What to Do About Springtime Chimney Leaks
When the snow and ice start to melt, many homeowners in the Tilton, NH, area start to notice a few chimney leaks. Though not uncommon after a hard winter, leaks should be addressed sooner rather than later.
Fire N’ Stone serves all of Belknap County, NH, with chimney inspections, repairs, and leaky chimney troubleshooting. Here’s some helpful info on how to handle chimney leaks.
Chimney leaks vs. roof leaks
Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether the leak originates in the roof or the chimney. In either case, you should schedule an inspection with a licensed chimney technician to understand exactly what’s happening.
Water and moisture in the attic can come from a roof leak, a chimney leak, or water spilling through the space where the chimney and roof meet.
Classic chimney leaks
Chimney service workers consider any situation where water is moving through any part of a chimney to be a chimney leak. The following leaks are commonly found as spring starts to thaw things out.
Flashing leaks
The flashing that seals the gap between the chimney and the roof can become unseated, rusted, and warped. Melting snow and rain can then flow down into unseen areas of the home and affect the chimney masonry, walls, ceilings, flooring, and other materials.
Masonry leaks
Water can seep into a chimney’s cracked bricks and crumbling mortar, causing ongoing damage. The initial concern is brick deterioration and mortar that falls out of the spaces between the bricks. In extreme cases, the leak can cause damage to the chimney liner, the fireplace damper, and the roof.
Leaks through the top of the chimney
If you run your chimney without a chimney cap, water and snow (as well as animals and tree debris) can easily enter the flue. A cap that’s warped or loose can also let water in and potentially damage the chimney liner, damper, and firebox.
Leaks through a damaged crown
The chimney crown is made of concrete and covers the entire top of the chimney, except for the flue opening. The crown’s job is to stabilize and protect. When cracked or deteriorated, water and melting snow can begin a cycle of damage in the uppermost bricks below the crown and in various interior areas of the chimney.
What to watch for
Fortunately, chimney leaks give signs. Here are some to watch for.
- Damp patches on the ceiling or walls near the chimney
- Water in the firebox
- A rusty, squeaky damper
- Musty odors in the attic or coming from the fireplace
- White stains, called “efflorescence,” on the exterior chimney bricks
- Obvious and significant chimney structural damage, including a leaning chimney
If you spot any of these leaky chimney signs, call your chimney company and schedule an inspection. Your inspector will determine where the leak is coming from, why it’s happening, and what to do about it.
Safeguard your chimney
You can reduce the likelihood of a chimney leak by:
- Having your chimney inspected once a year by a licensed chimney professional
- Seeing to all recommended repairs and component replacements as soon as they’re needed
- Waterproofing your chimney with a top-grade sealant
Tilton, NH chimney repairs
Fire N’ Stone provides repairs for leaky chimneys and all other problems. Let us inspect your chimney and find out what’s happening so we can get it fixed correctly.
Speak with a chimney expert in Tilton, NH, by phone or through our contact form.
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