When water leaks into your home from the chimney, you need the problem fixed fast. This is a problem that may affect your chimney throughout the year, not just when you are using it, and it could lead to some expensive, troublesome water damage. If you notice that water is entering your home through the chimney, call a certified chimney sweep to repair the damage. Here are a few ways this may happen to your home.
Damage to the Chimney Crown
A chimney crown sits atop your chimney to protect it from rainwater, snow, and animals. If you do not currently have a chimney crown, now is definitely the time to consider one. But if you do have a chimney crown, it could just be cracks or poor sealing allowing water into the flue. If this is the case, you should have it professionally replaced, though repairs may be possible depending on the building materials.
Leaking through the Chimney Flashing
This is the area where your chimney meets the roof, and it can be difficult to structure it so that it is well sealed. Often, the flashing begins to lift up and deteriorate, simply due to the passing of time. Once this happens, you’ll need professionals to make repairs or to completely redo your chimney flashing. This process typically involves placing aluminum sheets between some of the bricks, and alternating the aluminum in a stair-like pattern along the side of the chimney.
Condensation
In some cases, moisture inside of the chimney can leak right through to the inside. Sometimes, the byproducts of the combustion process include some level of water vapor, so a chimney crown won’t do much to solve the problem. All you need is a really good chimney liner!
Call 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. today for chimney cleaning in St. Paul, MN. 612.922.9600 or 1-888-PIXLEYS