Is your chimney obviously leaning to one side? Do you think it may be leaning a little, but it’s hard to tell just by looking at it? Leaning chimneys are more common than most people realize, and many things can cause this problem.
Doodlebuggers Fireplace, Grill & Outdoor Store of Pensacola, FL, and Destin, FL, would like to share some helpful information about leaning chimneys, including what causes them and what to do about them.
If your chimney is really tilting, it will be obvious. But subtle, early shifting might not be as easy to see. One thing to look for is an opening in the flashing material that seals the gap between the roof and the chimney.
Also watch for brick damage and crumbling mortar, which can eventually cause a chimney to lean.
Most chimneys don’t go from straight to leaning over night. It’s a process, and you can stop the process early by keeping an eye on your chimney and scheduling annual inspections with a licensed chimney company.
Here are four of the most common causes of a leaning chimney:
The footing at the base of a chimney has to support thousands of pounds. If it was built incorrectly or if poor-quality materials were used in its construction, it may crack or shift under the weight, causing the chimney to tilt.
As with footings, if a chimney was built with cheap materials or by people who didn’t know what they were doing, there’s a chance that eventually it will start to falter and lean.
Major lightning strikes, hail storms, earthquakes and other so-called natural disasters can damage a chimney and set the stage for it to begin tilting to one side.
Houses settle periodically. Depending on the extent of the movement, a chimney can be pushed off balance.
Fortunately, most leaning chimneys get repaired before disaster strikes. But if they’re ignored, you could be in for some very serious problems, such as:
Chimney companies have several ways to address a leaning chimney.
Doodlebuggers can help with your leaning chimney problem. We’ll perform a thorough inspection and then report our findings to you, advising you on the best way to resolve the issue and restore strength, stability and safety to your chimney system.
Reach a chimney expert today at (850) 477-1151 in Pensacola, FL, or (850) 243-0154 in the Destin, FL, area. You can also get in touch with our handy contact form.