Reasons Why Your Chimney is Leaking

Chimney leaks are common problems, and the following are four of the reasons why your chimney could be leaking. It’s best to avoid full-blown chimney leaks by taking care of chimney issues as quickly as possible. Timely chimney repairs prevent damage from worsening, which helps to keep chimney repair costs down.

1-Rusted Chimney Chase Cover

If you have a factory-built fireplace, you also have a wood-framed chimney chase. Chimney chase covers, also known as “chase pans,” are metal caps fitted atop the chimney chase, not unlike the lid of a shoebox.

The rectangular chimney chase cover often becomes rusted if water collects there instead of draining off. A rusted chimney chase cover can also cause the failure of the chase top, which encloses and terminates the chimney pipe. These issues can result in chimney leaks

2-Metal Flashing

Metal roof flashing or chimney flashing is installed to create a watertight seal between the roof and the chimney. It is difficult to install flashing correctly. When it’s done wrong, the natural result is a chimney leak that can do tremendous damage to your roof and your home interior. Even if the flashing is installed correctly, it has a certain lifespan after which it will rust. Chimney flashing is also prone to rust where it is attached to the roof with nails. In addition, extreme weather events could pull the flashing away from the chimney. Any or all of these events are possible reasons your chimney could be leaking.

3-Brick Saturation

Brick and mortar chimneys are highly porous and it’s not easy to keep water out. It’s an important thing to do, though. Moisture inside bricks causes their eventual collapse. Brick saturation can also cause dripping inside the chimney. If maintenance of your brick chimney is routinely neglected, moisture intrusion is among the top reasons your chimney could be leaking.

4-Chimney Crown Deterioration

The cement part at the top of the chimney is the chimney crown. The material chimney crowns are made with is prone to deteriorate and develop cracks. Failure of the chimney crown means water gets into the masonry system and wreaks havoc. A leaning chimney and a leaky chimney are both potential results of chimney crown deterioration.

Call Guardian for Chimney Leaks

Diligence in keeping up with chimney maintenance is important to prevent costly disasters such as chimney leaks. Annual chimney inspections that are recommended by fire safety experts provide money-saving benefits as well as enhanced home safety.

During an inspection, chimney sweep professionals gain roof access to determine whether any chimney components are deteriorating. With routine inspections, you can avoid something like a rusted chimney chase cover or any of the other possible reasons your chimney could be leaking.

The certified chimney professionals at Guardian Chimney Sweep offer chimney leak repair, chimney inspections, chimney cleaning, chimney flue replacement, masonry repair, masonry rebuilds, and fireplace installation. Wondering about the possible reasons why your chimney could be leaking? Contact Guardian today. Fill out our contact form or call us at any of the numbers below:

Toll-free: (888) 306-6069
Conroe: (936) 271-9781
Houston: (713) 401-2011