Reasons Your Chimney May Be Leaking

You probably have a chimney leak if you hear water dripping in the chimney or if there are musty odors coming from your fireplace after it rains. There are other reasons why your chimney may be leaking, and professional chimney sweeps know what to do about it. The first thing they will do is to determine where the leak is coming from, but that’s not always easy. You’ll probably understand the difficulty after reading the following reasons a chimney leaks.

Chimney Cap or Chase Top

The top of your chimney should have a chimney cap or, if it’s a manufactured fireplace, a chase top. Chimney caps and chase tops keep water out of your flue, but the job isn’t done well if the accessory has rusted. Chase tops tend to rust because they are covered with a metal top.

Chimney caps can also leak, but it’s usually because there has been damage caused by extreme weather. Chimney caps eventually wear out and need to be replaced, too. If it is no longer keeping water from getting into the chimney flue, that’s one of the reasons why your chimney may be leaking.

Brick Saturation

All the different components of the chimney contribute somehow to keeping moisture out of the chimney system. Those components often fail and need repair. The chimney crown, for instance, tends to develop cracks, which leads to moisture getting into the bricks below. If mortar deteriorates and you don’t replace it, brick saturation will cause you to have to replace the bricks instead. When water intrusion occurs, you can expect to have a chimney leak eventually. Unfortunately, it isn’t evident right away, which means the damage will worsen until the root problem is fixed.

Chimney Flashing

If chimney components were links in a chain, the chimney flashing might be the weak link. The metal portion of the chimney is often the source of chimney leaks. One reason is because the chimney flashing is difficult to install correctly. Even if it’s done right, weather could cause it to pull away from the brick structure and allow water intrusion in the masonry. It’s one of the most common reasons why your chimney may be leaking. Sometimes, the nails in the flashing become rusted, and it causes a roof leak that’s hard to detect.

Symptoms of a Leaky Chimney

Chimney leaks often occur for a long time before you know about it. The following are some of the indications that your chimney might be leaking:

Water stains are on the ceilings or walls around the chimney
There is water or evidence of condensation in the firebox
You can see spalling on interior or exterior masonry, which means that the brick face pops or flakes off

How to Prevent Chimney Leaks

Chimney leaks can be avoided. Fire safety experts recommend annual chimney inspections, and they are also an excellent preventative maintenance plan. Certified chimney sweeps make a thorough visual inspection of your chimney and let you know about problems before they become invasive and expensive.

Guardian Chimney Sweep Fixes Leaky Chimneys

At Guardian Chimney Sweep LLC our technicians are certified chimney professionals. They know the different reasons why your chimney may be leaking and can pinpoint the cause. Call us if you have a leaky chimney or want to schedule chimney cleaning, a chimney inspection, masonry repair, or fireplace installation. We offer a satisfaction guarantee. Contact us via our online contact form or call us today at one of the following numbers.

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