What is a Leaky Chimney?
Are you asking, “What is a leaky chimney?” on a need-to-know basis? If so, you should only trust experts like the CSIA-certified chimney sweeps at Chimney Saver Solutions for no-nonsense answers and dependable services. Anytime moisture infiltrates a chimney masonry system, the result is a chimney leak. There are numerous causes of chimney leaks, but they result in the same types of fixes. Affected bricks will need to be replaced, and the source of the leak needs to be repaired, replaced, or rebuilt.
Where Do Chimney Leaks Start?
Because masonry is vulnerable to moisture, virtually every chimney component is designed to help keep water from infiltrating the bricks. Unfortunately, every part of the chimney is subject to deterioration. Chimney leaks can start due to any of the following issues and more:
- The chimney crown is cracked
- Mortar is deteriorating and flaking off
- Chimney flashing is warped or incorrectly installed
- There is no chimney cap at the top of the flue
- The chimney masonry is cracked, perhaps due to storm damage
What are the Essential Problems Caused by Moisture?
It is disastrous when water gets into brick masonry. During freezing and thawing cycles in winter, the water inside bricks expands and contracts. The movement breaks down the bricks. They will go flat, which could result in a leaning or collapsed chimney.
In addition to destroying bricks, chimney leaks result in the following problems, all of which develop over time:
- Water causes the firebox to rust
- Water stains develop on interior ceilings and walls
- Deteriorated or cracked chimney liner
- Rotting adjacent wood
- Because of rust, the damper won’t open or close completely
- White staining called “efflorescence” is on the chimney exterior
How to Prevent Chimney Leaks
There are ways to prevent major expenses related to fixing chimney leaks. If you keep up with annual chimney inspections, you can learn about small problems and get repairs to prevent them from becoming huge expenditures.
In addition, after chimney experts have verified that you don’t have a leaky chimney, they can apply chimney waterproofing. It is essential to hire chimney professionals for the application of waterproofing because it is vital to use materials designed to let the masonry “breathe” while helping to keep moisture out. Although water does not penetrate stone, a lot of mortar is used to bond the stones together on stone chimneys. So, waterproofing is a benefit for stone chimneys, too.
The Chimney Experts Can Fix Leaky Chimneys
At Chimney Saver Solutions, we are proud to provide the Richmond VA area with dependable, certified chimney technicians. The chimney sweep industry is unregulated, which can leave homeowners vulnerable to swindlers. Some people, having been told their chimney leaks, seek answers to the question, “What is a leaky chimney?” Unqualified fraudsters may not have a clue about how to fix a chimney leak, but they will often talk homeowners out of their money and provide nothing in return.
A leaky chimney is often a complex matter. At Chimney Saver Solutions, our chimney experts are prepared to fix chimney leaks, which could involve chimney flashing repair, a complete or partial masonry rebuild, chimney crown repair, or chimney cap installation.
A leaky chimney is usually a sign of long-term damage! Call us today or fill out our online form to schedule dependable chimney repair services.
