Find The Source of Your Chimney Leaks

Have you noticed a musty or damp smell coming from your fireplace? Did you find water in the firebox? If you answered yes to either of those questions, your chimney likely developed one or more leaks along its structure. Water in your chimney can be highly destructive to it and your fireplace. What is the next step? Find the source of your chimney’s leaks. How do you find a leak in your chimney? Let’s take a closer look.

Why is Your Chimney Leaking?

Chimney leaks can develop for any number of reasons; among the most common are:

• Bricks that are cracked, broken, or missing.
• Mortar joints that are wearing away.
• A cracked chimney crown.
• Warped, damaged, or missing flashing.
• A damaged or missing chimney cap.

Any of these conditions can cause leaks, more than one, and your chimney may begin to crumble and collapse quickly.

How to Identify if Your Chimney has Leaks

As we mentioned earlier, water in the firebox and a damp, moldy smell are signs your chimney is leaking. A sign we didn’t mention is water stains; if you see dark, discolored spots on the ceiling and wall around your fireplace, there is a good chance a leak in the chimney caused them. You can also see signs like cracked, broken, or missing bricks on the chimney’s exterior. A white powdery substance on the exterior of your chimney means it has been absorbing water, and the bricks and mortar are slowly being broken down.

How to Confirm Your Chimney has Leaks

Flame master’s certified chimney sweeps can quickly identify and confirm the source of leaks in your chimney. We can find the cause of the leak or leaks and take steps to ensure that your chimney doesn’t develop leaks in the future.

What Happens if the Leaks are Ignored?

You never should ignore a leak; if left unchecked, it can wreak havoc on your chimney and become an expensive repair instead of a minor inconvenience. Here are some of the possibilities if a chimney that leaks isn’t repaired right away:

• A crumbling chimney that falls apart from the top down.
• A chimney that is wearing away at the base and lists to one side.
• A damaged chimney liner leaves your home open to the threat of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Black mold can spread to other parts of your home.
• Damage to your roof from the chimney collapsing.
• Ugly stains on your ceiling and walls will have to be painted.

Those are just a few problems that can develop if you don’t have existing chimney leaks fixed. The good news is that if FlameMaster inspects your roof annually, we can quickly recognize and treat leaks.

FlameMaster Can Identify and Repair Chimney Leaks

FlameMaster’s CSIA-certified and experienced chimney specialist can inspect your chimney to locate leaks and repair them as part of an annual cleaning. We can keep small leaks from becoming big headaches.

If you suspect your chimney is leaking, call us or fill out our contact form today. One of our staff members will schedule an inspection of your chimney, and our chimney sweeps will repair any leaks that are found. Don’t wait until your chimney has to be rebuilt. Get in touch today.