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Spring Rains and Leaking Chimneys

by | Jun 7, 2018 | Chimney Leaks

Florida has been experiencing a lot of rainfall this spring. If you have a chimney system in your home, you may be noticing more than just the rainfall outside. You may also are experiencing some leaks indoors. At Hudson Chimney, our professionals are here to help you solve any leaky chimneys this spring and summer. Learn some of the causes of chimney leaks and best ways to prevent them below.

Common Causes of Leaks

Your chimney system can easily get leaks, even a minor damage can cause a leak. And a small leak can lead to major damage down the road. At Hudson Chimney, our certified technicians have plenty of experiences working with leaky chimneys. Although the causes are very easy to pin down by our professionals, we want to help you understand it. Here are some of the potential causes of a leaky chimney.

  • A flashing problem – Damaged, missing, or improperly installed flashing is a leading cause for chimney leaks. The flashing protects the vulnerable intersection of the roof and chimney, and an experienced professional must install it to avoid flashing problems later on. The flashing is usually the root issues behind any chimney leaks, so that’s why our technicians begin by checking the flashing first!
  • A missing or damaged cap – Your chimney cap protects the flue opening from weather, animal intrusion, and more. If the cap isn’t appropriate for your flue, it could be the cause leaks. If it’s installed improperly, it may break away from the flue and allow water in. This is a huge concern when summer rains are heavy, as a flue without a cap is wide open for rain to fall directly in.
  • A cracked crown – The chimney crown must be inspected and repaired. Even a well-constructed crown can become cracked due to constant exposure to the sun and weather. A chimney professional can also repair it if the damage is caught in time. This is why annual chimney inspections are incredibly important.
  • Masonry damage – Like the crown, if the masonry is damaged, even minor cracks, it will allow water to penetrate the system. Water is a nightmare for masonry and your chimney, so you must be proactive when it comes to protection your masonry against water invasion.

Prevention Against Leaky Chimneys

Proper maintenance and regular check ups of your chimney will protect you from getting a leaky chimney. By scheduling your routine chimney sweeps and annual inspections, you will be able to catch and repaired any damages before it worsens to a leak. You can protect your masonry by scheduling a professional waterproofing services. At Hudson Chimney, we trust ChimneySaver Water Repellent to protect our chimneys, especially when it comes to our friends, neighbors, and customers in and around the Jacksonville, Florida area. This vapor-permeable repellent keeps water from getting in, while still letting gas, heat, and moisture out.

Preventing a chimney leak is the best thing you can do to protect your home and family against the heavy rain and storms this summer. Call the professionals at Hudson Chimney and talk to us about waterproofing your chimney system before it’s officially summer. Give us a call at 904-282-4159 or contact us online.

Storm Damage Repair

by | Oct 23, 2017 | Storm Damage

One thing that many homeowners try to prepare for is hurricanes. This is especially true if you live in Florida. How many homeowners are prepared for more than one hurricane? How about two hurricanes and one tropical storm in one season? Our customers in Jacksonville are busy putting things back together after devastating storms statewide. Now we’re here to help!

Common Storm Damage

Tropical storms come with sustained winds of 39 mph and higher. Once the maximum sustained winds pass 74 mph, the storm is considered a hurricane. Tropical storms, hurricanes, and even a heavy thunderstorm can cause damage to your chimney system. Winds can blow off or damage flashing and chimney caps. Hail and rain can damage masonry, and if the damage isn’t repaired, more can occur. This season, our service area in Jacksonville has been battered, and you might not have gotten the repairs your chimney needed before another storm passed through.

Your Chimney Cap

In high-wind areas, you can opt for a chimney cap designed to handle hurricane-force winds, and deflect wind from coming into the flue. A functional cap should block rain from falling into the flue. However, when it blows off during a serious storm, it will allow water into the chimney system. Water destroys a chimney from the inside out. If it isn’t corrected, it will continue to ruin parts of the chimney system, as well as components of the home.

Your Flashing

The flashing is made up of thin sheets of metal, placed along the seam of the roof and chimney intersection. This is the most vulnerable of all the chimney system. Not to mention it becomes worse when flashing is installed incorrectly – as it often is. It’s best to have the chimney inspected regularly and know the flashing is in good shape and ready for Florida weather. What happens if the flashing becomes damaged, shifts, or is blown away? Water from tropical storms will penetrate the roof, affecting the chimney, flooring, walls, and structural materials of the home!

Your Chimney Repairs

Hudson Chimney sees a lot of storm damage this time of year, after hurricane season, and before fall. This is the time that homeowners are getting ready for burn season. So, it’s the best time to have the chimney inspected and schedule necessary repairs.

Flashing Repair – Hudson Chimney repairs flashing with the expertise required to properly place flashing according to the slant of the roof, the roofing materials, and the high wind area you live.

Masonry Repair – Depending on the damage to the masonry itself, whether water or wind damage, a masonry repair may be in order. Hudson Chimney sweeps can repair spalling masonry through a process called tuckpointing, replace chimney crowns, and waterproof the masonry for added protection.

When the storm has passed, it’s time to assess the damage, and start repairs. If you have questions about chimney damage, preventative maintenance, and insurance claims, a Hudson Chimney technician can assist you. Just call 904-282-4159 or schedule an appointment with Hudson Chimney online today!