LEAKING CHIMNEY

Our full-time masonry crew has been helping Cincinnati, Dayton and Northern Kentucky residents prevent chimney damage for decades. A typical masonry chimney should have a very long life, but like most things and ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Read on to learn more about water damage and what you can do to protect your chimney.

Mortar and bricks by nature are porous, which means they let water in. Once water is inside, it can freeze and expand, which causes cracks or can even break the face of the brick off, otherwise known as spalling. Even hot dry weather can cause the chimney structure to shift, which can leave a way for water to get in later. In chimney crowns, small gaps may become big ones once water gets inside. Even if you do not end up with a structural problem, you could have staining, a loss of insulation value, and general deterioration.

A quick rundown of what we do when investigating leaky chimneys:

First, we evaluate is where the water is appearing. Sometimes the area shows up as discoloration in the drywall or wood structures around your chimney. Finding where the water is appearing helps us look for the water entry point.

Next, we examine the flashing, the roof around the chimney, the chimney cap and of course the condition of the chimney itself including the chimney crown.

COMMON CAUSES OF CHIMNEY LEAKS

A chimney with a missing cap is an invitation for the rain to come into your home. Caps keep birds, animals, and rain out of your chimney and out of your home. We’ll make sure your cap is present and installed properly.

Chimney crown cracks are a common source of chimney leaks. This concrete ‘roof’ of your chimney has the sole job of keeping water out of your chimney. Without a chimney crown, you would have a very large open surface area for water to enter your home. Chimney crowns are sloped to let the rain roll off and fall harmlessly onto your shingles. When a chimney crown is cracked or damaged from age or storm damage, water can get in. Chimney Works can fix cracked crowns by a simple repair and sealing, however, once the damage reaches a certain point, we may need to remove and re-lay the concrete chimney crown.

Chimney flashing stops water from going into your home where the chimney meets the roof. If the flashing has pulled away due to your house settling or was improperly sealed to begin with, we can either reseal your chimney flashing or install new flashing to prevent further leaking. This is a very common cause of chimney leaks. The bricks and mortar that make up your chimney can age and cause chimney leaks. We’ll inspect the bricks and mortar to make sure that everything is in order, and if required replace bricks or tuck point the mortar joints.

PREVENTION

Last, we examine the resistance to water of the brick and mortar itself. Applying a sealant will help ensure your chimney lasts longer.

This type of comprehensive troubleshooting approach allows us to make smart recommendations rather than just trying to make a quick sale and be on our way. Our certified technicians will go over their findings with you and make appropriate recommendations based on those findings.

Water penetration can lead to damage costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars to repair. Don’t let this problem go unresolved.

To learn more about water damage, visit our blog: Common Leaking Chimney Causes And How To Fix Them

Chimney Works has helped thousands of customers protect their chimneys throughout the years, however, we would like to emphasize that we cannot guarantee that any repairs we do will stop the water problem. Water is tricky and can have many entry points, some of which are out of our control. We always attempt to address problems in the least expensive way possible first, in accordance with our desire to never sell you anything you don’t really need.