leaky chimney - Ask The Chimney Sweep

Got a Leaky Chimney? A Leaky chimney is no April Fools joke, with Spring just around the corner the rainy season will be upon us! Keep this video and hope that you never have to use it! In Cincinnati? Schedule an appointment and let's check out your chimney! 1. Moisture coming in from the top So this isn’t hard to imagine especially when there isn’t a chimney cap. Even though chimney caps and rain shrouds are accessories, they are still necessary. Not only does it keep out birds, animals and debris out, but it also keeps rain out. Rain water comes straight from the top of the chimney flue, and leaks down and creates moisture problems. The types of damage caused by rain pouring into the flue include a rusted firebox, rusted damper, and a damaged flue lining. The moisture can also cause strong odors from the fireplace, especially during warmer months. So, a simple solution to rain in the chimney is to have a chimney cap or rain shroud installed. Whichever is appropriate for your heating unit. One of the most important value of a chimney cover is it keeps the chimneys from getting blocked. This can cause CO poisoning. (Check out our blog on CO poisoning for more information). 2. Leaks from a damaged chimney crown The chimney crown is at the cement part at the very top of the chimney where the masonry ends, the chimney crown covers the top of the masonry and forms a waterproof seal all the way around the flue. Then the crown is made with cement, and cracks can form due to shifting of the structure, freezing and thawing cycles in wintertime, from age, or shrinkage dating back to the first day the crown was put on. When your crown has cracks, the water goes right through those cracks. 3. Condensation, Leaking from Inside Out Even when you try a chimney cover, flashing or even rebuilding the top of your chimney, the problem of condensation cannot be fixed. To fix the problem, you might have to resize the loner. Some places along the way a gas furnace was installed, the chimney is not lined with a properly sized liner. So the fumes of the gas were condensing on the inside of the chimney and soaking the bricks and keeping them moist all the time. This can be easily fixed by a chimney liner. 4. Flashing that is not Watertight The flashing may not be watertight. So this can be caused by faulty installation or deterioration. Flashing is the metal pieces used to form watertight connections between the chimney and the roof. When the flashing weakens or hasn’t been correctly installed, water can get in the chimney flue and make wood rot, attic damage, roof damage or even ceiling damage. Then you should have your chimney checked annually. Along with checking your attic regularly for signs of leakage around the chimney area. Flashing leaks are common problem. So make sure you watch out for it. Check out our YouTube channel and blogs with Ask the Chimneysweep! Read more about carbon monoxide poisoning. https://askthechimneysweep.com/2016/02/get-bucket-chimney-leaking/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDKaMuGOIb8 ? Affiliate Disclosure I NEVER recommend a product or service that I don't personally use (and love) myself but just to be totally transparent you should know that some of the links on my site ARE affiliate links and I DO make a small commission from any sales that are made. Thanks for your support!