Leaking Chimneys
If you live in northeast Florida and you think your chimney may be leaking, you have come to the right place. Repairing a leaking chimney is one of the worst things to put off, as it can end up requiring extensive masonry work in addition to costly repairs to your walls, ceilings and floors. Talk about a nightmare! During our 30+ years in this business, Hudson Chimney has seen some horrific water damage as a result of leaking chimneys. We want to do everything we can to stop chimney water damage in its tracks or prevent it from happening at all. You’ll be happy to know that is usually quite easy and affordable to prevent water from getting into your chimney. The best preventative measure a homeowner can take is to have his chimney professionally waterproofed before he suspects a chimney leak.
Why Water and Chimneys Don’t Mix
Water is most certainly a chimney’s number one enemy. This is because chimney masonry—both the brick and mortar—is porous and the inside of a chimney is constructed of metal, which is prone to rust. The Chimney Safety Institute of America actually says, “Most masonry materials are porous and will absorb large amounts of water. Common brick is like a sponge, absorbing water and wicking moisture to the chimney interior.” Also, because a chimney juts out of your roof, it is basically inviting water into and around it. Luckily, there are lots of ways to keep water out of your chimney, including the installation of chimney caps (or repair of faulty chimney caps) and chase pans, in addition to the waterproofing measures we have mentioned earlier.
Signs Your Chimney May Be Leaking
Chimneys can sometimes be leaking without showing any symptoms, but more often than not you will see signs that water is getting inside of your chimney and starting to damage it. Call a chimney professional right away if you notice any of the following:
- Deteriorated metal or masonry firebox parts or rusted fireplace accessories
- A dripping noise
- Rotting adjacent wood and ruined wall coverings
- Water-stained walls and ceiling around your chimney
- Stained chimney exterior or decaying exterior mortar
- A cracked or deteriorated flue lining
- A tilted, collapsed or settled-looking chimney
- Rainwater in or around your fireplace or furnace thimble
If you think your chimney may be leaking, don’t make the mistake of calling a roofer to fix your chimney. It can appear that your roof is leaking when it’s really your chimney, but that’s just because leaking chimneys often end up leaking into your ceiling. The certified chimney technicians from Hudson Chimney have all the tools and experience to pinpoint the place where water is entering your chimney and repair it so that you don’t have to worry any longer about your leaking chimney.
Hudson Chimney Can Help
Let a certified chimney professional from Hudson Chimney inspect your chimney to determine whether or not your chimney has a leak. We want to protect your home from water damage and extend the life of your chimney. If you want more information, you can read more about our waterproofing process here.
Do you live in Northeast Florida and think your chimney may be leaking? Call Hudson Chimney right away.
Be sure you have a chimney cap in good condition on your chimney to avoid problems with unwanted water, live critters and other debris. When Hudson Chimney services your fireplace or chimney, we can make sure everything is as it should be.
