During the spring time, The Chimney Guy gets a lot of calls related to water issues. Among these issues is water leaking into the fireplace, water stains, rust, and odors. The combination of freezing winters followed by heavy spring rains is usually the culprit for a lot of these issues. Although you aren’t using your fireplace much in the spring and summer, it is still very important to address these water issues repairs now.
Leaks can quickly turn into larger issues, if not handled promptly. Rain during the warmer seasons can especially wreck havoc in your chimney masonry in the winter. At The Chimney Guy, our experience chimney technicians can protect your chimney from wet weather with our skills and experiences, keeping you dry when rain or snow arrives.
Wet weather and your chimney
Rain, snow, and humidity can cause a number of issues for your chimney and masonry. If rain or snow enters your chimney, it can mix with creosote on the inside of your chimney walls. This causes unpleasant odors in your chimney and home. Also, it can cause diluted creosote to drip down your chimney walls to stain your carpeting and walls.
A more severe issue occurs when water pools on your masonry. Your brick and mortar have tiny pores all over them, which allows water to soak into the masonry. Once water is inside the brick, it can pool and start to erode your masonry from the inside out. This problem is even more dangerous in the winter, if the water inside the brick freezes. Freezing water expand in the masonry, causing it to weaken until it eventually cracks, crumbles, or loosens. This is called the freeze/thaw cycle, and this is detrimental to your masonry.
Protect your chimney
There are a number of mechanisms that work together to protect your chimney from moisture. Chimney caps are the first line of protection against rain and snow. These devices cover your chimney opening, blocking rain or snow from entering. The cap sits on top of a mesh cage allowing smoke and hot air to exit your chimney. If you have a missing or damaged chimney cap or chase cover, you should install a new one immediately.
Your chimney flashing is strips of metal that covers the gap where your chimney intersects with the roof. This gap needs to be covered to prevent rain from flowing down the side of your chimney and into your home. If your chimney flashing is damaged or missing, water will have a free pathway into your home, which can lead to masonry damage and structural damage to your home. At The Chimney Guy, our experts can make sure your chimney flashing is doing a good job protecting your home. If it isn’t, we can repair or replace it for you.
Your chimney masonry absorbs moisture easily, causing masonry stains and masonry erosion. When this happens, it weakens the entire structure of your chimney. At The Chimney Guy, we use a product called ChimneySaver® water-repellent to seal your masonry and protect it from water.
We can help!
Is your chimney protected from water? Call The Chimney Guy at 920-830-1920, or schedule an appointment online to have one of our chimney experts inspect your chimney today! We look forward to helping you keep your chimney and home dry.
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