Summer Storms & Chimney Damage

If you’ve lived in Florida for very long, you know how aggressive our summer storms can be. They can affect everything, including your chimney.

Doodlebuggers Fireplace, Grill & Outdoor Store of Pensacola, FL, and Destin, FL, would like to share a little about the type of damage summer storms can do to a chimney, how you can spot this damage, and how to restore beauty and safety to your chimney.

Damage To The Chimney And Its Components

Violent winds, lightning, hail and incessant rain can cause a lot of problems for chimneys and their components. Here are some examples.

Masonry

Extreme weather can crack a chimney’s masonry and allow water to move into the system. Intruding water can affect the chimney liner, interior masonry, the fireplace damper, the firebox and materials of the home. Severe damage will make the entire chimney structure unstable. The result can be a chimney that leans to one side or collapses entirely.

Chimney Crown

The concrete chimney crown at the top of your chimney is prone to cracking over time. Severe storms that include powerful hail and lightning can accelerate this problem. A broken chimney crown may allow water and debris to move into unseen areas of your chimney.

Chimney Flashing

The flashing that seals the gap where the roof meets the chimney must be secure to keep water out of spaces below the roof. Heavy-duty summer storms often unseat flashing or cause it to warp or bend. Damaged flashing can lead to rotting in home building materials, chimney masonry deterioration and mold growth.

Chimney Caps And Chase Tops

These components are in place to keep water, debris and small animals out of the chimney. If they become damaged by powerful storms, big problems are likely to result. Animal nests and tree debris can narrow the flue and cause smoke and carbon monoxide to back up into your home. Incoming water can cause damage to many parts and areas of the chimney system.

What To Look For

After a bad storm, it’s a good idea to do a visual inspection of your chimney. Look for:

• Cracked or missing bricks
• Crumbling mortar joints
• A leaning chimney
• Damage to the chimney crown, chimney flashing and chimney cap
• Stains and dampness on the ceiling and walls near the chimney
• Strong musty odors coming from the fireplace
• Water in the firebox

Addressing Summer Storm Chimney Damage

If you notice signs of damage following a storm, contact your local chimney professional. Even if you don’t see obvious damage, it’s a good idea to schedule a proper chimney inspection after a major storm.

Chimney damage can be repaired and components can be replaced. Masonry can be fixed by replacing damaged bricks and filling in areas of missing mortar through a process called tuckpointing. Water leaks can be sealed. Interior damage can be dealt with correctly to restore soundness, safety and efficiency to your chimney system.

Call Doodlebuggers After The Storm

The experienced crew at Doodlebuggers is standing by to help keep your chimney in excellent shape. We provide chimney sweeping, chimney inspections and a full menu of chimney repairs and component replacements.
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.