How To Repair Chimney Leak Behind Wall

Many homeowners don't realize that their chimney requires regular maintenance in the course of inspections and cleanings. Usually, these homeowners are blissfully unaware of the importance of chimney maintenance until they finish up with a chimney leak. Periodic heavy rains oftentimes result in the demand for chimney repairs in Washington DC homes. Chimney service companies like ours ofttimes receive these types of service calls. Chimney leaks can exist quite damaging and costly if non caught early. It is important for homeowners to be aware of the most mutual causes of chimney leaks, how to avoid them, and what to do in the event of a leak.

Common Causes of Chimney Leaks

Chimney leak repair is ane of our most popular chimney services. A chimney leak occurs when h2o is allowed to bypass the liner of the chimney and find its way into your home. The resulting water impairment can be expensive to repair, particularly if information technology has been going on for a long time and has reached the wood framing of your habitation's walls. Accept a moment to become familiar with these mutual causes of chimney leaks. From there, y'all tin accept steps to avoid them in your own home.

leaking chimney crown

Cracked Chimney Crown

A chimney crown refers to the cement role that runs along the elevation of a chimney and wraps around the vent. Crowns are very constructive at keeping moisture away until they brainstorm to scrap and crevice, which is inevitable over time. When cracks course in the chimney crown, water can gradually begin to make its mode down the chimney flue and direct into your habitation.

Not all chimneys have crowns (some has covers, as will be explained in the next section). However, if your chimney has a crown, it's a skilful idea to inspect information technology at least once a year for cracks and fries. If you alive in an area that sees all four seasons, the best time to inspect is during the spring, as h2o freezes and thaws in even tiny cracks during the winter months.

Pocket-size cracks can occasionally be caulked and patched, though more than extensive harm may call for a full replacement of the crown by an experienced chimney repair company. The all-time chimney repair companies use floating bandage crowns or big chimney caps that encompass the crown and flue.

Lack of Chimney Cover

For chimneys that don't accept a cement crown, at that place should be a chimney cover in identify. These covers are usually made of metal or aluminum and are placed directly on top of the chimney vent with a tight fit around the vent itself. These covers prevent rain and other precipitation (not to mention pests) from traveling directly down into your chimney simply have ventilation built into the sides to allow proper ventilation (specially while you're using your fireplace).

Unfortunately, chimney covers can become missing or deteriorate over time. This is especially common in older covers that are fabricated of metal, which can rust and corrode. The good news is that replacing a missing cover is relatively simple and inexpensive when done by a reputable chimney repair company.

Bad Roof Flashing

Perhaps the nearly common cause of chimney leaks in residential buildings is that of bad roof flashing. When roofing is installed on a home with a chimney, a waterproof fabric known as flashing is installed effectually the chimney before the roofing shingles are put on tiptop. Unfortunately, poor installation or even deterioration over fourth dimension tin render flashing ineffective. There are several things that can cause chimney flashing to leak.

When this occurs, water can seep into the chimney flue correct effectually the base of the chimney where it meets the roof of the habitation. This is a repair that tin can be completed by a covering or chimney company, every bit new flashing volition demand to be installed.

Cracks in Brick and Mortar

Chimneys are ordinarily constructed of brick that is held together by mortar, and these are very durable materials. All the same, over time, the cement holding the brick and mortar together can crack and crumble (but equally information technology tin can on chimney crowns). When this occurs on the chimney structure itself, water can penetrate the chimney and gradually, the structural integrity of the chimney tin even exist lost. If y'all tin can see cracks or "wavy" areas of your home's chimney, at that place's a good take chances that this type of leak is already happening. Because brick is a naturally porous material, information technology's not a matter of "if" brick will somewhen give way to bully and crumbling, but "when." Applying a special brick sealant to the chimney is a temporary manner to stop water from entering your dwelling, simply eventually, a long-term solution volition need to exist done by a chimney repair service.

chimney leak from spalling brick

Telltale Signs of Chimney Leaks

The best mode to avert chimney leaks is to accept your chimney inspected at least in one case a twelvemonth for the most common causes. Nevertheless, in between inspections, there are some "red flags" homeowners should watch out for that could betoken the start of a leak in the home.

Signs of a potential leak

Spots of Discoloration

Earlier the paint starts to peel, yous may as well notice odd, discolored spots on ceilings or walls near a chimney flue in the abode. On a white ceiling or wall, these spots will appear yellowish or tan. They will darken over time as water impairment becomes more widespread and serious.

Chimney Settlement or Collapse

While getting up on summit of your roof and inspecting your chimney yourself may not be brash, you can deport a quick visual inspection of your chimney from the ground in most cases. If your chimney appears to exist tilting to 1 side, warped, or visibly settling, y'all're well-nigh probable going to have water leaking into your home.

Wood and Framing Rot

When water damage inside the home progresses, you lot could fifty-fifty stop up with more than serious structural issues, including rotting out of the wood that makes up your dwelling house's framing. The almost obvious sign of rotted framing will be bulging or warped drywall, but only ripping out the drywall and inspecting the framing underneath will determine the extent of the impairment. In some cases, mold or mildew volition also get an outcome in the home when this occurs.

Peeling Paint or Wallpaper

Ane of the most common signs of a chimney leak is that of peeling pigment or wallpaper within the home near the chimney flue itself. Homeowners may discover peeling or bubbling paint around a dwelling house'southward fireplace, which is likely caused by moisture inside the flue. If you lot have wallpaper on the walls near your fireplace, y'all may too notice it beginning to chimera or peel, especially at points where two pieces of wallpaper come together.

What to Do if You Accept a Chimney Leak

If you discover any signs of a chimney leak, the only course of action is to contact a professional chimney repair company. Chimney leaks are not something you can repair on your own, and of form, climbing onto your roof can exist dangerous. When yous call a professional chimney repair company that meets professional standards like these, y'all can have the peace of listen that the problem will be fixed. The water leaks will stop and time to come water damage will be prevented. A chimney repair specialist will exist able to determine the cause of your leak and advise you lot on how any water damage inside your home should be repaired.

Common Chimney Repairs

chimney crown repair or replacement
Repair of Brick and Mortar Cracks
replacement of chimney liners
chimney cover repair or replacement
replacement of flashing around the chimney

chimney repair technician

Furthermore, a professional chimney service volition be able to propose y'all on additional services to protect your dwelling house, chimney, and fireplace. For example, many companies offer chimney fireproofing, which involves the sealing of the chimney structure itself to arrive less susceptible to damage from water, such as great and crumbling. A special sealant must be used to fireproof the chimney, every bit it is necessary for the sealant not simply to keep water from getting in only for continuing to let gasses to escape. In other words, the sealant must allow the brick to retain its porous construction to gasses but not to water. Waterproofing a chimney is a complex job that should only be done past an experienced professional.

In that location are so many dissimilar issues that can lead to a disastrous h2o leak in your chimney, just the adept news is that they're all 100% preventative with simply a little maintenance and care. Be certain to have your chimney and fireplace inspected past a professional at least once a twelvemonth, and you'll exist able to avoid many of these issues. Furthermore, if you ever spot signs of a chimney leak, don't hesitate to call a chimney repair service to get things under control before the leak causes widespread and costly harm to your home.