What Causes Chimney Leaks?

Chimney leaks can cause costly damage to your home. Understanding what causes a chimney to leak and how to prevent leaks can save you money. In our experience as chimney sweeps in Maryland, following are the most common reasons chimneys leak:

Chimney crowns are made of cement and go around the top of the chimney where the flue enters your home. Water is invasive and finds weak points in your home’s exterior. Given time, a chimney crown begins to crumble and crack due to repeated weather exposure. Our chimney repair professional cleans and applies new cement to your cracked chimney crown to keep water out. Count on our specialists in brick repair in Annapolis, MD, and the surrounding areas to repair your chimney. In addition to chimney cleaning in Maryland our experienced crews also apply a protective crown coating to add to the lifespan and usefulness of your chimney crown.

Missing Chimney Cover

Chimney covers are an inexpensive and easy-to-install fix. These covers will stop rain, birds, squirrels and other animals from making a home in your chimney flue. Chimney covers come in various sizes, so hire a professional when you are unsure what size cap you need or if installing a cover seems like a dizzying experience.

Cracked Chimney Crown

Chimney crowns are made of cement and go around the top of the chimney where the flue enters your home. Water is invasive and finds weak points in your home’s exterior. Given time, a chimney crown will begin to crumble and crack due to repeated weather exposure. A chimney repair professional will clean and apply new cement to your cracked chimney crown to keep water out. Professional chimney sweeps will also apply a protective crown coating to add life to your chimney crown.

Unlined or Improperly Sized Lining

Older homes see a lot of chimneys that are installed with the wrong size liner or don’t have a liner at all. Improper or missing chimney liners can cause excess condensation and soak into the brick of the chimney until the water has nowhere else to go but into interior of your home. Homeowners can spend thousands of dollars trying to stop a leak from damaging their home’s walls.

Roof & Chimney Flashing

Where your roof and chimney meet, it is necessary to have metal flashing installed so water is channeled away from the mortar of the chimney. Chimney flashing is easy to install and helps prevent water from leaking through your roof and chimney.

Damaged Bricks & Chimney Mortar

Maryland’s winters and repeated exposure to water, snow and ice will eventually cause bricks and mortar to break down. A homeowner has a lot of options when this happens, although not every choice is created equal. Many chimney companies will promote certain waterproofing products, but chimneys are made out of brick for a reason and part of that reason is their porous nature. You could end up causing more damage than good if the wrong product is used. Another option is chimney rebuilding and repointing. These can be costly decisions. Make sure you hire a chimney repair professional you can trust and takes the time to explain their recommendations, your choices, and the costs of each.