You have water coming into the house and don’t understand why. Could it be a roof leak? A hole or crack in the wall? Nope, chances are it could be your leaking chimney. Chimney’s are an important part of the home and if not taken care of properly can begin to accumulate repair costs that can bring headaches. Trying to understand how this leak happened can seem like an impossible task, but we’ve made it easier for you to determine the main source of the problem.

Why Is My Chimney Leaking?

We’ve decided to break down the different reasons why water could be leaking from your chimney so you can put a stop to it immediately and help prevent any future damage.

Chimney Cap

Although a chimney cap is an accessory, it plays a critical function. Often times the source of a leak can be as simple as not having a chimney cap installed or having a faulty chimney cap that needs to be repaired. A chimney cap helps keeps rain water from pouring down your chimney, which can ultimately lead to water damage, mold and mildew. Debris such as leaves and branches can also get into your chimney, but with a chimney cap you can prevent debris from accumulating. Several animals like birds and squirrels build their nests in chimneys but sometimes have a problem getting out. They can eventually get trapped in the chimney and die, causing a dead animal in chimney situation and end up releasing an accumulation of unpleasant odors. By having a chimney cap in place you can keep wildlife from entering your chimney.

Cracked Crown

A chimney crown is the cement slab surface at the top of a chimney that covers the top of your chimney. It prevents water from flowing into the chimney brick walls by redirecting the water to fall to the roof or ground.  When cracks develop in the crown, water can begin to seep in between the flue lining and the chimney, causing damage to your ceilings and walls.

Chimney Mortar

Mason mortar is a mix used for building chimneys and repairing them. A chimney mortar will typically last up to 25 years, but when it starts deteriorating this can cause unwanted moisture to form within the overall chimney structure and foundation.

Chimney Flashing

Chimney flashing is the sheet metal that keeps the connection between the chimney and roof watertight to prevent separation and leakage. The flashing consists of two metal panel parts, the step or base flashing and counter flashing. Your flashing should be inspected regularly as rust can start to form around it and cause small holes that can be difficult to locate.    

How Serious Is A Leaking Chimney?

It is extremely important to take care of your leaking chimney as soon as possible to alleviate damage to not only the foundation of your chimney, but your roof, home and health as well. If left neglected, your leaking chimney can soon lead to the following costly problems:

• Water can begin to buildup in walls. Once water gets into the walls, it damages every type of finish, including plaster, wallpaper, paneling, and paint.
• Mold develops with moisture. As soon as mold forms and spreads to the wood in your house this can soon start to negatively affect the overall health of everyone in the home.
• Moisture causes wood to rot. Not only will the wood need to be replaced, but the moist wood attracts unwanted carpenter ants, rodents, and termites.
• Water leaks are not static. The moisture easily spreads throughout the entirety of your chimney and eventually into parts of your home causing even more damage than you initially thought. 

Capitol Chimney Professionals Can Fix Your Leaking Chimney

If you need help finding the source of the leak, schedule an appointment or call a professional from Capitol Chimney to inspect your chimney. Once our specialist has thoroughly inspected your chimney and located the source of the problem, we can then take the necessary steps to repair your chimney back to normal. There’s no need to worry about a leak when you have the pros at Capitol Chimney to help.