Don’t Delay in Repairing Chimney Leaks

A leaky chimney can be a nuisance with its musty odors and discolored masonry. But it can be a lot worse than a nuisance. A leaky chimney can progress to the point that it causes major chimney and house damage. It can also make the chimney dangerous to operate.

Doodlebuggers Fireplace, Grill & Outdoor Store of Pensacola, FL, and Destin, FL, would like to explain how chimney leaks happen, what they can do and how to resolve and prevent them.

Where chimneys leak

We use the term “chimney leak” to describe any situation in which water is entering a chimney system.

The majority of leaky chimney issues happen because of:

• • No chimney cap or a damaged cap
  • Deteriorated chimney crown
  • Cracks in masonry bricks
  • Crumbling mortar joints
  • Dislodged or damaged chimney flashing

Chimney leak damage

Depending on the location and extent of the leak, a leaky chimney can lead to widespread damage to the bricks and mortar that make up the chimney structure. The result can be a chimney that leans to one side or collapses entirely.

Incoming water can affect other areas and components, including:

• Chimney liner
• Nearby building materials of the home
• Fireplace damper
• Firebox

In addition to structural damage, a chimney leak can start a mold growth that spreads to other parts of the home.

Finally, if water gets into the actual flue passage, it will mix with creosote and soot and lead to some horrible odors.

How to recognize early signs of a leaky chimney

Here are six common signs to watch for:

1. Cracked bricks or crumbling mortar joints
2. White staining on the masonry (called “efflorescence” and indicates that water is penetrating the bricks)
3. Water in the firebox
4. Strong musty odors
5. Damp or discolored sections of the walls and ceiling near the chimney
6. A squeaky, hard-to-operate fireplace damper

What to do about a leaky chimney

Most chimney leaks, unless they were caused by lightning, an earthquake or some other unexpected event, start small. At this stage, they can be hard to spot for most homeowners, but not for a licensed chimney inspector.

Annual chimney safety inspections are important for many reasons, including to spot early signs of damage that can eventually make a chimney leak. If you know there’s a chimney leak, have a chimney services technician evaluate it and check for resulting issues in other parts of the chimney system. Once it’s understood where the leak is happening, why it’s happening and how much damage it has done, repair work can start.

Chimney leak repair can involve a variety of tasks, based on the nature of the leak:

• Repair or replacement of the chimney cap
• Chimney crown repair or rebuilding
• Masonry brick and mortar replacement
• Re-sealing the flashing or installing new flashing
• Repair or replacement of the fireplace damper
• Chimney liner repair or relining
• Masonry waterproofing

An experienced chimney company can do these and related jobs safely and correctly.

The solution for your leaky chimney

Doodlebuggers is ready to help fix any type of chimney leak you’re experiencing. We’ll diagnose the problem and repair it the right way. If you live in the Pensacola, FL, or Destin, FL, regions, give us a call. You can also connect by using our simple contact form.