and right below the chimney cap. Hairline cracks can form in the chimney crown allowing water, melted snow, to enter. Even the smallest hairline crack can cause the melted snow to find the weak spot on the chimney crown and make its way into your home.
Remember, hairline cracks can and will grow in width and length with the freeze thaw cycles. When the melted snow freezes at night, it expands inside of the crack. If the temperatures cooperate in the daytime, it melts the snow. But remember, it doesn’t necessarily dry out inside of the crack. It can remain moist and freeze again at night.
Chimney Tuckpointing: Tuckpointing the chimney can be done in the winter, but it certainly isn’t an easy process as we’re dealing with wet mortar. Cracks can create an entry point for melted snow to enter, further deteriorating the mortar.
Although it is not optimal to perform chimney repairs in the winter, Superior Chimney takes precautions to ensure a safe and effective repair. Now the homeowner can get rid of the streaming water in the firebox and enjoy the rest of the winter with a warm and dry fireplace.
Be sure to contact us today if you have a water leak in your fireplace. If you would like to have your chimney inspected and checked for water leaks coming this spring, contact us today to schedule it up in March. This way, you’ll be all set and not compete with others in the Spring.
This post first appeared on https://www.superiorchimney.net
