How To Fix a Leaking Chimney 

Without a doubt, water is the most destructive thing a chimney can encounter. A leak in your chimney will let water infiltrate it and cause widespread damage. The part of your chimney above your roof is exposed to elements such as rain, sleet, snow, fog, and dew. Your masonry chimney was put together with porous materials that drink in moisture like a sponge does. If not addressed, your leaky chimney could crumble; if that wasn’t bad enough, it could cause damage to your roof and ceiling by rotting them. Moisture in your fireplace and ceiling can also lead to mold growing in your attic and walls. If you have seen dark patches around the ceiling and walls near your fireplace, it may already be too late; mold is present. With all of that in mind, here is how to fix a leaking chimney.

Clear Signs You Have a Leaking Chimney

As we already discussed, a leaking chimney can be hazardous and needs to be dealt with quickly. Check for these signs if you suspect that you have a leaking chimney:

• Water collecting in your fireplace’s firebox.
• Black mold on the outside of your masonry chimney.
• Dark stains on the ceiling and walls near your fireplace.
• Spalling is when the bricks or stone in your chimney become loose or begin to crumble.

You most likely have a leaking chimney if you notice any of these signs. If you want your chimney to keep standing, then it needs to be repaired right away.

What are Some Ways to Fix a Leaking Chimney?

Add a Chimney Cap

Uncovered chimneys are at the mercy of weather like rain, snow, hail and sleet. Installing a chimney cap can protect the top or crown of your chimney and flue from all these things. It’s an affordable and simple way to prevent chimney leaks. Having a qualified and experienced chimney sweep service install a chimney cap is an excellent way to prevent leaks.

Repair a Cracked Chimney Crown

A chimney crown is a cement slab at the apex of your chimney, encasing the area around its flue. In the same way brick and stone can become cracked and broken by constant exposure to water, so can your chimney’s crown. If a chimney crown develops cracks, it is a certainty water will find its way inside and inflict damage during freeze-thaw cycles, widening the cracks. Cracks at the pinnacle of your chimney will take on more water than vertical bricks or stone on the chimney’s exterior. Our chimney sweeps will be able to quickly repair cracks in your chimney’s crown and protect your home and fireplace.

Install Flashing

A component in constructing your chimney called flashing protects your roof from water where it meets the chimney. It could be made out of copper, aluminum, or galvanized steel. In some cases, it can be made from PVC. Flashing is put around your chimney to seal gaps and keep water out. Water can get in between your chimney’s bricks and your roof without flashing. Your chimney leak could be caused by not having flashing; stopping the leak is as simple as installing chimney flashing.

Chimney Liner Repair

If your chimney liner has been perforated, the results could be catastrophic. A damaged chimney liner will allow moisture inside from your chimney’s bricks, which will cause cracking and lead to a leaking chimney. There are additional dangers from a damaged chimney liner, such as toxic fumes getting into your home or igniting a fire in the structure of your house. Installing a new chimney liner, likely stainless steel, will quickly rectify the situation.

Dubuque Fire Place and Patio is the Leaking Chimney Expert

As you have read, ignoring a leaking chimney can be catastrophic. Contact us right away if you suspect you have a chimney leak. We will inspect your chimney, find the source of the leak, and quickly repair it while treating your home as if it were our own. Let us ensure your chimney is in good shape for years to come.