Have you noticed any leaks in your house and thought they were coming from the roof? Your chimney could actually be the problem. If you have a masonry chimney, chances are you will suffer a chimney leak because, according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), water is the biggest enemy of your masonry chimney. Every part of your chimney could suffer damage if water penetrates into your chimney. Ashbusters can help you prevent water leaking into your chimney and home. However, if you notice stained ceilings or walls, loose bricks on the outside of your chimney, or even a musty smell coming from your fireplace, you more than likely have already suffered a chimney leak, and now you need to call a professional chimney company like Ashbusters to locate the leak and repair it. Finding the source of a chimney leak can be a difficult task, so we would like to share with you the four major causes of a leaky chimney and how we can solve each problem.
1. A Missing or Damaged Chimney Cap
Made from stainless steel or copper, chimney caps are one of your best defenses against water penetration as they cover the top of your chimney. Bad weather as well as animals trying to get into your chimney can damage your chimney cap. This can leave your chimney open to the elements and allow rainwater to freely enter your chimney. At Ashbusters, we carry and professionally install a wide variety of chimney caps to keep your chimney safe from harmful water penetration.
2. A Deteriorated Chimney Crown
Sitting underneath your chimney cap, your chimney crown is a layer of concrete that seals off your chimney. However, if your crown is not made from the correct material or if it is improperly installed, damage and deterioration occurs sooner, and water can leak into your chimney this way. Our technicians at Ashbusters will assure you that you have a well-constructed and well-maintained chimney crown to replace the old, damaged one.
3. Damaged or Missing Flashing
The metal sheeting that sits in between your chimney and your roof to protect that area from water leaks, flashing can easily be incorrectly installed because not every chimney company takes the time to customize the flashing itself to perfectly fit your roof. At Ashbusters, our technicians carefully measure each part of your chimney and its surrounding areas on your roof to customize the flashing to fit exactly. We never leave holes or cracks and allow no room for water penetration.
4. Deteriorated Mortar Joints
When water penetrates into your chimney and gets into your bricks and mortar, it wears down the important mortar joints that hold everything together, which causes holes and cracks to form within the masonry. Many times, water within your chimney will freeze during the winter, and when it thaws, bricks break and crumble, which leads to more holes and even structural damage of your chimney. At Ashbusters, we can fix the masonry work inside your chimney, and then once that repair work is finished, we can apply our waterproofing treatment. This ensures your masonry work in your chimney is protected from any future water leaks.
If you suspect a leaky chimney could be the cause of your roof leaks, contact Ashbusters today to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced technicians, who will solve your leaky problem for you as quickly as possible and protect you from future water penetration damage.