Chimney provides adequate ventilation for the fireplace that further helps them function properly. However, if you notice water dripping from the chimney during the rain, there is a leak somewhere. Chimney leakages can lead to huge damages that nobody wants to bear. Therefore, it is significantly better to understand the causes of chimney leakages and their solutions. Most importantly, if you see any chimney leakages, you can call professional chimney sweeps to find the exact spot of the leak.
Causes of Chimney Leakages
1) Water is dribbling from the top
One of the most ordinary chimney leakages comes from the top. You will notice rain is leaking through the top of the chimney. The most probable reason for this leakage is not having a chimney cap or having a damaged or cracked chimney cap. In addition, water entering your chimney can cause rusting on the fireplace’s damper, further deteriorating the chimney.
A properly installed chimney cap can prevent the rain and snow from entering your flue and causing leakages.
2) Impaired Chimney Crown
If point one is not appropriate in your case, check if you have cracks in your chimney crown. A chimney crown is a piece of cement that controls moisture from accumulating in between the spaces created by the flue lining and the masonry. A cracked chimney crown will allow the water to get into the flue and cause damage.
It will be wiser to immediately call the chimney and fireplace experts if you notice cracks in the chimney crown. If you do not treat them quickly, these cracks will grow gradually and severely damage your entire chimney. The skilled chimney experts will treat the cracked crown and prevent water leakage from the chimney.
3) Chimney leaks come in from the attic
If the chimney leaks come from the attic, they must be in the form of condensation. The whole theory behind it is that fireplaces produce gas fumes that contain moisture. This moisture gradually starts to condense and will be absorbed by the surrounding structure. All this can lead to water leakage entering the attic. Generally, this chimney leakage occurs during the summer when the stark contrast between the hot air and cold air leads to condensation.
The proper chimney inspection can detect this problem and stop it right there.
4) Cracked and Impaired Chimney Bricks
Cracks in masonry could lead to leaks in the chimney. Bricks are liable to observe water from the storms, this water freezes when the temperature drops. Due to this, cracks will start to develop, and when the water thaws, the cracks begin to leak.
Repairing the chimney mortar will solve this problem for a long time.
Words by Smoky Sweeper
Chimney leakages are common during the wintertime and the summertime. You can prevent them with the help of professional chimney sweeps that can quickly detect all the problems and fix them with an accurate method. If you have any problem with the chimney and fireplace, you can contact Smoky Sweeper.
We possess years of experience and expertise in Chimney Leak Resolution & Waterproofing.
Please book an appointment today or call us for any queries!
