What the Pros Know About Chimney Leaks

chimney water damage, lenexa ks A leaky chimney can be confusing, dangerous and possibly quite expensive to fix if the problem isn’t taken care of in the early stages. When getting estimates to have your chimney leak repaired, consider working with licensed, certified chimney professionals, who bring a wealth of knowledge to every job.

Here’s some of that knowledge.

What causes a leaky chimney?

Chimney technicians generally consider any situation in which water is infiltrating the chimney system a “chimney leak.” This includes water coming in from the top of the chimney due to damaged or missing chimney cap or water getting into bricks and mortar.

Here are some common direct and indirect causes of chimney leaks:

Damage to the masonry
Issues with the chimney cap or no cap in place
Cracked chimney crown
Warped or deteriorated chimney flashing
Earthquakes, house-settling, major hail storms
Improperly built chimney footing
Chimney fires
Gale-force winds
Ice dams around the chimney base

Get chimney leaks fixed quickly

What starts as a small leak in the chimney system will eventually turn into a major problem that could include widespread masonry deterioration as well as damage to building materials of your home near the chimney structure.

Leaky chimneys don’t get better – they get worse. Fortunately, a skilled chimney services professional can perform a thorough inspection and determine why the leak is happening, where it’s centered and what will be required to resolve it.

Spotting a leaky chimney

If you notice any of these common chimney-leak signs, now is the time to address the problem:

Water in the firebox – could be from major leaks in the masonry or water coming into the top of the flue

White staining on exterior bricks – usually means that water is penetrating the bricks, possibly through cracks

Crumbling mortar on the roof near the chimney – mortar-joint damage doesn’t necessarily mean the chimney is leaking, but it means it may start to before long

Damp sections of walls and ceiling – could point to a leak within the chimney system or some part of the roof

Musty smells coming from the fireplace – creosote and soot inside the flue will give off strong odors when excess moisture is present in the chimney liner

Chimney leak repair

waterproofing chimney, prairie village, ks Professional chimney companies have a variety of methods they can use to address and solve chimney leaks including:

Chimney waterproofing
Tuckpointing to replace compromised sections of masonry
Brick repair or replacement
Flashing repair or installation
Chimney cap repair or replacement
Chimney chase top repair or installation
Chimney crown repair or reconstruction

Start with a chimney inspection

If you notice any of the signs of a leaky chimney we listed above, your first step is to schedule a chimney inspection with a licensed professional. Do this prior to using your fireplace again.

Chimney inspections will zero in on the leak, and they also will spot other types of damage or malfunction within your chimney system that you may not know about. A good inspection is like a scorecard: it tells what’s working, what’s not and what it will take to get everything running safely and efficiently.

Fluesbrothers Chimney & Fireplace of Kansas City, KS, provides CSIA-certified chimney sweeping, chimney inspections and all types of leaky chimney repair and other repair and rebuilding services. Talk with a chimney expert today at (913) 236-7141.

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